The Sounds of Hiking

Two hours. Thirty-five pounds.

Those were my instructions for today. What does a nerd carry when instructed to add weight?

We hiked up to the confluence of trails at Stebbins Cold Creek Canyon. It's a step-heavy route and with all the recent rain, it seems some of the dirt had eroded making many of the steps even higher. So it was a pretty darn good workout with beautiful scenery. We usually would keep going up over the ridge but this time decided to hike back down the stairs. Ahh the relief at first of descending after you've been climbing for awhile. But then it becomes just as difficult in a different way.

We were definitely reinforced for getting there early today! By the time we started down, everyone and their mother had decided to spend some time there. Our favorites were the two groups with loud music playing as they walked up past us. This was the first time water was really running in the river, again because of the rain, so it was a really beautiful sound to accompany our walk. Then the guys with their techno music came along and made it so much more festive! lol

What I learned today is that my fitness definitely still needs some work! What I've done so far has paid off for sure. As of tomorrow, I have 9 weeks before my Summit for Someone Climb on Mt. Shasta. That seems so long and so short all at the same time. My mindset is very good right now. I am really focused on doing my best and not invested in summiting. I know I'll be happy with whatever happens if I just "leave it on the mountain." I realize as I'm writing it that it sounds totally cliche. But that's okay with me.

As hard as today was, I can't help but think about some kid out there who would love to work hard and sweat like that while getting an opportunity to smell the spring flowers, hear the creek water, climb over rocks, and sit in the dirt but who can't because maybe they don't even know it's an option or even if they do know it's an option, they have no resources to get out there.

Please donate to give urban youth the option of the outdoors:
http://support.bigcitymountaineers.org/goto/summitjourney