Climbing a mountain, WHY?

A week or so ago I got out of my comfort zone and climb a mountain. I love adventure, a challenge, to see what’s around the next bend to walk in woods not seen by most. As long as it cost me no time, effort or money. I love to watch it on TV, I love the idea, but putting foot to fantasy is another thing all together. So I did it, got out all by my self and went on a hike in the woods. I got to the park all alone (I hate doing anything alone), there were people all around, I almost turn around and left. But I got out, put my pack on my back and with walking stick in hand I set out to climb.

I hate my inside job, I often think of all the things going on in the world outside as I stair at a computer all day. How did man, the great conqueror, builder of nations, sailor of sea’s explorer of new worlds, get reduced to a worker bee in a factory? The industrial revolution cost man his soul for adventure. We took the pride out of creating something with your two hands and made craftsmen into bolt turners and assembly line workers. There are now only a few men and women left that do the great challenges any more, because it takes money and sponsors to climb big mountains or do great adventures. The big adventures are gone for the average Joe, no more wild areas to tame no more last frontiers. Our biggest challenge is getting off our butts and doing something we dream of.

So I climb a big hill, it’s not a mountain by Rockies standards but it seem big to me at the time. As I climb it got steeper and steeper until I did all I could do. So I stop and sat on a rock. I looked out over a valley and thought to myself, this is why you do this. To see clearer that any high definition TV could see, Gods creation. The rest of the day I was on a high, I felt elated and I did not even reach the top. So I will go back and try another day, the mountain will be there tomorrow, the question is will I. Life is too short not to live, so I will keep trying for the pinnacle. That’s the neat thing about climbing a mountain. Its hard work, every step upward is tough, you’re completely out of breath, but when you reach the top it is all worth while, because you can see forever.