Mountain Climbing

"My advice for anyone wanting to write is the same advice I give myself: You have to do it a page at a time, and you have to keep doing it. You take one step to climb a mountain."

It was the author Joseph Bruchac said that one. [He has written a lot, especially for young adults.] With that quote in mind, it's story time.

Once upon a time, a group of 5 college friends were pouring over a map of Denali National Park's hiking trails. They were filled with a determination to hike and enjoy the beautiful scenery and weather in Alaska. They had already climbed a butte surrounded by mountains, but they were hungry for the real deal. Only 2 of them had been to the top of a real Alaskan mountain, but they lived in Alaska so that's different. The other 3 had never even been to Alaska before let alone climbed an Alaskan mountain.

Since climbing Mt. McKinley was out of the question, they settled for the next best thing: the longest and hardest trail in the park.

It would take a few hours to hike up, but the day was young and so were they! With their goals set, they quickly packed some water bottles and granola bars in the communal backpack and were on their way.

Things started off well. As they gazed up the mountain, they realized hiking sticks would be helpful and began the search for The Perfect Sticks. Once everybody had one -- as well as a name from Lord of the Rings, fitting with one of the boys' Gandolf-style sticks -- they were really and truly prepared for all contingencies. With eyes and ears on alert for grizzlies and moose, they hiked. And hiked. And hiked.

The top of the mountain slowly got closer, and the trail became more strenuous. Their legs tired, and their breathing got heavier. The runt of the litter trailed behind a bit, equally a side effect of being far less athletic than the rest and having short legs. They found a conveniently placed set of benches and paused to sit, drink some water, and watch the boys pretend to shoot each other with their sticks.

Putting their eye on the prize once more, they continued on their way. When they reached a rock ledge, they looked over at the trees and smaller mountains spreading out before them. This view alone was a reward and a motivator. If it looked this breathtaking from only partway up, how much more stunning could it be at the top? So they carried on their way.

The path got steeper. The air got thinner (or at least felt like it did in the runt's lungs). The temperature got colder as the wind got stronger. And the top got closer. They encountered a noise -- oh no! They were about to come face-to-face with...a grizzly?!? No, no, just some other hikers on their way back down the mountain. The trail was narrow enough that they had to go one by one, so they stepped aside and let these hikers pass. The hikers reassured them that the hike to the top was "so worth it." With that in mind, on they went.

Suddenly they paused. The top appeared to be about 10 feet away. The only thing standing between them was a super-steep gravel wall with a narrow and random path. In fact, it didn't really look like there was one direct path up. With a little pseudo-rock climbing, a few slips, muscles burning with effort and fatigue, and a lot of superhero effort, they scaled the pathwall and were there.

At the top of a mountain.

The path continued up, but the scene before them was incredible. It felt like something straight out of National Geographic or something, not something they were standing amidst. But they were there, and they did it.

The boys continued to hike a bit higher, but the girls were content to stay and rest while enjoying the breeze and the sights. The town below looked like a tiny toy. The boys did, too, as they got farther away.

While one of the boys slowly made his way back, the other two were back in no time. They had scooped up some snow along the way and pelted the third as soon as he was back. They called two friends who were getting married the next day and yelled their love at the top of their lungs on the mountaintop as a congratulatory tribute.

They stood quietly for another minute, taking a mental picture to remember the time they climbed a mountain. And then they turned and began the trek back to camp.

Remember that Joseph Bruchac quote? (If you don't, just take a second to scroll back up and read it.) Well, I get it now.

I was one of those college friends. The runt, if you'd believe it. We made that hike almost exactly a year ago. And climbing that mountain was a lot of work. It was more work than I think we really expected -- I don't think we truly know what we were getting into when we started. But it was incredible. The beauty we found at the top, the satisfaction in reaching our goal, and the fun we had along the way....so worth it. But it all started with easy steps at the bottom of the mountain to get us going. And it got tough along the way, even making us have times where we tried to convince the others to go on without us, but we didn't. We stuck it out, and it was amazing.

Right now I feel like my summer class and getting ready to move are two separate mountains. I've taken the easy baby steps and am reaching the narrower and steeper part of the climb. I just have to keep pressing on, and I'll reach the top.

Whatever your mountain is, you can do it. Maybe you'll need to pause to rest, to find a walking stick to support you as you go, some friends to go with you, or just to focus again on the goal to make it to the top, but don't stop. Keep going, and you'll get there. And it will be amazing.