- The view from timberline.
I’m thinking about where I could be today. A year ago I had two options: avoid life for a year and teach English in Korea and travel Asia with Jackie OR take a job in Colorado where I know no one but could easily fall in love with the mountains… the kind of job I should have taken as soon as I graduated. This was a VERY hard decision, even though no one really wanted me to go to Korea. Maybe that was part of its appeal. In the end, I decided to be responsible. How many times do you get the chance to start your career over AND live in vacation land? Colorado it was. Unfortunately for me, that means giving up traveling Asia with Jackie, who just left Vietnam and is headed to Thailand. I know she is having a blast and I wish I was with her, but…
FORTUNATELY, I live in vacation land! Naama and I decided to climb Pikes Peak this weekend, a 14,000 ft mountain in Colorado Springs. I think it is also the easternmost 14er, so you can see the difference when you look off the east side and the west side. Flatlands Kansas vs. Rocky Mountains!
Charlie climbing a boulder next to a cliff!
To make a long story short, Naama and I convinced ourselves this was a good idea, Charlie came along to babysit, there was a lot of whining, encouragement, fast speeds, slow speeds, some giggle fits (while Charlie scratched his head wondering what was so funny), meeting new friends along the way, people coming down that lied to us about how close we were to the top, and the moment of pure joy when we reached the top after 11 straight hours of hiking uphill, climbing over rocks, almost falling down, and thinking we were never going to make it. Then the fun pictures at the top with our celebratory beers, real bathrooms, Pikes Peak doughnuts, and telling tourists our story. Then there was the sleepy Cog Railroad ride down, me feeling nauseated, Charlie with a headache and Naama about to pass out and all three of us trying not to kill the really loud, attention whore 10 year old boy sitting across from us.
Top of Barr Trail
We made it. And it was painful, gorgeous, and rewarding.
Finally!
