It's been a real weird summer for me. We had family live with us for most of the summer while their house was being renovated, so our home grew from two adults to four, plus at times, two kiddos. Holy packed refrigerator! We lost our sweet black lab, Monster, back in early July, and I ended up cancelling a mountain trip I had been so looking forward to, but felt like I wouldn't be able to be present for with the grief I was processing. Then, just a few weeks later, some of my family came to visit, and during their stay, I came down with some nasty virus that hung on for about a month. By the end of August, I had hardly spent any time hiking or being in the mountains, and I was definitely feeling the hit to my endurance and fitness. So a few days ago, I asked my friend Leslie if she'd be up for a trip to the mountains. I just felt like I needed one big day in the mountains to really see where my body was at. I just wanted to find out if the baseline of hiking fitness I've cultivated over the last few years would be enough to pull off a big hike. The wonderful thing about Leslie is that she's never attached to the outcome, she's just happy to be there. In her mind, much like in my own, a day in the mountains is never a waste. So I knew that even if we didn't make the summit, we'd have fun. We drove to the trailhead Sunday night and camped in the back of my car. If you ever want to appreciate your own bed, spend the night in the back of your car. Waking up at three in the morning has never felt so easy!
In the summer months, starting a hike to a 14,000 foot peak in the wee hours of the morning is necessary for most people who want to be off the summit well before afternoon storms roll in. By September though, the weather is usually less volatile, so the alpine starts aren't as necessary. Leslie and I talked about it, and decided we still liked the idea of an early start. It meant getting home (to our own beds) earlier, and the big draw for me is that by hiking the first miles in the dark, you can't see the mountain you're about to climb in the distance and start feeling intimidated by it. Ignorance is bliss. This particular trail, Mount of the Holy Cross, is especially challenging. Not the terrain necessarily, but the distance of the trail and the elevation profile. Right out of the gate, you gain a thousand feet of elevation in about a mile and a half, then you proceed to lose that thousand feet descending into a valley. From there, you start the long, stairstepper of an ascent to the peak of Mount of the Holy Cross. By the time we made it to around 13k, I was feeling absolutely delighted with my body. I was sure that after a summer of way less activity, I was in for a painful day on the mountain, but I was feeling great. We weren't setting speed records, but we were maintaining a steady pace, and my legs and lungs were keeping up with the challenge just fine.
To make things even better, the weather was incredible. Sunny, almost no wind, and because we started so early, we had the summit to ourselves. We made our way back down into the valley, and by then, my legs were definitely feeling tired. I was a little unsure how that thousand foot climb would feel back out of the valley, but I was pleasantly surprised. It certainly helped that it was dark when we hiked through there in the morning, so we were seeing the scenery for the first time. By the time we got back to the car, I was exhausted, but also feeling so renewed and grateful. With all of the ridiculousness and drama of this summer, I really hadn't been feeling like myself. I can't think of a summer where I've spent so much time indoors, or being so inactive. I don't feel bad about it at all. I feel good about the choices I made given all of the circumstances. But out on the trail yesterday, I felt like me. Yesterday was such a good reminder for me that I can take time away, I can get out of routines or deal with unforeseen circumstances, and always come back to myself. All is not lost.
What's especially funny to me is that typically by this time of year, I'm sad to see summer go. I don't want to move into a new (colder) season. But this year, I'm finding myself with a different perspective, and a curiosity for what adventures the other seasons could hold. Yesterday's hike was also a lesson in not assuming that I know how things will go. I wouldn't have guessed that I would feel so strong after so much time away, so maybe I shouldn't assume that fall and winter will hold fewer fun adventures that summer usually does. I guess I'll keep you posted! Mount Of the Holy Cross 10.5 miles
5524' elevation gain Honestly one of my favorite 14ers to date!
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