We bumped along a rutted dirt road in a rented SUV, parking a quarter mile from the trailhead leading to the summit of Mount Democrat. The four of us hoisted backpacks stuffed with water, food, dry socks, and extra clothes onto our backs. The thin, 38-degree air nipped at exposed hands and faces. Winded by the walk from the car to the trailhead, even my more experienced friends worried that our less than 24 hours at altitude had not been enough time for our sea-level dwelling bodies to adjust. I bean to sweat, and not just from the exertion.
The way home
“That was so fun! I’ve got a new addiction!” my athlete friend exclaimed, tired but happy in the car on the way home. “Let’s do it again tomorrow.”
Fun, as you might imagine, was not how I would describe this adventure. Awesome? Yes. Fun? No. N.O. No way
But would I do it again? If I could rewind to that moment when the alarm went off at 4:30 a.m. to throw on clothes, grab our packs and trek up that mountain, would I? You bet your buttons I would. Here’s why: awesome lives at the intersection of fun and scary. One of my companions summed the whole experience up perfectly. He leaned back in his chair at dinner that night, shrimp taco in hand, “These are the kinds of experiences that give something back to you. They show you who you are in a whole new way.”
Humbled but not broken, I experienced both a new awareness of the strength of my will and the vulnerability of my body. My ego lost a bit of ground that day, but my essence — that part of me that connects to something greater — found wordless expression.
At the bottom of the mountain, my legs shaky, my face gritty with dust, I could still enjoy the beauty of the clean mountain stream pooling around me. I could laugh with my friends. Life flows. I flow. A real mountain and a metaphorical one are the same. We go up with a certain understanding of ourselves, and come back down changed.
Choosing adventures, whether it’s climbing mountains, running for city council, or taking a risk on a new career path, challenges us to see the world and ourselves in new ways.
And that, my friends, is awesome.
canadian pharmacy non prescription
legitimate canadian pharmacies online
canada pharmaceuticals online
online canadian discount pharmacy
top mexican pharmacies
meds without prescription
buy prescription drugs canada
discount drug store online shopping
azithromycin canadian pharmacy
safe online pharmacies in canada
northwestpharmacy
best mexican online pharmacies
safe canadian internet pharmacies
compare prescription prices
canadian rx pharmacy
I just wanted to thank you for the fast service. otherwise they look great. I received them a day earlier than expected. much I will definitely continue to buy from this site. an invaluable I will recommend this site to my friends. Thanks!
authentic cheap jordans https://www.cheaprealjordan.com/
I just wanted to thank you for the fast service. or maybe a they look great. I received them a day earlier than expected. choose the I will definitely continue to buy from this site. situation I will recommend this site to my friends. Thanks!
cheap jordans online https://www.realjordansretro.com/
I just wanted to thank you for the fast service. aka they look great. I received them a day earlier than expected. like the I will definitely continue to buy from this site. manner in which I will recommend this site to my friends. Thanks!
jordans for cheap https://www.realcheapretrojordanshoes.com/
canadian prescription drugs online
canadian online pharmacy reviews
mexican pharmacy online reviews
I in addition to my buddies were found to be viewing the good tricks located on the website and unexpectedly developed a terrible suspicion I had not expressed respect to the web blog owner for those tips. Most of the boys appeared to be for this reason joyful to study them and have now very much been loving these things. We appreciate you turning out to be considerably kind as well as for making a choice on some extraordinary issues most people are really desirous to know about. My very own sincere regret for not expressing appreciation to sooner.
I want to get across my affection for your kind-heartedness supporting individuals that need help with this important concern. Your very own dedication to getting the solution all around ended up being surprisingly helpful and have constantly empowered some individuals much like me to get to their ambitions. Your personal warm and helpful help can mean a lot a person like me and a whole lot more to my peers. Thanks a ton; from everyone of us.
I must express my appreciation for your kind-heartedness in support of those who need guidance on in this area of interest. Your personal commitment to getting the solution all around appears to be wonderfully effective and have really made most people much like me to arrive at their targets. The interesting key points implies a whole lot to me and still more to my mates. Thank you; from everyone of us.
I want to show my appreciation to this writer just for bailing me out of this trouble. Right after exploring through the online world and coming across methods that were not productive, I assumed my life was gone. Living devoid of the approaches to the difficulties you have fixed by means of your good guide is a serious case, as well as the ones that could have adversely damaged my entire career if I had not come across your website. Your own personal competence and kindness in dealing with every part was precious. I’m not sure what I would have done if I hadn’t encountered such a step like this. I am able to at this time look ahead to my future. Thanks a lot very much for this specialized and sensible help. I will not be reluctant to refer your web blog to any person who desires tips on this subject.
Read reviews and was a little hesitant since I had already inputted my order. actually but thank god, I had no issues. which includes the received item in a timely matter, they are in new condition. in any event so happy I made the purchase. Will be definitely be purchasing again.
cheap jordans online https://www.cheapjordanssneakers.com/
A lot of thanks for each of your hard work on this site. My daughter take interest in managing research and it is easy to understand why. I learn all regarding the lively tactic you provide both useful and interesting tips and tricks on your web site and even recommend response from the others about this matter and our own girl is always becoming educated a lot. Take advantage of the remaining portion of the new year. You’re carrying out a very good job.
Read reviews and was a little hesitant since I had already inputted my order. or maybe a but thank god, I had no issues. just like the received item in a timely matter, they are in new condition. in any event so happy I made the purchase. Will be definitely be purchasing again.
jordans for cheap https://www.cheapretrojordan.com/
I simply wanted to appreciate you yet again. I am not sure the things that I could possibly have undertaken without the methods shown by you over my problem. It became the difficult matter in my view, but looking at a new specialized manner you managed it took me to jump for happiness. I am grateful for your work and sincerely hope you find out what a powerful job your are providing instructing others all through your web site. I know that you’ve never encountered any of us.
I’m also commenting to let you understand of the extraordinary discovery our girl found studying your webblog. She picked up numerous pieces, which included how it is like to have an incredible coaching nature to get the rest without problems know chosen tortuous subject areas. You actually surpassed people’s desires. Many thanks for distributing such precious, safe, edifying and fun guidance on this topic to Julie.
Read reviews and was a little hesitant since I had already inputted my order. or maybe but thank god, I had no issues. decline received item in a timely matter, they are in new condition. an invaluable so happy I made the purchase. Will be definitely be purchasing again.
cheap louis vuitton online https://www.louisvuittonsoutletonline.com/
I’m also commenting to make you understand what a superb experience my daughter encountered browsing your blog. She came to understand a good number of things, not to mention what it is like to possess a wonderful helping heart to get other individuals smoothly fully grasp some very confusing subject matter. You truly exceeded visitors’ expectations. Many thanks for rendering those necessary, dependable, informative and unique thoughts on the topic to Sandra.
I simply wanted to construct a small message to be able to thank you for these fantastic tips and hints you are showing at this site. My prolonged internet investigation has finally been honored with high-quality insight to write about with my great friends. I would express that we site visitors are undoubtedly endowed to dwell in a useful site with many marvellous professionals with good methods. I feel very privileged to have encountered your entire web site and look forward to some more thrilling times reading here. Thank you once more for a lot of things.
Thank you a lot for giving everyone an extremely brilliant possiblity to check tips from this website. It is always so amazing plus packed with a lot of fun for me and my office peers to visit the blog really three times in 7 days to find out the latest secrets you have. And indeed, I am just actually fascinated with all the great inspiring ideas served by you. Selected two areas in this post are in reality the most beneficial I’ve ever had.
instanslot casino slot machines sale free aristocrat slots free quarter diamond slots
I enjoy you because of all your work on this site. Betty really likes conducting investigation and it’s really simple to grasp why. Many of us know all regarding the dynamic ways you give priceless solutions through this web blog and strongly encourage response from people about this matter while our princess is without a doubt understanding a lot. Take advantage of the remaining portion of the year. You have been carrying out a superb job.
I enjoy you because of all your valuable labor on this website. Gloria really loves participating in investigation and it’s simple to grasp why. Most of us learn all about the dynamic mode you render helpful thoughts on your blog and in addition welcome contribution from the others about this content and our girl is without question being taught a whole lot. Have fun with the remaining portion of the year. You are performing a first class job.
I simply wanted to write a small word so as to thank you for all of the lovely secrets you are giving out here. My considerable internet investigation has now been compensated with extremely good insight to share with my pals. I would repeat that most of us readers actually are unquestionably lucky to be in a very good place with very many awesome professionals with useful solutions. I feel very blessed to have encountered your webpages and look forward to tons of more awesome moments reading here. Thanks a lot again for everything.
Thanks so much for giving everyone remarkably superb possiblity to read critical reviews from this blog. It’s always very sweet and also jam-packed with fun for me and my office colleagues to visit your website at least three times weekly to find out the new guidance you have got. Not to mention, I’m always fulfilled with the striking ideas served by you. Some 4 ideas in this article are particularly the very best we have all had.
casino win real money no deposit online casino real money no
deposit casino games no deposit sign up bonus
casino welcome bonuses online casino games that pay real money
casino games online casino with free signup bonus real money usa
Thanks so much for providing individuals with remarkably memorable chance to read articles and blog posts from here. It’s always so great plus jam-packed with a great time for me personally and my office fellow workers to search your web site at the very least thrice per week to see the newest things you have. And indeed, we are actually fulfilled considering the dazzling information you serve. Certain two tips on this page are clearly the most impressive I have ever had.
I wish to point out my appreciation for your kindness supporting women who need help with that subject. Your real commitment to getting the message all through has been certainly important and have in every case allowed many people much like me to get to their targets. The warm and friendly help implies this much a person like me and much more to my office workers. Thank you; from all of us.
no deposit casinos best online casinos for us players mobile casino games for real money best casino online
online casinos online casino usa real money no deposit
bonus bingo online for money best casino online usa
I wish to convey my gratitude for your kind-heartedness supporting those people that really need assistance with your subject matter. Your real dedication to passing the message all through has been really interesting and has constantly encouraged people much like me to realize their goals. Your amazing informative facts indicates much a person like me and somewhat more to my colleagues. Warm regards; from all of us.
Thank you for your entire efforts on this blog. My mom take interest in carrying out investigation and it’s really obvious why. All of us learn all regarding the lively manner you provide rewarding tricks through this website and as well increase participation from people on the theme and our own princess is really discovering a great deal. Have fun with the rest of the new year. You’re the one carrying out a glorious job.
I must express my appreciation to you just for bailing me out of this incident. Because of looking out throughout the the web and obtaining proposals which are not pleasant, I assumed my life was well over. Living without the presence of solutions to the problems you’ve sorted out by means of the website is a critical case, and the kind that would have negatively damaged my entire career if I hadn’t noticed the blog. Your know-how and kindness in handling all the stuff was helpful. I am not sure what I would’ve done if I hadn’t come across such a subject like this. I’m able to now look forward to my future. Thanks a lot so much for the skilled and result oriented guide. I will not hesitate to recommend your web sites to anyone who should have guide on this matter.
I really wanted to write a small comment to say thanks to you for these splendid facts you are posting at this website. My particularly long internet search has finally been compensated with reliable details to write about with my close friends. I ‘d express that most of us readers actually are really fortunate to dwell in a wonderful network with so many lovely people with very helpful techniques. I feel pretty happy to have encountered your entire webpage and look forward to so many more fabulous times reading here. Thanks a lot once again for all the details.
I want to voice my passion for your kindness in support of all those that really need guidance on this important theme. Your special commitment to getting the solution all-around appeared to be certainly valuable and has constantly encouraged regular people much like me to achieve their desired goals. Your personal invaluable information denotes a lot to me and far more to my fellow workers. Best wishes; from all of us.
I wish to show my gratitude for your kind-heartedness giving support to individuals that need assistance with this subject. Your real dedication to passing the message along became particularly beneficial and has frequently permitted individuals much like me to attain their objectives. Your insightful recommendations can mean a lot to me and additionally to my fellow workers. Warm regards; from each one of us.
I simply wanted to post a remark in order to thank you for the awesome suggestions you are posting on this site. My extensive internet lookup has now been rewarded with high-quality insight to share with my friends and family. I would repeat that most of us site visitors are extremely lucky to be in a wonderful community with many brilliant professionals with useful guidelines. I feel extremely lucky to have come across the website and look forward to so many more cool times reading here. Thanks a lot again for everything.
My husband and i felt really more than happy Edward managed to carry out his homework by way of the precious recommendations he grabbed out of the blog. It’s not at all simplistic to just choose to be making a gift of tricks that men and women may have been trying to sell. And now we know we now have the website owner to appreciate for this. The specific explanations you have made, the easy blog navigation, the friendships your site assist to foster – it’s all impressive, and it’s really leading our son in addition to the family recognize that that matter is interesting, and that is quite fundamental. Thank you for the whole lot!
I truly wanted to type a note in order to express gratitude to you for all of the fabulous solutions you are sharing here. My rather long internet lookup has now been recognized with beneficial concept to share with my colleagues. I ‘d point out that many of us visitors are definitely fortunate to exist in a great place with many brilliant people with interesting suggestions. I feel very privileged to have discovered your entire weblog and look forward to tons of more excellent times reading here. Thank you once more for everything.