Making It To TheTop

Over two years ago when I began my quest of de-stressing my life by hiking, Shaila and I decided to venture out and conquer Mt. Baldy in CA. Or I should say we attempted to conquer this 10,000' mountain. We were almost to the top after having hiked for five hours. I was actually crawling on my hands and knees on parts of the trail because of cramps in my calves and thighs. We lost the trail near the top. I was tired and ready to call it quits so we headed down what we thought was the trail home but ended up bushwhacking our way down a very steep shale watershed. Scary!

Two years ago next month Nick and I hiked Mt. Timpanogos near Provo, Ut. Well, at least he made it to the top. We were about a half mile from the summit when a storm hit us, blowing us into the mountain. We were encased in thick clouds and pelted with icy rain. I freaked and said "no way." Nick tried to encourage me to continue up the vertical climb up the side of the mountain, but I was too scared to continue. I hiked back to the saddle and waited for about an hour for him to return from the top.

When I was in Provo last week for Jorgen's wedding, Shaila, my nephew Adam, and I hiked Y Mountain, and not just to the "Y" but beyond to the top. Jorgen and Amy hiked it this summer and said it was a quick hike and very beautiful. The day was overcast, so great for hiking because it wasn't too hot. But soon we were drenched from the rain storm, covered in mosquito bites, and stung with the biggest neddles I have ever seen in my life. These would put Jurassic Park to shame. But we persevered knowing the top was just around the corner or over the next rise! After hiking for three hours and still no sign of the top we turned around and started hiking back to the valley. On our way down a hiker passed us heading the same direction. We asked him if he made it to the top and explained where it is that we turned back, near the meadow of wild yellow daisies. He said, "oh, you were only about 15 minutes from the top." Not what I wanted to hear.

Adam, Linda, and Shaila at the end of the hike

Adam and me in the middle of the hike.

The point of this post is to share three failed attempts to make it to the top of something. Plus on my blog I have listed races I have been planning on doing and, well, for one reason or another I'm backing out such as not enough training time. I am not going to make this a habit! Now these mountains will always be there and I can try it again, in fact I plan on it before I get too old! But, there lies the quandary--if I wait too long to redo a failed attempt at anything in life, I may run out of time.