Isaiah 55:12 “You shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace. And the mountains and the hills will break forth into song before you and the trees of the fields will clap their hands.” (NAS)
Up, Up, Up to the Aspens. Sniff, Sniff. Circle the tree. Down the mountain. Jump across the trail. Up the big rock. No way to get down. Back down the rock. Jump to path. Back into the bushes. Get stuck. Go back. Jump the smaller bush. Find the creek. Jump it. Investigate the Beaver Dam. Back through the bush. Where is the path? Up, Up, Up to the Aspens. Repeat it all again. Can you do this for three hours?
The two Brittany’s I fostered had their first run in the Rocky Mountains and were mind lost at the things to smell. I would keep one on leash and let the other go for ten minutes, and then pray the running one would come back to me for water. When they did return, they received water and I let the other one run. I did this for almost three hours. What a pleasure to see this beauty through new appreciative eyes!
When you get to the log cabin remnant and the settlement ruins in Horsethief Park between Divide and Cripple Creek in Colorado, you cannot help but wonder, “What happened is this place? Why did it get and keep this name?”
This is an annual or quarterly hike for me. I realize how much I have learned about mountain hikes. Pace yourself – oxygen is rare. Make sure you are aware of the dangers. Check in with your friends frequently. Take plenty of water. Rest and enjoy the beauty. Don’t ignore your age. Allow plenty of time to recover and rest. Be ready to go up, up, up, again and again.
When did you last exhaust yourself physically? What can you see through new eyes this week?