Vail, Central Colorado
Isaiah 55:10-11 “Just as rain and snow descend from the skies and don’t go back until they’ve watered the earth, Doing their work of making things grow and blossom, producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry, So will the words that come out of my mouth not come back empty-handed. They’ll do the work I sent them to do, they’ll complete the assignment I gave them.” Message
The hardest thing about snowshoeing is getting on the shoes – without falling. We layered on our clothes and first had to climb a snow-covered rock to get to the trail. It was a steep incline and we were panting hard by the time we got half way up the mountain trail due to the elevation and exertion. It had been packed down so we did not have to create a trail and it was easy to follow.
At the top we had two choices: go around the mountain on an unpacked trail we could barely see or go along the switchback along the valley. We took the easy way.
We only saw two people, and they were in hiking boots. Did we need these things that make you walk with a wide stance and twist your knees and hips outward? Yes. They helped with the depth of the snow.
We reached the pathway that goes all the way to Northern Colorado, but decided to descend down a new path in a creek bed. I love to bushwhack when I hike, but had never done this with snowshoes. It was steep and we had one fall over some rocks. As you step over the rock, your shoes are pointed downward and it is easy to do the splits. After an hour of heavy effort, we walked on an easy trail back to the car. Done. I am done.
When have you taken the easier path on a hike, and had to do some difficult climbing or descending on your return? How do you handle adversity??