We carry ourselves through the mountains, hiking and climbing them for all the experience has to offer. Some people can almost literally hear the mountains calling to them — we’re looking at you, John Muir — urging them to ascend their flanks, explore their cirques, and traverse their ridge-lines. To stand upon their summits immersed in that amazing feeling of being on top of the world. For some the allure is so strong, so powerful, it simply must be yielded to. Like a drug, they require a fix. Doing so, they know, allows them to function normally when they’re not in the mountains. There is no option for these folks. Though within this mindset, unfortunately, there may be peril and unintended consequences. Great care and understanding are paramount.
The payout is huge, though. This is the part we focus on. The mountains, by and large, bring us positive emotions like joy, satisfaction, and a feeling of accomplishment. Also, the physical and mental benefits are well known in the scientific community. The mountains are good for us! But in them we also know all emotions reside. Some hidden. Some peeking out now and then reminding us that they exist. Warning us. Fear, anger, frustration, confusion, and even grief and sadness live there in and among those mountains.
For those who do feel or have felt some of these other less-than-positive emotions in the mountains, it may be comforting to know that even the most profound sadness may be substituted, eventually, with happiness by the very mountains that took that joy away. Given time. We’re not going to get into the details of this particular hike or what this all means on another level. We’re being cryptic out of respect. Some will understand, though. Some will know the players.
Led by Redline Guide Mike Cherim, two members of the recent Hiking Buddies class went on a separate Day Two hike to Mt Willard in Crawford Notch. It was more to their liking and we were able to oblige. On their faces in the photos below you will see joy. A joy that was previously absent. It seems, at least temporarily, the mountains have again worked their magic. Thank you, mountains!
