I’m getting really excited for a relaxing summer of camping, hiking, mountain biking……and not as much work as all the other summers. YAHHHH!!! I can’t remember the last time I was excited for summertime. And skateboarding! Don’t forget all skating I’m going to do.
The forever search for the best snow, the best line. Most people I know realize that this search is unending and get out will they still have the willpower. I’m not quite ready to call it off.
Some coworkers and I had a couple of hours off so we decided to hike Peak 9. I haven’t done much backcountry hiking this winter, mostly for lack of time. I usually love hiking. It’s a surreal experience, the physical effort of hiking up these huge peaks, an amazing view, being up there surrounded only by more mountains and fresh untouched snow. It has a way of reducing you, revealing the smallness of who you really are. I love that snowboarding has taken me to places like this.
Well this hike was a little harder than I anticipated. Maybe it was the fact that it was twice as long as I was originally told. I kept expecting the summit to be “over than next ridge”. Instead, my friends just kept getting further ahead of me and further behind me. I couldn’t even see them for a whole stretches of hill. I just followed their tracks.
Or the fact that it was straight uphill. I had to climb some of it on my hands and knees, my midget feet slipping through the snow like toothpicks, lugging my snowboard behind me. For whatever reason, I wasn’t quite as prepared as I should have been.
But of course it was worth it. Mountains for 360 degrees, us at 14,000 feet- above the rest of the world. We could see the lifts below us and antlike people skiing down the “regular” trails. “We’re so much cooler than them.” And of course there was the ride down.
I couldn’t help seeing some spiritual parallels in the whole process. How often do we get weary on the journeys God takes us on? Where we are now isn’t exactly what we agreed to at the start. This sounds foolish now, but I wanted so badly to toss aside my snowboard along the side of the trail so I didn’t have to carry it anymore. It felt so heavy. But while I might get there faster, what was I going to do when I got there?
Sometimes the values we hold to feel more like burdens than virtues. It’s always easy to be idealistic and passionate when you’re starting something, before you’ve really been tested or even when you’re nearing the end of the journey. Not quite as easy when all you see is more uphill and a fading boot track. It can feel very alone. I remember the days when virtue felt like a banner to proudly wave above my head. Now…..I don’t know what it feels like. But I wouldn’t mind leaving it on the side of the trail.
Let us not forget where we are going, let us continually uphold each other, even when we have little ourselves. And let us never lose focus of who we are traveling for.
…..do people think it’s acceptable to makeout in a restaurant while you’re waitress is standing by with hot dishes in her hands? Seriously, what are they thinking?
THERE ARE PEOPLE EATING!!
And these photos were taken after the big “meltdown” when it was 50 degrees for 3 weeks. It’s snowed about 3 feet since these pictures were taken. Not that I get to enjoy it all the time. I’ve been working a LOT. Today I told my boss that while I love teaching, working this much makes me want to shoot myself in the head. He agreed I should have time off.
I’ve been contemplating adding a photo blog. Although all I seem to post these days is photos so I don’t know if thats a good idea for seek. Also thinking a lot about home and everyone there. I’ll be visiting NJ for about 3 weeks come the end of April. I miss home.
photo snaked from postsecret.blogspot.com
…this is what constitutes a traffic jam.
My sister and I spent 3 days on an all-expense paid vacation to Montana. We were housed on this ranch and spoiled rotten for three days. It was wonderful and a little weird at the same time.
The first night we got there, I took a nap and was a little late to dinner. I walked it just as they were starting the buffet line. Before I even got to my table, two servers cornered me.
“Are you Kristy Lee? We’ve been looking for you.”
“Okay.” I was a little taken abake that they knew who I was but also that they were looking for me.
“We have a special meal prepared for you. Vegetarian, right? And hypoglycemic?”
“Umm. Yes.”
“Okay we’ll bring it out to your table. You just have a seat.”
They made me completely seperate, hypoglycemic friendly meals everyday. And the food was amazing. I’m so used to having to fend for myself and pick amongst the food I can eat. That was typical of the entire trip. Everything was provided for and planned for well in advance. All the food you could want, free drinks, free poker, and tons and tons of shwag!
this is me with my shwag.
ridiculously everything.
click on the sparkly heart for more photos of montana. —->
Church was hard today. It was difficult getting up there and singing in front of everyone. I guess I’m just wondering if I can fit into this whole “christian” community deal. There really isn’t anything wrong with them or the church for that matter, I’m just feeling less and less comfortable with certain aspects of Christianity as a whole. But for whatever reason the past two weeks were difficult.
