Alive... and Learning.

On Sunday I went on a 9 mile hike with Ashley and Quinn in the North Cascade Mountains. The last time the three of us were together hiking up a mountain was more than 6 years ago and memorably and unpleasant experience. Back then we were all in very different places in our lives so the trip was not a very successful bonding experience. This time the parents were not there, we were accompanied by a friend, (Steve who we have now adopted as another brother in the family) and we are all in more similar places in life than we ever have been. Quinn is almost 3 years older than I am, and Ashley is about 6 years older than me. Growing up, those years make a BIG difference. Now we are all in our twenties so we get along more like friends than siblings.

So about this hike: We were picked up by Steve at 9am on Sunday and we drove 2 hours north of Seattle to start on the Hidden Lake trail. The trail was about 4.5 miles and we hiked it all the way up and all the way back down. We started through a heavily forested area that treated us with a set of steps that helped with our trek upward. After we crossed a stream we emerged from the forest when the trail opened up into a colorful meadow. We stopped for air, water, and a photo before we continued up. The ongoing conversations distracted me from how tired I was already becoming and how the elevation was making it difficult to breathe. Quinn and I quietly took turns taking the lead while Ashley and Steve reminisced about college days and brought up the tail of our troop.  We are all mid-western natives so we stopped often to gaze in awe at the mountains and rest our booties. (It's hard to keep your ass in shape when you live in Iowa where there are no hills to challenge your glutes. I'm just sayin')

 About 3/4 the way up the scenery started to get real rustic. Jagged rocks would come out from hiding behind the mist as we walked. I couldn't get enough of being on the same level as the clouds as I watched them shift and change form. The wind was steadily picking up speed and the temperature was dropping. By this point, Trailblazin' Quinn had gone up ahead of us on the trail. Ashely, Steve and I remained generally quiet except for the spastic moments of saying to the scenery "Wow" and "I want cheese!". We had been walking up and up for almost 3 hours and our minds were  becoming very conscious of how our bodies were feeling.
(TIRED + COLD = HUNGRY) The final stretch of climb was through a patch of snow. It was quite the challenge trying to keep our balance, not slip, and keep our fingers from freezing.

When the three of us got up to the top/end of the trail we found Quinn and we all huddled behind a boulder for some eats. Then we noticed the view of the "Hidden Lake". (we found it) Exhausted to the point of delirium, we giggled more than necessary at each others' runny noses, cherry cheeks, and urges to pee.

On the way back down the snowy bit became interesting. Quinn was leading well, being careful not to slip until with one wrong move he was on his ass sliding down the rest of the mini glacier. I had been trying to crab-walk along the side of the snowbank up against the cliff but it was not working well for me. After Ashley and Steve passed me, also sliding on their asses, (hollering with joy while they did) I  did too. A numb bum and wet jeans for the rest of the hike was SO worth it.

Back-tracking was surprisingly strenuous. There were parts of the trail I had already forgotten about so mentally I was aware of how long the hike had actually been. Physically, going down was about at hard as going up. The climb causes you to fight gravity which is a choice. Every upward step is a decision to keep moving forward. The de-climb is submission to gravity. You either take a step or you fall on your face. We had been rained on during the up-hill which caused the trail to be slick for the descent. We each slipped a few times, causing the rest of the party to point and laugh of course.

From my wet clothes to my tired muscles to my cold bones I could feel the accomplishment of the day. It was physically demanding but so rewarding. The views and the company made the pain tolerable, welcome even. So what was it about our hike 6 years ago that was so disappointing? I only remember being wet and cold and unappreciative of the company I was with. (ugh.. family!) I was 14. That's all. I see myself in pictures from years past and I see a different person. The "me" in the picture doesn't know nearly the amount of things I know now. Time has brought me knowledge about what life is. I don't claim to hold the secrets to the meaning of life or anything, but life means so much more to me now than it did when I was 14. I don't complain anymore about being rained on, having tired feet (make that a tired BODY) or being cold. Those are physical signals that tell me I Am ALIVE! This hike was a great bonding day for us as 20-somethings I think because we all know now not to take life so seriously. We have learned to take joy in the moments that make us feel alive.

Listen up, You! (yes, Reader... I'm talking to you) You're ALIVE right now. If you are a balls-deep sports fan get off the couch, turn the TV off, then gather some buddies and go play. If you're worried about money then go spend some. If you're worried about something going on at work, take a vacation.

I didn't know that I cared so much about these thoughts when I woke up that morning before the hike. I don't know that I'll still think the same way about them tomorrow. I do know that I know more than that 14-year-old version of me who complained about hiking in a truly beautiful place with a truly beautiful family. I want to wake up every morning for the rest of my life and say to myself, "I know something You don't know". That way I will start of every day being aware that I am alive.. and learning.

Don't take life so seriously.