I Had a Hike of a Time!

Greg Child once said, "Somewhere between the bottom of the climb and the summit is the answer to the mystery why we climb". My dad is a mountaineer. He loves to climb and hike. I could never comprehend why he loves to do such an exhausting and dangerous activity. He always encouraged me to come along with him as he weekly journeyed on a local intermediate peak. This peak was in no way easy, especially for me. It was only after I began to wake up every Saturday morning to hike with him that I finally figured it out. I understood a little better as to why he pushes himself and does what he does. Starting the hike is not that bad, but after about thirty minutes, you begin to feel the exhaustion and soreness kick in. I thought many times that I would not be able to make it to the top. Those were almost the exact feelings and thoughts that I felt as I battled my eating disorder. It’s too hard. It’s too difficult. How much longer will I suffer through this? Well getting to the top is the best part. The accomplishment of such a challenging task presents a feeling I cannot even begin to explain. It is simply beautiful and incredibly rewarding . We all have mountains to climb and some parts are harder than others but we must be consistent and just put one foot in front of the other. No matter how slow you may be going, remember that you are still making progress! The peak is near and the reward will be great! Although I am away at school, I continue to hike and climb as often as I can. I miss climbing with my dad but feel close to him with ever step I take as I progress to the top. Continue to climb your own tough mountain, I guarantee it will be worth it!

Oh and I hope you enjoyed the incredibly awkward picture of me!


 -jac