Because sometimes a girl just needs to feel strong

I've got a lot on my mind.  There are many big decisions needing to be made in the upcoming months and my brain just won't quit!  In an effort to stop OVER thinking,  I decided to spend the day hiking.

After discovering a lovely trail called Iron Mountain, I parked on the side of the road and found the trail head. After a VERY brief visit to the port-a-potty (sick!) I was ready to hike, all by myself, with no cell service, and no one knowing where I was headed, alone, in the woods, alone, with my camera and sack lunch, all by myself.
It did not escape me that this trip was starting off like every single episode of "Rescue 9-1-1."  All that was missing was a freak snow storm when the weather was predicted to be clear and sunny.

The hike was quiet and nice, weaving through the forest, among beautiful trees and old growth.  I was comforted to hear the sound of cars driving by on the highway below.  Eventually, all sounds of humanity ceased as I got higher and I started hearing other sounds.  Nature sounds.
I found myself scanning the tree tops for birds, chipmunks, bobcats, and vampires.

 



After a while the forest thinned and opened into a clearing.  I saw this beautiful rock structure and snapped a photo of it.  Had a little snack and carried on.

At the top of the meadow, I found myself at the base of the lovely rock structure I had taken a picture of earlier.  My first thought was how impressed I was at climbing so high without even realizing it.  (We'll see how true that is tomorrow when I can't walk.)  And then it hit me.  That's Iron Mountain!  I'm going to the top of that?  Turns out I'm not much of a quitter.  Onward and upward!  The longer I hiked, the more determined I was to get to the top.

 I'm not entirely sure why someone felt the need to put this sign here, when the only other alternative was to fall off a sheer cliff face...  Anyway, the terrain became more rocky and looked more like a dessert.  I started hearing these loud clicking noises.  Based on my extensive wilderness training and complete absence of paranoia (cough...liar...) I was just certain there were rattlesnakes in the bush up ahead.  I picked up a rock and chucked it in the direction of the sound.  Out of the bush flew a grasshopper...whose wings clicked when it flew.  Thankfully there was no one around to witness my relief that it wasn't a flying rattlesnake, and on I went.  Not too much later I reached the summit.  It was beautiful!  Incredible views in every direction and so peaceful.

 And this little guy was up there to keep me company...and eat the ham out of my sandwich. :)

I realized a few things on this adventure.  1.  I can do hard things.  2.  This kind of felt like a metaphor for the journey I'm on right now.   It started out only mildly uncomfortable.  Then there came a moment of decision.  Do I turn around now because what is up ahead looks intimidating, or do I keep moving forward?  Keep moving forward.  It got harder.  Much, much harder and sometimes even a little bit scary, but I did it.  I made it to the top.  (and back down again...)  3.  I really need a pet chipmunk.