I love the mountains. My family and I have gone on several vacations to see some of America’s most majestic pinnacles. Whether it’s the Great Smoky Mountains of the Appalachian range or the snow-capped peaks of the Rockies, I’ve enjoyed seeing God’s awe-inspiring handiwork. While not experienced climbers, our family always has a fun time trying our hand at hiking on these vacations. In our more recent summer trips, my brothers and I have taken on some more challenging hikes. This can often lead us into some shenanigans. I’m always eager when we start on our expedition escapades. There’s just one problem… I’m afraid of heights…  and a lot of other things. Let the comedic adventures begin!

A few years ago, our family took a vacation to Colorado. One of our last stops on the trip was to Ouray, a small town surrounded by mountains. My brother Trey had been researching some good trails to hike in the area, and it seemed he had found the perfect spot: Twin Peaks Trail. The start of the trail was just behind our hotel, and Trey said that it wasn’t too long of a roundtrip, had great views, and could be completed in three to four hours. Dad and Mom eventually gave us the thumbs up to go on the trail, and since it was supposed to be a bit of a strenuous hike, they stayed back to relax. We just had to agree to make sure we were back within the 4-hour range. With a few snacks and drinks in a backpack, my brothers Trey, Nick and I set off. 

The first bit of the hike was easy enough. The trail was a pretty peaceful one, with not many other hikers on it, and there was even a beautiful waterfall to admire. It was deceptively tranquil. Soon after the waterfall came the first obstacle to make me hesitate. There was a rocky outcropping in the trail that made for a slippery surface, and if you weren’t careful, one little slip could lead to a bit of a fall. The boys scaled it easily enough, and then it was my turn. I took a few steps and already felt my legs shake. I tried not to look at the drop out of the corner of my eye. I backed up to my starting position and told the boys I wasn’t sure if I could do it. The boys encouraged me to try again. You’ve got to be kidding me, I thought. I didn’t want to stop when we just started though, so I steeled myself and tried again. The second time I made it through, and we were off again.

Ten minutes later, we were staring up at a bunch of switchbacks. Switchbacks are sharp turns to get up the mountains faster. The bad news about these switchbacks was that they had a steep incline. On top of this I was out of shape. As we made our way up, my thought process went something like this: Wow, that’s a long way down, better not slip on this loose gravel. It looks like it’s going to storm soon. Do we have a better chance of getting struck by lightning at this altitude? My lungs are burning, time to tell the boys to take a break again. If we see a bear, would it take me first since I’m the slowest in the group? Lord, the height is freaking me out, please let us make it up and back alive. Trey, you said this was a bit of a strenuous hike not a marathon! If I have to tell Nick to slow down one more time… As you can see, I am not at all a worrier.

Around half-way up the switchbacks, storm clouds came over, and it started to rain. At this altitude, Trey considered it a lightning hazard, and we knew we probably shouldn’t continue on this kind of trail in the rain. For all my anxieties and complaining, I really wanted to make it up the mountain and see the view as much as the boys did. Disappointed, we started down the slopes in drizzle. A short while later, the rain stopped. Now we were conflicted. We wanted to start back up, but since we were ten minutes into climbing down, we knew if we started back up again, we would have to add on some more time than we thought the trek would take. Trey checked the radar, texted Mom, and decided we could start back up. My legs made it a point to express their displeasure at climbing up the same switchbacks all over again. Finally, we made it to the end of the switchbacks and into a meadow. Here, the elevation gain was a lot less strenuous, and the weather was getting nicer again. From there we went into more elevation gain, climbing over fallen pine trees, and more anticipation as we edged closer to the top. At this point, the height was a bit more blocked by trees. What would the view from the top look like?

We came to the end of the tree line and right in front of us was Sisters Peak, a large rock that was at the top. We made it! I thought. “There’s the Twin Peaks!” Trey called. “Let’s climb to the top!” Nick replied. Okay, forget what I said about Sisters Peak being the top. Nick and Trey started climbing the last few hundred feet of rock to the highest tip. “I’m good right here,” I told the boys when they asked if I was coming up. I’m practically seeing the same thing they are, I told myself, and this is technically the summit. That’s what I told myself because this was the scariest part yet. The short distance of rock in front of me looked unpredictable, and if I climbed it, I’d have to get over the fact that we were 10,000 feet up. Thinking about all the other challenges on the trail gave me more determination than ever though, and I found myself clambering up the last few hundred feet of rock to meet the boys. Let me tell you, it was worth it. We all stared out at the breathtaking view before us. It was one of the most beautiful sights I’ve seen. I could’ve stayed up there for a while. “I think I just heard a mountain lion call,” Trey said. Oh, brother. It looked like our trek down the peak would be just as fun.

Thankfully our texts made it through to Mom and Dad, so they were fine with us taking our time, but we still wanted to make it down fast. I suggested we pray the rosary for a safe trip. After a few mild slips and passing some paw prints (oh boy), we made it back down in only an hour. Thank God for gravity! Unfortunately, altitude sickness and strenuous exercise got the best of me, and I spent the rest of the evening in the bathroom. Despite this, the next morning I was feeling better and ready to show Mom and Dad photos of our adventures.

Why did I just ramble on about climbing a mountain? I wanted to share that it taught me something. For all my anxieties, complaints, and sickness, it was absolutely worth it. I’d go through it all again just to see that view. I think my hike can remind us that we are not just called to face the metaphorical mountains in our lives. We must embrace the trials in order to see the beauty that’s on the other side. I’m sure my brothers were rewarded with the physical challenge and awesome sights of the trail, but for me, the journey meant even more. It was a full physical, mental, and spiritual workout. There were countless times I wanted to turn back because of my fear. There were moments my body didn’t want to put in the effort. But I kept pushing forward and accomplishing each challenge one at a time. I was reminded to reach out and pray to God to get my brothers and I safely through the journey. Sure, I was scared even after asking for His help, but I knew who to turn to, and that’s a start. Whatever the mountains are in each one of our lives, I hope my story can inspire others to face fears and not give up as we all climb to the ultimate goal. And that’s how you turn a mountain hike into a poetic anecdote about life.