If it's the last Sunday, it must be Hale.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres...13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.

I don't always go Biblical, but when I do, it is to lift you up, not tell you why you are going to Hell.

And full disclosure  after 10 years of Catholic school and 1.5 years at St. Anselm, I had to look that up.  

I am sure there is some hiker prayer somewhere, but today, this made the most sense.  I was tested as a leader, and I chose the path of lifting someone up.  I admit that I am a hiking snob, but I am not one who thinks that there is one right type of hiker.  I think everyone can hike, some just have different abilities than others.  Not everyone can or wants to do the NH48.  Not everyone will climb Washington.  Not everyone is out for views.  Not everyone looks like a "hiker."  Some are young, some as old enough to be my great grandparents.  Some take longer to get to the top, others save their knees on the way down. And there are those who fly up faster than eagles. To each their own.

Some more disclosure:  I am obese, not just overweight, but second column obese.  According to society, I am a drain on the healthcare system and an embarrassment to society.  I don't eat well, scarf down McDonalds, etc.  I am lazy, don't care about myself, etc, etc.  My answer to that, BULLSHIT.  In the last few years, my doctors have not mentioned my weight.  Probably because they know I am out close to every weekend hiking.  I am slow, I get winded, but I make it up the mountain.  Slow and steady wins the race.  I may not be able to hike with many groups, but the joy of hiking is you make so many friends.   So many people, just enough for whatever the trail tosses at you.  And sometimes, there is the joy of being alone with your thoughts.  It’s all good.

So to today's hike.  My 4th time on Hale.  There was blue sky.  Did it go as planned?  No.  Did I have fun?  Yes.  Did the mountain humble me?  Of course.  Did I get free cheese and great s'more advice?  OH yeah.  Did we get down before the storms?  Yes.  Did I stand in the river for 5 minutes?  YUP.  Any other questions?  I do think my toe stress is due to my new boots.  They need to get over it.  

Now on to more important questions such as what goes on my playlist.  There are some easy winners, such as RUSH and almost every James Taylor song.  A few Beastie Boys.  But it gets trickier.  OK, the Police may be easy, but the Eagles and Grateful Dead are hard.  Some of the most beautiful songs make me cry because they are just so beautiful.  The penultimate example:  Ripple.  Such a great song, but I cry when I hear it.  There is just something about that song.  My cheap speakers work well, so whatever goes on that list will sound awesome.  

Eisenhower.

First some Philosophy:

A tree fell in the woods, I heard it.

If you curse up a blue streak in the woods, and no one is around to hear it, do you still go to Hell?

OK, I was supposed to do Washington Saturday, but since I am still recovering from gastroenteritis (think that scene from Aliens) and a head cold with a migraine or two mixed in, it was not the best idea.  I hiked a bit in the Blue Hills yesterday because the forecast scared me.  Today was not better, but I left the house at 4:30 to bag #9.  By the time I got gas, checked weather at the Highland Center and dilly dallied, I was on the trail at 8.  Within ½ hr, I was ready to turn back.  I haven’t hiked in 2 weeks and they were a lousy two week.  My pack felt heavy, so I kept drinking water.  I was already hydrated.  I needed a release, thinking that would make me feel better.  And it did for about 10 minutes, then I was DRAGGING. I started singing that song from Revenge of the Nerds when they fixing up the house.  I hurt, I was tired, I was worried about the weather.  About a mile in and I was ready to quit.  I needed inspiration.  Then it hit me.  I have 13 songs on my phone (that is the memory limit).  So I took it out, tried to find and volume, and off I went.  Guess what?  I worked, very well.  I even hiked a bit faster, a bit.  And somehow my little cheap Samsung phone knew exactly which I needed at the perfect time.  Granted I heard some songs at least 3 times, but whatever works, use it.  My 13 songs:

Ain’t No Mountain High Enough - Marvin Gaye version

Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson

Dynamite - Jamiroquai

Good Vibrations - Marky Mark

I’m Free- Kenny Loggins

Live Like We’re Dying - Kris Allen

My Life - Robin Thicke

Nothin’ on You - B.o.B

Rock Your Body - Justin Timberlake

Somewhere Only We Know - Keane

The Choice is Yours - Black Sheep

The Dynamo of Volition - Jason Mraz

Winning - Santana

If I had the room I would add The Secret ‘O Life by James Taylor.  That is my all time favorite song.  I guess I could upgrade or buy speakers.  I have a week.  Update: bought speakers...thinking Monroe Sat.

As I hiked along, I mouthed the words, sang a bit when I could. Heck, I was alone for most of the trip up.  Yeah, I was still slow.  Yeah, I took lots of breaks, but it worked.  Very well in fact.  The music took my mind off the effort to get up.

Now if I was with a group, that is different.  Once the conversations start, next thing you know, you are there.  I shy away from groups.  I am really just starting to hike seriously and can’t devote much time during the school year.  And I am slow.  Well, that depends on who you talk to.  I am either molasses or a Kenyan runner.  But the people I hike with give me something I can’t give myself, encouragement.  Oh, I have my goal and that works well, but sometimes a bit of acknowledgement goes a long way.  Just hearing, “good job, you’re doing great” can change my mood.  Some might find it demeaning, but I am not in the best hiking shape and it is hard for me.  Kind words are always welcome.  Even the people at the summit were very encouraging.  Probably because I used the Lord’s name in vain a few times, loudly. And for the record, I consider hiking going to church.  It is a wonder I was not struck down by that lightning.  

So I made it to #9.  YAY.  But the fun began after.  Warning: childfree/mandated reporter rant coming up.  About halfway down the loop, I heard a kid whining.  Really?  In the Presis?  With this forecast?  By alas, it was true.  There was a group with a young child, 3, 4 in a month.  Radar goes nuts.  I asked them where he had hiked, where they were going, etc.  I don’t know if they stayed at Mizpah, but they were headed to Lake of the Clouds and then Washington for the Cog Railway because he liked trains.   One of the guys even told me of the hail potential.  They were trying to give me Clif bars because they brought too many.  If I had service, I would have called the Forest Service, than whatever Social Service agency handles children.  I’m sorry, but Crawford Path with the forecast what it was is no place for a young child.  I know, all kids are different, but to expect to get him to Washington is a bit much in my book.  What happens when he gets tired and doesn't want to walk anymore.  This was about at noon.  When I was about 1 miles from my car, about 2 I guess, I could hear thunder.  But what could I do in the case?  Lake of the Clouds was likely the best place for them to go at that point.  I really hope they ended up safe for all hell broke loose.  They better have an extra 10K somewhere if they needed rescuing.  I am putting this above parents who want pictures of their kids with moose in the background.  

So on the way down, I met a fantastic group of women from Wilderness Heals.  We had a great conversation and I am doing it next year.  It is a whole lot to fund raise, but it is for such a good cause.  I need to start now, though.  

I am sure there were great views.  But who cares, I got #9.  39 more to go.  I actually did get a few bites, they showed up when I got home.  More DEET.  When you think of the fact that I have been living on a BRAT diet, couldn't exercise, and had 3 hours of sleep, I think I did great.  3:25 to the summit.  OH and those baby food yogurt pouches...YUMMY.  Love the kale, spinach, apple Greek yogurt.  And you can freeze them too.  I miss real food.

Dust bunnies

Excuse the dust.  I haven’t been here in a while.  But today was one of those days that requires  a blog.  I think there will be many.  At least 39 more.  I have decided to complete the NH48.  It involves climbing, mountains, over 4K ft.  It is hard, punishing even, but I am hard-headed, err determined.  So a new journey begins.  Who needs a Ph.D. when I can climb mountains and be happier?  And save $$, well a bit of $$.  I have plenty of time for that, when I retire.