On Top of the World

“Only if you have been in the deepest valley, can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain.” -- Richard M. Nixon

I hiked in the White Mountains in my home state of New Hampshire on Saturday with my sister.  It could not have been a more perfect day.  Nancy was excited to share this particular hike with me and now I can't wait to pay it forward myself.  It was a special mountain with amazing views and it was way more than just a simple hike.

Nancy and I hiked a total of 8 hours and 8.9 miles. Both Lincoln and Lafayette were 5000 foot peaks.  We went up the Falling Waters Trail hiking next to a series of beautiful waterfalls, across the majestic Franconia Ridge, with it's spectacular views and rocky trail and came down the challenging Old Bridle path passing the AMC hut (still haven't peed in the woods, thanks to that hut). After finishing, we sat on a curb in the parking lot drinking fluids, floating in a tired endorphin high and my favorite part, basking in the "I fucking did it" moment. This hike is one of the most popular hikes in the White Mountains and there were a lot of people "that fucking" did it too that day, but I was savoring my own joy in a hike well done.  It was a day shared with about 200 others, but as Nancy reminded me, only about 1% of the world has done what I just did.  I finished strong, felt great throughout, hadn't fallen, had plenty of food and water and loved every minute of it. It was my 21st and 22nd mountain, my 3rd and 4th high peak in NH and my 5th and 6th 4000 footer (or greater) overall.  I was no longer a newbie and I was loving my new world found in the mountains.

When I say the views were awesome, I don't mean, "oh isn't that pretty", I mean awesome times infinity and beyond.  It was hard to believe or grasp how beautiful it was as I hiked.  A hot sun, blue skies, fluffy white clouds, a spectrum of colors, little white flowers clumped between the rocks, and miles upon miles of mountainous 360 degree views.  I happily snapped pictures all along the way knowing that they wouldn't come close to capturing the perfection in front of me, just as I know now that my words won't either.  After we started our descent, a Glider started it's own journey riding the air patterns and winding it's way around the mountain.  It was just so cool.  If my views were magnificent, his must have been over the top. Eventually we climbed down into the trees and except for a few open cliff views, the last 3 miles were in the woods, eventually looping back to the waterfalls we loved much earlier in the day and finally the trail head.

Two weekends previously, I had hiked North and South Hancock.  That was a  h. i. k. e.  I left blood, sweat, and tears behind on the trail.  It was hard work, never ending and though I was pleased to have "bagged it", it was not a fun day.  I hummed the "Imperial Death March" as I stomped my way to the finish. Lincoln and Lafayette were different, it was way more than just a hike.  It was a coming out party for me.  It was proof that I am strong and capable.  I was more alive and in the moment than any other time in my life. And while I fantasized about eating an ice cream cone all the way down the mountain, I found I didn't want it when we were done because there was nothing in me that needed the momentary numbing that I seek with food.  I was already at peace.  My head was too filled with joy, there was no room for worries or negativity. It was way more than a hike, it was a glimpse of who I can be.