Reality hits

Once I reached the snow fields, reality hit me. I started to get off the rocks and onto the snow just to test the ability of my crampons and realized real quick the difficulty and severity of the long journey ahead. With barely a slope to the mountain at this point, it was already getting tricky finding any traction. Since it was so early in the morning all of the top layer snow was completely frozen over making it nearly impossible to summit. My heart started to race and my mind felt like it was fully aware of the situation ahead.

Each step felt like stepping on floor that had been completely covered in soap. No matter how light and slow I stepped, my footing damn near gave out every time. After every two steps, I’d plant my hiking poles firmly into the ground to catch myself from completely flying down the mountain. Worst of all, as I’m trekking up, my camera falls off my tripod and begins to tumble down the mountain. I couldn't believe it. Luckily, I caught it before it could get away from me, but after grabbing it, I just sat there and said to myself, “How did I even get into this?”, “Am I insane.” With still 1/4 of the snow field to climb, I was looking down at all I had done and the slope of the mountain and was in shock I was even in this position.

As I slowly got up, looking at everything and everyone around me still carrying on, I continued my journey and told myself, there’s no way I’m allowing myself to quit now. No matter how hard it gets, no matter how many times I fall, I must make it to the top. I had a sudden wave of belief hit me out of nowhere that gave me the perseverance and resilience to continue. A touch and message from God, telling me everything will be okay.