vision quest 2012

These are the magnets that greet me everyday. 

And this is the mountain that greets me every day.

In a few weeks it will look like this.

Ahhh, much better, please hurry.

{go here to read why a vision quest seems like a good idea}

I show you the second picture to give you an idea of the vegetation involved. 

This mountain has been calling me to climb her for a long while. I've started several times and have turned back. There is no trail. It is trail blazing at it's finest. Or absolute WORST.

If you like to be slapped hard 'round the head with pointy branches then welcome home. If you like debris in your shoes and rips in your clothes, come to mama. It's the perfect storm to lose an eye.

 It's fairly vertical through extremely dense and scratchy scrub oak. Matt asked, in all seriousness, if I was bringing a chainsaw. There will be a big push at the top for those cliffs, but once up, there is a fabulous rim trail that heads back to town. From town I will run home, which is, unfortunately, a long slow uphill slog. 

Up, over and back...10 miles, 14 miles? Don't know, don't care.

It's a push.

I'm on a mission.

Someone mentioned drugs.

Great idea.

Maybe some darts for the bears we hear rooting around on this wild mountain.

No worries.

I'm very excited.

I plan to leave early and be back by lunch.

With a vision, damnit.

I'll let you know.

do not go where the path may lead

go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

emerson

it's me and you, ralph, me and you.