~MAPLE MOUNTAIN~

Wow! What a day! I am exhausted, drained and physically overwhelmed...I have spent the day with my friends that are so far above me when it comes to fitness that it is almost laughable but, I gave it a great effort and tried desperately to stay up, not complain to loudly and well at times just BREATH!

Maple Mountain looms just minutes from my house. I have lived here for 23 years and never climbed to the top. After today, I now know why. I have climbed Timp. several times and it is challenging but not bad. Maple is challenging and BAD! It is rocky, steep and possibly a heart attack just waiting to happen...seriously! However, the view and the company you take with you is worth every slip of the foot, every twist of an ankle and every snow field you slide down to your untimely demise (or shorts full of mud. Thank you Kami for coming with me and making me feel better about that wonderfully BAD decision)!

When we finally reached the top, the wind was blowing and the temperature was a bit chilly to say the least...we ate our lunch quickly, took a few pictures and began our decent to a warmer altitude as fast as our sore knees and ankles would allow us. Most of our group liked going up better than coming down...does that make sense to anyone? Perhaps that helps you understand the examples of physical phenomenons I was hiking with today!!!

All in all it was a great day. I will recover in a couple of weeks...okay days and yes, I will do it again. Just wait to ask me for a few weeks! My knees will need that long to forgive me!

P.S.

I found my cell phone! It wasn't lost on the glacier after all...