The main goal of our trip was to accompany my mom to the top of Lone Peak on the fifth anniversary of my dad's death. Let me just say, I was not so sure I would be able to make it to the top. I was hiking with the likes of: Alex, who bikes 20 miles a day during the week and up to 50 on the weekends, Olivia, who hikes 15 miles regularly (albeit in the flatlands of Illinois), my mom, who had been training for 5 months by hiking 1200 feet of elevation almost every night, and Lindsey, who is just plain athletic. In comparison, I have gained 20 pounds, lost my ability to breath well and hold my pee, and have been running (in a good week) about 6 miles total. Thankfully, by ruthlessly taking advantage of the kindness of others, I managed to get out of carrying any kind of backpack. Poor Alex had about 6 liters of water in addition to my extra clothes, camera gear, and various other knickknacks on his back. And, well, you know the Messinger women. They didn't have to be carrying anyone else's crap to make their backpacks weigh well over the acceptable limit. As a result, I was in fact able to reach the top with everyone else. And boy oh boy, was it ever worth it.
At the top (11,253 feet)!
For more pictures and accounts see Liv's and Lindsey's blogs.
1 comment:
Interesting that your Mom, who had been training for this hike for 5 months, would have sold her soul for more air at any point, at any step, and you! You weren't out of breath once!! AAUGH!
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