Hike up Ciucas Mountain

I thought I should take a moment to write about my hiking experience. Last Saturday i went on my first mountain hike. Not only was it my first mountain hike, it was my first hike in the snow. It was also my first time to experience 2* weather. I've never worn so many clothes. I've never worked up a sweat and still not have feeling in my feet and hands. All this to say, it was a new experience for me.

When the Hartmans invited me to go with them on the hike I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I think I just thought that I would hike for about an hour, eat lunch, and hike back down. Well....I was completely wrong. We started the hike at around 10am and started up the mountain. i found out right away that walking in snow is hard. I kept up well for the first 30-45 minutes. I thought I was almost there. It started getting colder, the snow started getting deeper, an my legs started getting more and more tired. "Just a few more steps" I kept telling myself. I started falling further and further behind the rest of the group. They would stop and take a break, I would catch up only to begin walking again.

I pressed on through the snow thinking to myself, "This is so terrible, I never want to do this again. I don't like this at all." I kept on going, starring at the foot prints in the snow that I would step in attempting to make it a little bit easier. I analysed the situation and my experience and realized that I wasn't enjoying myself because people were seeing my weakness. They were seeing me in a way that I didn't like. They all knew I couldn't keep up, they all knew I wasn't in great shape, they all saw me falling further and further behind, tripping as I walked, and trying to shake the numbness from my hands. The saw the unlovely.

I saw my pride.

Do I not like this because it isn't fun, or is it because I'm not good at it. You see, although it did hurt, it was hard, I was freezing, I was most upset that people saw my weakness and it hurt my pride. The last stretch before I reached the lunch spot was spent in prayer and meditation on the scriptures. I thought of His strength in my weakness. My ability to hike through the snow doesn't really define me. "Get over it, Bekah, and enjoy the beauty of His creation."

I reached the top with excitement! (Although my face probably didn't look all that excited, I really was! I was to tired to jump around though. :) I had a nice lunch. I felt like it had been a victory, and it wasn't all that bad. However, my heart sank when I heard we still had an hour more to go. When we started up again I couldn't seem to get warm. The wind whipped into my face, my hands were stiff and cold, my toes....well...i couldn't feel them anymore, but my feet hurt with every step. My body was so cold it didn't know what to do. I told my legs to move, but they didn't want to. The icy wind made my eyes water, which then froze to my face.

Ed saw my pain and frustration and told me it was time for us to go back. My first thoughts were, "No. i don't want to be a loser, I want to keep going. I want them to know I can do it!" Then I realized, it was okay, it didn't matter if they saw me weak or unskilled. I can be the worst hiker in the world, and still love and serve the Lord.

We went down the mountain at a much slower pace (or so it seemed to me). I really had time to stop and look at the snow covered mountain, trees, etc. I spent time enjoying God's creation and admiring its beauty and wonder. I've never spent much time in the mountains. I've been asked the question, "Mountains or Beach?" Growing up on the beach I, of course, know it like the back of my hand and enjoy it greatly. I would always say i love the beach more; it was prettier, it was more fun, warm, relaxing, etc. Well, after spending this one day in the mountain I feel like the two can't really be compared. I still love the beach and miss it like crazy, but snowy mountains will now definitely have a place in my heart. :)

This was one of the hardest things I've ever done...seriously, but i'm so glad I did it. I'm so glad Ed took pictures so I can remember the experience...and also to use as proof. haha. :)