Why is Life a Mountain Path? Here's why:
1. It's tough. It's exhausting. It's possible to completely fail and fall short of your goal and still walk away feeling like it was absolutely completely worth every ounce of effort you put into it.
2. It makes you feel like you're getting somewhere. There is always foreseeable progress or failure.
3. You learn something new every time. Something you never expected to learn.
4. Not everyone has the desire to try it. Not everyone is successful. It's unique.
5. There is always a story to tell when you come back.
6. It's as close to standing in an alien environment that almost all of us will ever have the opportunity of experiencing.
7. The sunrises and sunsets above tree line are like nowhere else on earth. The shear beauty sends chills down your spin.
8. There has never been a more effective and perfect analogy to everyday life than the struggles, obstacles, and decision making that are required on a mountain. Almost immediately it becomes a zen-like experience or sport.
9. It gives you perspective on how insignificant the individual human experience really is, but it replaces that with showing you what we are capable of when we work together in teams. It takes sacrifice and commitment from every member of that team at every moment.
10. It's not always fun, but it can be. When you're finished lugging yourself up to the top, there is absolutely nothing up there but you, your buddies, and thin air.
11. Lastly, the feeling that hey I did something worthwhile today, it was all worth it. The feeling that I'm going to sleep well tonight!.. It's unmatched.
~Nick Whittemore
The 13th of January, 2014.
