From the Top

Color me simultaneously proud and embarrassed that last night I made it to a mountain summit for the first time in (I think) over two years. At just under 3,000ft, Thunder Mountain is probably the lowest peak in the Juneau area, but it is notoriously strenuous, and it very near wiped me out. With an ascent time of roughly two hours, I'm afraid it might have taken me almost a half an hour longer to get to the top than it ever has before. Does anyone else wish they didn't live around the same "fitness evaluators" that they did in high school? Anyway, the light that spurred me to action was long since gone by the end of my climb, and clouds mostly dominated the sky while I was on top. The landscape was impressive regardless. Descending in just under an hour, I was pleased to have only one minor slip in the twilight/dark.

I share your pain. I went up Primrose Ridge in Denali this summer and it darn near killed me. And that's only 2,000 feet. Nice shot of that spectacular country.

Ah yes... it's not nice to be reminded how old you are, is it? How well I know the feeling. We've been trying to get back in shape this summer; my husband getting back after foot surgery, and me trying to get back in shape after foolishly thinking that I would be able to keep up an exercise regimen while working and taking care of him! Being in your 50's makes you long for your 40s!!!!
We recently hiked up Exit Glacier Trail and remembered how easy it USED to be to do things like that.
Nice picture; it's worth it, isn't it? Looks like your tree line down there is pretty high. I just love getting above tree line, up onto the tundra.
Here's to staying young....