Three days and nights of backpacking and climbing mountains. Many bug bites from blackflies and mosquitos; at least one tick bite (caught it in time). Sweat and exhaustion and pain from steep trails with much elevation change, a few stumbles on uneven ground – rocks, mud, tree roots. Stabbing, aching pain in the knees, hips, ankles, back and shoulders. A little dizzy from the heat. Blistered feet. Discouragement when we got lost and had to backtrack, worry about getting lost when we just weren’t sure of the way. Got caught in the rain during a thunderstorm by the lake at the base of a mountain – clothes and hair soaking wet, packs stayed dry. Slept poorly in the tent and worse in the car. Burned our food trying to cook over a camp stove in the dark after a long day. We smelled terrible and felt worse.

And yet – we were lucky enough to see a beaver swimming towards its dam across a creek. Canadian geese and baby mallards with their mum on the pond. We think we heard an owl one night, at camp. Tadpoles in a puddle at the top of a mountain. Saw what we think were salamander eggs. Lost count of the salamanders and the frogs and the toads. Watched a crow fly from the top of black mountain down across the lake. Found feathers from blue jays. Saw countless flowers and moths. Watched the sunrise across the pond. Moss and lichen on boulders and fallen trees. No cell service to speak of for days. Stretches of flat trail where the ground was covered in fallen pine needles. Did a sun salutation at the summit of a mountain. Had to learn to slow down to avoid injury. Talked about philosophy and heartbreak. Used walking meditation as a way to measure distance, as well as a way to manage pain. Observed that food tastes better when you’re very tired and very hungry. Fell asleep one night to the sound of thunder as we stayed dry in a lean to and watched the lighting light up the sky. Concluded the trip with a creek walk to the base of a waterfall.

And the views from the mountains were pretty.