This semester I had the opportunity to hike Old Rag Mountain over fall break. I have to say I have never enjoyed a hike more than this one, and I have been on a lot of hikes. The trail started out as just a regular back and forth winding up the majority of the mountain, but nonetheless it was a little tough because I am pretty out of shape. It was also very monotonous which made the going a little tougher. I went with my boyfriend and we got to what we thought was the summit, so we downed our really unhealthy but delicious Sally Bell lunches. Unfortunately, we were VERY wrong; we were not at the summit, just at an open space with a gorgeous view. After we figured this out, we kept going, and I got a little cramped after all the food. I had heard about the rock scramble, so I was super excited to get to that part. When we finally got there, I literally could not stop squealing with delight at the challenge that each rock presented. I actually had much more energy during that part, which was much more physically demanding, than the beginning part of the winding back and forth. Finally, we got to the top, and words cannot describe the view. Breathtaking is an understatement. I don't think I had ever been that high outside of an airplane. I am trying to find words to describe the experience, but it is almost impossible. I knew then, though, that I believed unmistakably in God. I cannot think of another way that such beauty can exist. It has to be God. On the way back down, I started having a little more trouble. I was wearing a pair of boots that I had only worn once or twice before, so I had really horrible blisters which turned out to be little pools of blood when I took them off. Not only that, but my feet started going numb, or falling asleep. I am not really sure, what was going on, but they hurt like someone was stabbing them with every step. I guess it was the fact that I was surrounded by such life, by something so much greater than myself, that I was able to get past the pain and keep moving. I think I was so amazed ad so distracted that I forgot about it a lot of the time. Especially on the rock scramble on the way back down I forgot about it. Something else I noticed along the trail was the communitas. True, it is only Old Rag, not super long, but it definitely has it's challenging parts. I loved talking to whoever I wanted to, getting and giving encouragement. I know I will be back on that mountain as soon as possible.
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