October 12, 2016

​

I could have crossed this item off a number of times before this excursion with my mother, however it was the first mountain PEAK I climbed.  

​

This may seem unimportant, but let's recount the times I DIDN'T count. 

​

1) Pikes Peak, Colorado, 1999 - Our family rode the train to the top.  Side note - if you ever decide to go to Pike's Peak, take the train! It was awesome. 

​

2) Blencathra (AKA Saddleback) Mountain, England 2013 - We got to the top, but it's only 2,800 ft.  It was a great workout, but barely qualified as a "mountain".  

 

3) Paintbrush Divide, Grand Tetons, Wyoming, 2014 -  By FAR, the most strenuous hike I've ever done.  Hiked almost 20 miles in one day and reached an elevation of almost 11,000.  However, it wasn't a mountain top that was achieved, but the ridge between two canyons, which rested among the mountain tops. 

​

4) Mt. Duke, Kosovo, 2017 - Didn't reach the peak of the 10,600 ft. mountain due to a snow storm.  As much of a bitch as mountain was. 

​

5) Coma Pedrosa, Andorra, 2017 - Again, we didn't make it to the top due to lack of daylight and preparation. 

​

​

However, on the fateful day of October the 12th, 2016, I finally achieved my dream of climbing to the top of an actual mountain. My mom flew down to Texas to meet up with me before I deployed to explore Big Bend National Park. This is where we climbed the highest peak in the park; Emory Peak.   It was quite the workout for both of us, a rough, almost 10 mile hike to reach an almost 8,000 ft. mountain. The final 1/4 mile or so to the top was a scramble. It got a little hairy, but damn were we proud of ourselves when we reached the top! I'm so proud of my mom - so strong and active into her 50's. I hope to be like that when I'm that age. Overall, I'm glad I got the opportunity to travel with her, even for a short amount of time. 

​

​

​