my Favorite place on earth....

I could  wander through this place and over 

these mountains every day,

and never get tired of the grandness of it all.

It's incredibly humbling being surrounded~

by something that is so much greater 

than me.

One More Time~ Trail re-visited

Remember the couple I met in this post  ~~Just One More Time.... ?

Well I was lucky enough to make another trip to the mountains last weekend, and re-hike the trail where I had met them last Fall.
I wanted to see what they had seen over the years- the differences between the seasons.
And....in a sense....hike the trail in honor of the both of them,  who said they had hiked their last up to this amazing place.

(the bench where they sat and we visited last fall)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Snow had fallen during the night, and when I got to the trail head

I was thrilled to find no one yet had arrived...

{which meant I got to make the first tracks in the new snow.}

I felt like a kid. 

First one to make new tracks is something to smile over.

(for me at least:)

My favorite "difficult trail" was closed for the winter, so Easy it was.

But just as beautiful.

The view as I climbed were just as breathtaking as in the summer...maybe more so after a snowfall.

And then The Lakes came into view.

It was unearthly quiet and still.

And beautiful.

I truly felt as though I had stumbled into some sort of winter dream.

No wonder they loved this place in the winter.

I can't even describe it, nor can these pictures.

It seems as though the couple I met months ago had a secret in this winter trail~ 
and I'm incredibly thrilled they shared it with me.

Just one more time......

Two months ago I hiked up to a mountain lake. 

There are 2 paths you can take to get there....

The "Easy Trail" and The "Difficult".

I have always like the Difficult route.

It's full of narrow walkways, 

a wooden/rock stairway, trickling springs that flow over the trail in places....

it's definitely the more beautiful of the 2 paths.

The scenery as you climb is magnificent.

It takes your breath away, and not just because of the steep ascent.

On this particular hike, I was followed on the Difficult route

 ~(and sometimes passed)~ 

by 2 elderly people. 

One walked with  2 canes, the other with a considerable limp. 

I wanted to turn at times and offer my assistance across the streams of water and slippery rocks- 

but something stopped me.

I was truly amazed by this seemingly persistent couple.

When I finally arrived at this particular lake ~ I stopped beside it and took (of course),

countless picture from every angle I could of everything I could see.

I turned to find the same couple resting on a bench, just watching everything going on around them.

They seemed quiet yet happy, and I couldn't help but take a few steps towards them and make some remark of how beautiful it all was.

This began an incredible conversation. One I won't soon forget.

To sum up the heart of our chat,

they had been married for 50+ years and had hiked up to this lake every year they'd been together.

And they didn't just come in the fairer months of the summer.

Winter was just as beautiful they said.

And then the woman stated, 

"This will be our last climb here. 

We have gotten to the point where it's to difficult for us to make this journey like we have been. 

But we wanted to take it just one more time. 

Today."

I tried to hide the tears from my eyes.

Something hit me in that moment. 

My imagination created the past 50 years of this couple, 

coming together and walking this trail year after year.

Summer or winter- they came.

Year after year- through whatever the season, they hiked the trail to this spot.

And there I was, 

actually sharing their moment with them surrounded by incredible beauty they were seeing for the last time.

I felt humbled. And honored.

And wanted to let them be.

But they were ever so gracious and continued to chat, asking me questions and sharing information about this mountain and its trails.

I felt so blessed to be part of their moment.

~~~~~~~

I have hiked this trail several times over the years.

Never in the winter.

Although I now plan to during this one.

For some reason their story touched me in a way I can't explain.

Maybe it was their commitment to the trail and mountain.

~Their commitment to one another.~

Their persistence that I saw while they struggled up the trail.

Their love for a place I love.

I'm not sure just quite what it is.

I do know that I will never think of this trail in quite the same way.

Their life has somehow been etched into my heart through all the beauty which lies up there.

I just wish and hope, that the next time I go....maybe, 

they will have decided they were able to take that trail just one more time.

~~~~~

Inquiring minds want to know...

On weekends ~during the "warm season"~ and when time allows, the need to get away from the mundane often arises and we head for the hills.
The Rocky Mountains to be exact. 
Within a few hours we can be lost amongst the majestic stone walls and the beauty they hold.


I came across this set of photos from one of those treks into the wilderness....when 3 years ago we decided to venture out for a day.


Our favorite day hike is a 3 and 1/2 hour drive from our driveway....the hike takes an hour. 
Two if you linger at the head of the falls for lunch.


Every minute of the drive is worth it.


The Falls are spectacular. 
The rushing sound begins to greet you long before you even come close to viewing the source. And once you're close, the spray covers you and your fellow hikers. A welcome mist if the day is warm.

It's when we walk up the trails that inquiring minds begin to speak.

Thoughts rush forward into words, questions are raised- hopeful for answers.

The outdoors and wilderness seems to do that to a person.

The mind seems to clear and simple matters become beautiful thoughts.

And wonderful inquiries.

It was on one of these ventures 3 years ago, that this little guy posed a thought.

Sitting on a large boulder eating trail mix from a small bag,

he looked up at me wonderingly.

Over the rush of water, his biggest thought was:

"How DOES God shut this thing off at night?"

The beauty and wonder of the outdoors.

{Inquiring minds want to know.}

Even if there are no answers, the question is enough.

 And sometimes, can be an answer in itself.

Wilderness Wonders

Going through photos of past backpacking trips....came across some of my favorite trails and views.

~~~

the river by morning

true and vivid green

part of laughing falls- and they really do laugh

look how far we've come

that waterfall "across the way" is actually very large when you're underneath it

rule of the trail:

don't always look down~for up has a lot to offer

hidden gem

Planning a few summer backpack trips already....one being from my Bucket List- 

the West Coast Trail.

I have ants-in-my-pants to get out there!!

Eyes Wide Open

Beauty can be found in the most unexpected of places.
~~~~~~~~
Just keep your eyes wide open
************
(Yoho National Park~
found just under the Ice Line)


(Just wanted you to know my posting and comments on your blogs may be a bit sporadic over the next couple of weeks. (And many of my posts will be scheduled to show up when I'm not:))
I will still come by to visit, but you may not always here from me until things "calm" down around her a tad:))  I'm hoping I will catch up on all of you soon.
~Blog-On, dear friends!)