Getting real for a few minutes…

I’ve climbed over rocks, crawled and climbed into caves, squeezed into tiny spaces, rock scrambled over boulders, rock jumped through creeks, and walked through water crossings, jumped in puddles while hiking in the rain, flown kites on mountain peaks, hiked in wind, rain, snow, through clouds (that’s the absolute best experience!), seen some of the most amazing sunrises, sunsets, and moon rising and settings! I’ve done it all for the love of nature, the thrill of the climb, and the perspective that changes with each hike.

I’ve also done it for the physical challenge, to keep my body strong and my mind alive, and because I’m rather competitive–not so much with other people–but because I always want to one up myself. It’s the attitude “If I can do that, why can’t I take the next step and do a bigger, better, harder, tougher, wilder one?”

And, so, I joined challenge after challenge, to keep that spirit alive, to give me one more mountains to conquer, one more peak to bag, several more miles to climb, and one more view to fall in love with. 

This weekend was a tough one. On sign up day for the Phoenix Summit Challenge I sat with my finger on the enter key waiting for the online registration to begin. With my mind set on getting into the challenge to reach all 7 peaks in one day I didn’t want to miss it and have to settle for 5 or 4 of the peaks. It is a challenge that fills within minutes and I didn’t want another year to go by that I didn’t get in.

Within minutes I was accepted and my training got underway. I hired a trainer and went out and hiked each of the peaks individually with the goal in mind to pre-hike as many as I could in a day, time allowing, to better my skills, my time, my strength, endurance, and confidence. I was feeling strong!

I knew I could do it, but my personal goal (it’s not a competitive hike) was to do it in a respectable time. I practiced by hiking Piestewa, Camelback, and a 13 mile loop up to Tom’s Thumb, down and around and back up the other side. That was just three days before it was all over for me. I sat up there wondering why I was having such a hard time with my strength and endurance and overall well-being. I felt as though I was going to faint several times on that climb. I attributed it to my diet, maybe the need for more carbs, or dehydration. I knew in the back of my mind that it could be Howard, my brain tumor, but I had convinced myself Howard was nothing I couldn’t take on.

Last winter Ron and I took on the Winter Six Pack of Peaks, hiking respectable desert mountains, and this past summer we completed the Summer Six Pack of Peaks hiking the bigger mountains in the cooler parts of our state. We loved these challenges and although I didn’t make it to the highest peak the first time (did it last year though) I went back a week later and finished that hike, slipped on my Wonder Woman cape and called it done.

Yesterday was the Phoenix Summit Challenge AND the finisher’s party for the Six Pack of Peaks. 

Glioblastoma won this round. I was unable to attend either. And I did not take it well. I sobbed from Friday night until Saturday afternoon. 

But, once again I’m surrounded by great people in my life–the day began with a text from a friend with an awesome morning meditation, followed by a picture of the day sent by another friend (who blesses me with fab photos of her travels or hikes daily), and a video call from another friend who was attending the finishers party for the Arizona Six Pack of Peaks, and several people at the party said hello to me. I also received daily texts from family and friends saying hello, wishing me well, or simply sending love. My sister came out of her way to take me to get my nails done which felt good and was long overdue. 

I have recovered from my meltdown and it’s onward and upward. Enjoy a few of my favorite photos from my hikes (its hard to choose only a few). 

Ribbons of love from my heart to yours, Pam