Pastor Rubi has begun a new study in the adult Bible study on Mountain Climbing. As he was teaching this past Sunday several thoughts came to my mind concerning climbing mountains. I never did mountaineering, but I have hiked up to the top of several mountains in the Prescott National Forest. Here are a few things relating to what pastor taught that were interesting to me.
First, when you climb any mountain, you do not start at sea level. Spruce mountain is about 7700 feet above sea level. The trail head is about 6000 feet above sea level. Any mountain you climb you first have to get close before you begin the final ascent.
Second, as you hike up or climb a mountain, your field of vision is very narrow. Hiking up Spruce mountain I found it important to watch just a few feet in front of me looking only at the trail. In mountaineering, your focus is your next foot hold or hand hold. You can only focus on what's right in front of you. I would plan my rest/water breaks to stop where I could see the view. There are too many rocks and roots to not watch where you are going.
Finally, the view at the top. Pastor says that the mountain top is where things become clear and you can see for miles. That might be true sometimes. Often the mountain top is in a forest so all you can see are trees. Depending where you are hiking, mountaintops are often covered in clouds. You can't see anything. To be on an open, clear, sunny mountaintop is lucky at best.
One bonus thought. You either have to be in shape to climb a mountain or you will have to hike into shape. It took me three times to hike up Spruce mountain before, on my fourth try, I made it. Mountain climbing is strenuous, and not a walk in the park. You need some gear, some water, and you need to know where you are going. Can you follow the trail?
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