The Peak, Part I

The trailhead stands there before me, after two hour's drive, a peak with a panorama that others call sublime. I have been meaning to climb it, test my will and my heart, cannot believe it took this long just to come out this far. First half-mile is the hardest, the legs start feeling strain, bored by long hours of sitting now they rebel at pain. Wonder why I keep doing this, but still I do not stop, settle into a standard pace the pain begins to drop. Around me is a vast forest, everything looks alike, like I'm climbing through a tunnel, and can't rely on sight. Cling to a narrow walking path, where others went before, nothing but endless trees to see, I thought there would be more. Now the sweat starts to flow freely, and the lungs start to heave, but the peak just keeps on rising, getting harder to breathe. The breaks are coming more often, count my steps to distract my mind from asking fair questions, 'Why aren't we turning back?' To go through so much exertion just to see rocks and pines? What are we even doing here? What do we hope to find? Counting steps no longer working, my mood is getting rough, but then a glint of sunlight comes, outlines a ridge above. I push despite muscles aching, despite my tired feet, tell myself you must feel some pain if you're to climb the peak. Trees are now getting much smaller, the forest starts to thin, or vista I'd not imagined I start to get a glimpse... CONCLUDES IN PART II.