1st climb to mission peak for 2025! -the micks #missionpeak
picked a nearly perfect day! several different color, types of wildflowers.. pretty birds, giant butterflies, few deer spottings.. -a baby & mama cow, one on each side of one of the gates we needed to pass through; where the baby stood up as we got close, and made me feel extra cautious.. fellow hiker, and regular visitor to mission peak helped guide us in between the cows safely.. "thank you!" /works at regional hospital in san jose
and, met another kind hiker/climber.. 67 years old, hikes mission peak 4x a week! is the youngest of a group of 4? 5? who climb mountains together around the world! including mt kilimanjaro.. very inspiring to learn about this -also shared about his gratitude to the USA, the life he has been able to enjoy having escaped communism of vietnam at age 11?
and, we knew as he continued on, we'd see him already coming back down, while we were still en route up; -sure enough..
but robert and i smile and acknowledge to each other, "this is our mt kilimanjaro!" -it is a true challenge; meets us write where we're at, endurance wise.. it is a workout for our lungs, heart, muscles, -entire body. we take the 'advanced' more challenging path going up, and then take the easier, more popular path on our return.
ours is a more annual visit than a weekly or monthly one.. 2 or 3 times and at different times during the year. we've encountered strong winds at the peak, but on this occasion, calm and beautiful.. giant butterflies fluttering about, and even a hummingbird & butterfly competing for air space..
the views, on a clear day like it was..!! does not get better; the ultimate reward.
also, they've added a helicopter pad near the peak; and we did get to see a SJPD helicopter land briefly and take back off.. pretty cool.
we had plans to go out for a celebratory cocktail once we completed our hike; but.. on the way back down, the winds picked up and
perhaps because my body was pretty taxed from the climb, and more vulnerable as a result:
allergy attack! eyes itching non stop; nose running non-stop..
so instead of going out, we went home and stayed in. i doubled up on my nasocort + some aleve, rest.. water..
and feel all the way back to normal today. with a great sense of accomplishment and enrichment from our hike.
always, always... God's gorgeous landscape! "Thank You!" hallelujah & amen.
#missionpeak
posted by SANDRA MICKANEN @ 10:03 AM
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