The View From The Top

I have been unreasonably lazy this summer.

OK, this last year.

I’ve kind of holed up a bit, and I don’t necessarily think it’s a good thing. Part of the reasoning was that the Lupron really wiped me out while I was on it, but I don’t have that excuse anymore. In fact, if anything I should be working to get myself more active so that I can keep my anxiety down over this next few weeks.

So, when I popped open the blinds this morning and realized how beautiful it was outside, I told myself that there would be no more excuses. I put on my tennies and headed out the door to go hike Flattop.

It’s pretty hard to tell why they call it that, right?

This is my favorite hike in Alaska, mostly because of its proximity. Just 20 minutes outside of town and you are there; huffing and puffing for a good 2 hour workout.

Alright, so most people here in town would classify Flattop as an “easy” mountain, and having done a few of the not so easy mountains in the past I would have to agree. But flattop is still a nice little workout, and when you’ve been as non-athletic as I’ve been lately; it still hurts!

But the view makes it all worth it.

I was hurting before I had even finished a quarter of the hike. A fact which wasn’t helped by the snow that still peppered the trail.

But I trudged forward and forced myself to get to the top. Even though I wanted to turn around and give up 100 times.

And let me tell you; for as many times as I’ve done this mountain in the past, it was really pathetic how many times I had to convince myself not to turn back now.

Especially as I was getting passed up by 10 year olds!

I am now home, and showered, and sore; but so happy I got out and enjoyed Alaska today. There were so many families with their children out on the trail; so many dads with baby packs on their backs.

I just stared at them all in awe, and thought to myself how amazing it will be when I have a family of my own to share Alaska with.

Because I really do live in a pretty incredible state.

A state that is full of beauty and things to do.

A state that I cannot wait to share with my children.

Of course, given how much I was struggling with just a water pack today, I’m not sure I’ll ever be carrying any baby packs while I trudge up that mountain.

In fact, I think my kids are going to have to wait until they can walk on their own before they get to experience Flattop.

And when that day comes, I'm thinking I might have to figure out some way to corral them and keep them from running ahead of their out of shape mom.

Because that would just be far too embarrassing for me.