Let’s face it. No one would hike if there was no challenge. I tend to end the relationship with alarming circumstances of peril, to not repeat that which threatens me.
When Nyasha and Shante were in elementary school, a bit young to tackle camp alone, Mom and I plunged into Camp Robbinswold with them. It was called Partners Camping, Girl Scout camp. I definitely recommend it. It is very cool to return to childhood, experiencing cabins, activities and staff hilarity.
The Hike of Doom
Shante hasn’t changed much. Even then, she chose super adventurous activities, and then “someone” had to go along as her partner. The event should have been called the Hike of Dooooooom, but they called it Mountain Goating.
We had to meet before sunrise, definitely foreshadowing. The title was Mountain Goating for a reason! Livin’ on the edge. I pondered whether I would rather die of the heart attack that lurked, or by falling down the cliff side. Somehow, I survived. (Ya ya ya, Shante did it all without missing a beat. Her inner goat leapt at the opportunity.)
What did Nyasha say about the Cream of Wheat? “There were flames. It was intense.” Lots of intense. I have been on far too many trails since then, but I learned. They are mostly flat, mostly short, and they are NOT cliff side hikes. If I see an edge, a ledge, it’s time to go the other way.
Conrad and Nyasha arrived home yesterday. They were soaked to the bone, muddy, exhausted, alive. The alive part is always my favorite. They hiked to Lake Serene. There was a torrential downpour. The trails turned to muddy rivers. They nearly died. It was intense.
Kwami’s wisdom to Conrad was classic. “Don’t worry, winter is near.”
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