Why Go To The Mountains?
Some people might wonder why a person might go to the mountains —especially when the weather is not perfect.
Why would someone subject themselves to hazards beyond their control?
—Endure the harsh days of cold, snow, wind, and obscured sight?
Why go to a place where nothing grows?
Why expend the effort to go all that way, only to return?
As a mountain-person, I cannot deny that these questions are valid. To the outsider, the act of mountain climbing for the sake of the adventure alone, comes with a commitment to being there, to subjecting oneself to discomfort, to stepping with vulnerability into a world beyond one’s knowing. There is inherent risk involved. And if one’s life is not greatly enhanced by such activities, going to these extreme places may not prove to be worth the risks involved.
So why do I choose to go to the mountains again and again? Why do I continue to push myself into the further realms of obscurity? Why do I choose the path less traveled?
Put simply, I find that this world of the mundane is made more tolerable and comprehensible after enduring the trials of –sleepless nights out in the cold under starlit skies –losing my way in the darkness in a place unfamiliar to my senses –moments when I have felt worn and broken with miles yet to walk. Maybe the greatest thing that these adventures have given me, is the gift of perspective –or the gift of coming to know myself, when all I have left to identify with is the determined and steady flame burning within my tired body.
It is in these moments of struggle and raw experience, where I have felt the most alive. And it seems this is a common thread. Yet in order to bring oneself to this bare existence, requires a certain amount of determination and willingness to walk towards that which is uncomfortable.
My journey is married to fear. Fear is the instigator that has driven me onwards. Uncertainty has become a friend. Impermanence a trusted ally. The practice of accepting what comes, is one that gets a welcomed refresh every time I venture into the lands beyond the everyday. I am taught to never force anything. To always be grateful, and to simply respond to the changing conditions.
I am grateful for the perspective these adventures and places have bestowed upon me.
I am humbled by the learnings that continue to shape my view.
I am doing my best to bear witness to my experiences, and be receptive to what comes.
______________________________________________________________
Perhaps this quote by Rene Daumal, one I have resonated with for many years now, will help to clarify:
“You cannot stay on the summit forever; you have to come down again. So why bother in the first place? Just this: What is above knows what is below, but what is below does not know what is above. One climbs, one sees. One descends, one sees no longer, but one has seen. There is an art of conducting oneself in the lower regions by the memory of what one saw higher up. When one can no longer see, one can at least still know.”
______________________________________________________________
This season, with Grounding Truth, going to the mountains started taking on a whole other meaning to me. I allowed for these experiences to be the ground on which to build community and foster lasting connections. When I initially envisioned these season-long mentorship programs, I knew there would be a great benefit to having people return each month in a consistent cohort. I realized the benefit of continuity as creating a safe container for transparent and open communication, and a deepened sense of community. What has actually occurred this season, however, has been the greatest surprise I could have ever imagined.
I do not think I entirely realized how starved people were, especially women, for community in these more advanced tiers of mountain expertise. These programs are doing more than just preparing people for a lifetime of backcountry skiing and more mindful decision making. These programs are bringing people together, and forging friendships that have the strength and momentum to carry forward for many seasons to come. This program has helped so many people break out of their shell and begin to recognize their own voice as a voice of leadership.
With one more session to go, I could not be happier about the growth I’ve witnessed, both individually, and as a community. All this to say, “It’s working!” and the dream is very much alive.
Thank you for reading. :)
If you have some words to share, I would love to hear about “why you go to the mountains,” please comment below.
