Simple beauties

Sunset from Mount Sentinel

Relaxed, calm, at peace, the simple beauties of the world seem to flood in. My newest thing is to try to ‘run’ up Mount Sentinel to the famous ‘M’, about a 1000 foot climb. The technique, taught to me by a veteran hiker, is to run the southbound switchbacks and walk the steeper northbound portions. I’ve tried it twice now and haven’t made it up the 14 switchbacks without stopping yet. I’ll get there.

Or maybe I won’t. Remember the Zen saying: “the journey is the goal.” There is no mountain, no sunset, no tired runner clutching camera. Just simple beauties, breath, joy, and flow of knees on rock and dirt, and sweat and burning chest.

All of these, simple beauties.