I feel a sense of aliveness on top of a mountain that I can't replicate in other aspects of life. Quarantining during COVID-19 has been difficult in a lot of ways, but also motivating. I used to consider lifting weights to be my primary workout style, but during quarantine I've been running, biking, hiking and doing more HIIT workouts than ever. I can say with confidence that I'm in the best shape of my life. That being said, I have profound pride for my body and what it's capable of. I love backpacking because I appreciate the notion of carrying everything you need on your back. No more, no less. It's a vivid reminder of the power of simplicity and how we can create such beautiful moments with minimal "things." This weekend I went to the Dolly Sods with two of my best friends from childhood and it felt spiritual. The Sods are incredibly biodiverse so every few minutes of the hike was a new and exciting landscape. I felt the power of my legs and my mind propelling me through each step, sometimes caught up in a pure sense of flow. Hard, but not too hard. A balance of challenge and attainable success. This photo was taken the second time we scrambled up Breathed Mountain where we were experiencing what I can only describe as delusional joy. Dehydrated, exhausted, and purely content. We took in the early notes of golden hour totally disconnected from society, giggling and feeling a spiritual sense of appreciation for the beauty of nature. Everyone deserves to experience that feeling because the sensation is nothing short of liberating.
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