Monastery

There are stories everywhere. Today I found one in the deep, lovely mountains and the crystal river that meandered through the gorge, sometimes morphing into a lake, sometimes becoming a plunging waterfall. You see, I was in search of a monastery, and I accidentally found two. Well, sort of.

Note my poor choice of attire for the occasion. Anyway, I'm going to share the monastery photos later, with their own photo story. Trust me, it is a tale of its own. Today...

The trail started at the base of the mountains and most turbulent part of the river, with some traveler lodges and a bridge spanning the water. I fell in love with this little red house perched on a rock all by itself. I really don't understand how it balances.

The trail managed to wind through the mountains while traveling alongside the river/lake at all times. It felt like a combination of The Great Wall of China, Hadrian's Wall, and Loch Ness. At one point the river forked off and the left branch disappeared into the mountain, while the right branch merged into a dam. I was struck by the contrast of shimmering water and corroded cement. It looked a little like a geode cracked open, center shimmering, plain rock surrounding.

The mountain air was a refreshing contrast to city air. Lungs expand, oxygen exchanges, life continues. This air has a crisp, cool quality that leaves you expectant at the end of each breath. Even if survival did not require you to keep on breathing, you would.

Wilderness

Monday: Left the comforts of civilization for a journey to test the limits and challenge my own abilities. This involved a rattlesnake encounter, waterfalls, a backpack, and a trusty walking stick. I utilized many valuable skills, including water purification, fire-starting, and navigation.
Tuesday: Sleeping in a tent may be safe, but you don't get to see the stars.
Wednesday: The view. The water. The fresh mountain air. Oh, and the view.
Thursday: I led a group down the mountain to safety and ended the day with a steak dinner.

February Snow

Exquisite Green

Mountains II

Altitude

What's there to do on a foggy Sunday afternoon? Hike a mountain, of course. After church, we put on backpacks and warm clothing and ascended a beautiful mountain clothed in mist and beauty. Henry David Thoreau wrote that he went to the wilderness to live deeply. I feel that nature does something to the soul and by spending time outdoors, we make room for God to work in our lives in a unique way.

The ascent was steep and challenging, but the scenery was breathtaking. Enchanting woods. Abandoned buildings. Moss-covered stones. Mountain streams. Things I wish I had taken pictures of, things I wish I had the macro lens for. As I walked, I came up with some things I want to do before I return to school for second semester:

- Read five books
- Read through the New Testament
- Sketch each of the major buildings in the capitol
- Give something away
- Spend quality time with each member of my family
- Watch the sun rise and set

I kid you not, the fog rested like a blanket over the mountains and the valley below. Some scientists insist that mountains were formed from shifts in the tectonic plates, but I believe that God created them intentionally and loves aesthetic disruption in landscapes. The rising and dipping peaks of a mountain range sets awe and longing in the human heart.

There's a quote from somewhere that says, "Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt." Our muscles were aching by the time we reached the pinnacle, mine especially because of training I did with the running club yesterday. When we were descending the mountain, we decided that "Everything was beautiful and everything hurt".

Last Summer Hike

I'm going back to school in 11 days, and my family had been wanting to take advantage of this wonderful August weather. So on Wednesday morning we donned our fancy backpacks and hiked a mountain!The ascent was beautiful. It was a cool, crisp morning, perfect for outdoor activities, and it was great being with the family. God has blessed me so much. I'm trying not to think about saying goodbye yet. 

Elena and I have new matching Nalgene water bottles because we threw away our old ones, which were not BPA-free. Last year my mom did research on BPAs in plastic and convinced us all that BPAs are harmful and we should avoid them. But no worries, there are plenty of safe water bottles on the market. 

I always used to reply "the beach" when people asked me if I like the ocean or mountains better, but now I'm not so sure. Even though I am drawn to the waves pounding on the shore and lighthouses and gulls, to me the mountains represent everything that is pure and wild and free. They are a place where I am refreshed and feel alive and at peace.