Leaving My Soul in the Mountains
Parched. Only a few drinks of water left in my once full 2 liter water pack. Every time I go to take a deep breath, I take 5 rapid and shallow ones instead. My clothes are soaked in sweat. My legs stiffen and buckle. The journey up and out from this hidden creek seems like it might be my last. 10 more gruelling miles and I'm back to the car. I made it out. I'm lost. I've scrambled through enough brush to leave me exhausted. My friend has too. The sun hits us unrelentingly. We keep pushing on through the poking plants. Surely we'll find a man made foot path. We never do. We can both see the main trail in the distance. We've chosen something different this time. A mistake? A trail opens up from seemingly nowhere within the bushes. It's a deer trail. Before long we're face to face with the artists of this trail. We both part ways, with us silently bestowing our thanks. We're almost there. W...