Autumn Musings from the Summit

Fall is here. Frosty mornings, an empty Safeway parking lot and the turning leaves prove my point.  Some people are mourning the warm glow and long playful days of summer.  Some are quivering in anticipation of shushing down the ski slopes, dancing on moguls and hucking big air.  Personally, I feel like I have to get as much running, hiking and biking in as I can before the roads are turned to frozen tundra.

Last weekend, a ski patrol buddy and I hiked from Donner summit to Squaw Valley.  The trail weaves along the mountain peaks like the Van Trapp family escaping in the alps in the movie “sound of music”.  We both have wanted to do this hike for a decade or so and hiking guidebooks and websites rave about this route as the most scenic of the whole pacific crest trail from Canada to Mexico – and they are right!

It was 43 degrees and breezy when we left at 9 in the morning.  We bundled up in multiple synthetic layers to fend off mother natures’ blustery frozen breath as we trekked along the alpine ridges.  The valleys and gorges fell away dramatically – on one side; like a sheer stone waterfall, on the other, like a queen’s robe – flowing gently down and creating the headwaters of the American river. 

For 6 miles straight, a steady frozen wind constantly tried to blow us over the steep east ridge.  If I closed my eyes, I could imagine a jet plane thundering by or a herd of stallions running past my right ear. 

We decided to rest atop the 9,000 foot Tinker’s knob.  As we crawled to the crest of the cone of steep rocks, we turned to marvel at the 360 degree view and were smacked in the face by a sneak attack gust the exact OPPOSITE direction as we’ve been feeling for the last two hours!  Crazy.  How does the wind know to change direction so that it’s in our face at all times? 

Equally miraculous, we found a comfy crater amongst the shards of stone where there was not even a hint of breeze.  We peacefully snacked on crunchy salty GORP, sweet thirst-quenching orange slices and creamy string cheese in our little eye of the hurricane.

We then descended to the next valley and found little streamlets that were starting their journey to the sea.  Autumn trees waved their colorful foliage our way.  We were mesmerized by bright aspens quaking their lemon colored pom-poms in the breeze and the burning chimney red bushes shouting for our attention and turning our eyes off the trail to the fiery meadow below.

While ambling along, somehow the multicolored leaves reminded me of a traffic light.  With 6 hours of hiking, one has time to let their mind wander off creatively … it’s almost as if we’re zipping along the highway of life and Autumn shows up with bright reminders for us …

Spring is like the green light of life – everything’s flowing, green and alive, we’re all feeling free, not a care in the world, speeding along and enjoying life … it’s like a rebirth after old man winter has had his way with us … ahhh, warmth, sunshine, vacation …

Autumn is the yellow light – which to some folks means hurry!  Get out there and play – even if it’s cold out.  Old man winter is on his way again … Autumn reminds us that life is short by grabbing our attention with yellow and red lights.  Others of us interpret the yellow light as a sign to slow down and prepare for winter – seal up the windows, get our warm clothes out, chop wood … The red lights reminds us to stop and smell the fresh air, feel the cool breezes and enjoy the scenery.

Winter isn’t on the stoplight of life …it’s like a crystalline cold white light that shines and drowns out all the other colors … During winter, we get to choose any color from the full spectrum and live accordingly. 

Then, the days slowly get longer again, and a small green bud light fights it’s way through and reminds us it’s time for spring again …

The point of my story is to enjoy the beautiful colors around you and make up any interpretation you want to live your life to the fullest.