Elevated

The elevation of the South Sister is 10,358 ft. It is the third highest peak in Oregon. We started at 5,000 feet in elevation and began the beautiful, challenging, and amazing hike up the mountain. For just over six miles.

My family and I decided back in April that at the end of the summer  we were going to summit the South Sister. Due the weekend we had chosen and other circumstances, it was only Brandon and I that were able to make the trip.

From my research about the hike, the first mile and a half was described as "grueling and viewless". Having that perspective... I assumed that this part of the hike was going to be miserable. And it kind of was. I was freezing cold, my muscles were tight and stiff, and it was steep. Though, a part of me disagree completely: It wasn't viewless. It was actually quite beautiful. And yes, it was grueling- but at least it got my legs warmed up. As we trudged along that first mile and a half, Brandon and I started saying that it was "steep and beautiful" instead of "grueling and viewless". It changed our attitude.  I was able to laugh through my incredibly heavy breathing as Brandon repeatedly and annoyingly mentioned  that it was "steep and beautiful".

It actually was quite beautiful

Once you have finished the first mile and a half you come out of the trees and are finally able to see the mountain. You are finally able to see the whole reason why you started this hike. There is a mile or so of rolling hills where you get to admire the lakes, the mountains, and the South Sister. It was breathtaking and it gave Brandon and I both a renewed determination to get to the top. 

 When Brandon I started the hike, we decided that we were going to have a fast pace. And when I say fast, I mean fast. Well... I don't know if we were actually going that fast because at times I definitely felt like I was going the pace of a dead turtle. Either way, we passed people left and right. We were cruising and my calves and hamstrings were ON FIRE! It was a good type of fire... not the type that you burn in hell with, but the kind of fire that is just hot enough to roast the perfectly golden marshmallow.

Look at that booty and those calves!

We reached the base of the mountain, and the steady upward climb began. We had nearly three miles to go, and it was all uphill. We were at a point where we couldn't see the summit anymore and it was a miserable climb up. Each step you would take, you would slide backwards. You would fall, slide, cut yourself and get back up just to take another step and do the same thing.  It was arduous. I felt like I was going nowhere. I felt like I had gone a mile and then I would look up and I had only gone a couple of feet. It was hard. 

I don't think that Brandon ever got tired. When I would need to stop, he just looked at me, got a sip of water and told me that I could do it. And we would start up the mountain. Again. After a mile or two... I thought we were to the top. I guess I missed the fine print in my research where it said, "False Summit". I thought we had made it, but as we came over what I thought was the top, I saw a lake and the rest of the mountain looming over me. I was a little dejected, but I was excited to get to the top. We only had a little bit left to go.

Steep, awful, painful... but still worth it

Teardrop lake. The lake with the highest elevation in Oregon

We reached teardrop lake, we stopped to get some water.. and I mentally prepared myself to finish the last mile or so of this goal we had set. My hamstrings were screaming for rest and I was sure that my calves were shredding themselves into little pieces. But we were going to do it, and I wasn't going to hold anything back. 

The same process began. I took a step forward, I would slide backwards. I would take a step forwards, I would slide backwards. I would take a step forward, and I would fall. The lava rock sliced my hands. I got up, and took another step forward.

Out of breath, exhausted, and defeated I would set little goals.To the side of us there was a glacier with giant crevices that threatened to take the mountain into it.  I had to focus harder on my footsteps the more tired I got. If I got lazy my feet would slide all over the place and the edges of the trails glared beside me. Every time I would look up, how far I had left to go nearly killed my motivation. I made a system that kept me going: I would see a large boulder up ahead and say that I could make it there. Once I made it, I would see another landmark and push forward to it.

. 

At this pace, we finally made it to the top.

I wanted to jump up and down with excitement, joy, and sheer pride as I looked down at what I had accomplished. I knew I could do it, and I did. I did it with my brother by my side. The views once we got to the top were absolutely amazing! Any picture I could ever take would never do it justice. I could see for miles. I could see a multitude of the cascade mountains. There were people up there eating lunch, taking pictures, and just sitting and enjoying the amazing view. I wondered what it was like for them to climb the mountain. Was it hard? Was it worth it? 

For me, Every. Single. Part. Of that hike was worth it. Once we made it to the top, I could not stop smiling. I could see things that I had not been able to see from the side of the mountain we climbed in on. I leaned into Brandon and said, "I wonder if this is what making it to the Celestial Kingdom feels like". For everything that we "endured" through that hike was valued and important. It made me truly appreciate the accomplishment when I made it to the top. All the cuts and the scrapes were worth the views and the feeling that I got at the top of the mountain. 

All I know, is that there is no way that heavenly power was not involved in
the creation of this beautiful planet. 

Sometimes in life, you feel like you are exhausting all of your efforts, just to slide backwards. Sometimes it gets too hard and you just need to stop and breathe for a moment. Given all that, it's okay... because that is part of life. But the one thing that you always have to do is to keep taking steps up that mountain. Otherwise, you either go backwards or you stop and don't finish the journey that you were set out to do. 

Guys, we are literally #SiblingGoals

Brandon mentioned to me that as we looked over and saw all the other hikers that were climbing the mountain... he wondered if that is what the Savior feels like as he watches us go through life. We knew what those hikers were going through. We had endured it. We knew how hard it was. Just as the Savior knows how hard our life can be. He knows what we had to endure. But He also knows that we can do it, and He knows that it is worth it. 

So maybe for just a moment, Brandon and I got a small glimpse of what it is like for the Savior to watch us struggle. For me, I felt like I understood the atonement on a different level than I ever had before. 

 Another blessing about this trip was being able to do it with Brandon. Yes, we both could've done it alone. Yes, we both still would have enjoyed the view... but it was still so much better being able to do it with him, to do it with my family. We laughed together, pushed together, and accomplished this goal that we had set, together. 

Family is a gift from God and I have been blessed to be continually surrounded by my family as I enjoy the journey of life. I am so grateful for my family that are stuck with me through blood, and the other people who have come into my life and treated me like family. And in case you guys didn't know, I love you guys and thanks for everything. (Yes squad, you are included in that statement).

I just felt so incredibly accomplished --> Hence the
absolutely crazy faces that you are about to witness

"Rise as one"

Sometimes I like to think I'm cool,
then I remember that I look like a potato

This kid is such a beast and I was so grateful to be able to share this experience with him

 Moses went up on the mount, the prophets have preached from the mount. The Savior himself went upon the mount.

There is something about being so removed from the world, on top of a mountain, that allows you to feel the spirit in a whole different way.

Climbing this mountain I learned a whole lot more than how to sweat. I learned a whole lot more than how to calm the roaring fire in my quads. I learned a whole lot more than what the cascade range looked like from 10,000ft. I learned too many things to even be able to include in this one post.

I learned that there will be people by your side encouraging you the whole way. There will be family, friends, strangers, the Spirit and the Lord there saying, "You can do it!". I learned that I can do hard things. I learned that the hard things are worth it. I learned to find the value in reaching my goals. I learned that we can be a motivation to other people. I learned that you can push past your mental barriers and push your body to do anything. I learned that life is much better with family by your side. I learned that to be able to be on the top of the world, it takes effort, hard work, and determination to get there. I learned about "enduring to the end". I learned what it meant to "rise as one". I learned that I could do it.

I did it, and I became elevated. 

"The man on top of the mountain did not fall there"

This is the face you make when all you can think
is "holy crap I can't believe I just did this"

The satisfaction of having made it up and down  the mountain
in one piece

I know that the atonement is real. I know that Heavenly Father is very aware of our challenges and our trials. He knows that there are great blessings in store for us as we make it through the tough times when we feel that we can't go on. I know that He guides our choices so that our lives are where He knows they need to be. I know that He loves me. I know that at the times I feel the most lonely, I am never alone. The atonement allows for my forgiveness from all the wrong that I have done. I know that He will put His arms around me when I am in need of comfort. I know that He is there, that He is real, and that He sent His son for me.  

God has a plan for me, and its up to me to follow His plan. 

Bring it on.