I Am No Chicken

We did it. Scott and I climbed the highest mountain in Idaho- Mt. Borah. I know this sounds pathetic, but I am so proud of myself. Who knew I could be so tough?? (Scott here) I knew but ADHD blocks things from one's memory.

The first day was so fun. We dropped the babies off at the Grandparents (thanks Susan and Rhoud!) around 10am and headed off to Mackay. We had a little lunch and went straight for the mountain. As we started up I kept thinking, "this isn't so bad, I can do this!" And it really wasn't... for the first 10 or 15 feet. That mountain is so steep! Holy Crap! My legs were not made for that kind of treatment. I seriously need to have a little chat with whoever made that trail, come on buddy... they are called switchbacks, and they are amazing! The only reason I made it up that mountain is because occasionally Scott would "guide" me, as I called it. Which is a nice way of saying that I grabbed onto his backpack and had him pull me up the trail.

It started raining on us and we saw lightening, so we decided to make camp before we were above the tree lineand cosequently the tallest lightning rods around. It was only about 5 when we had the tent set up so we decided to just relax before making dinner. I fell asleep in Scott's arms (I was already pooped) while he read the side of the tent. I guess next time I will bring him a book... I woke up about a half hour later and the storm had passed. There was still so much daylight left that we decided to pack up and keep hiking.

We hiked a little while longer and found a wind block a little past the treeline, so we set up camp (again) there. Scott made a little fire, and we had canned soup with ritz crackers for dinner. The view was gorgeous. The sunset was breathtaking and the company couldn't be beat. I think the only thing that could have made that evening better would have been a king sized extra stuffed pillow top mattress and a massage therapist, and don't forget the cold diet coke!

The morning brought strong winds on the mountain and a sore back for both Scott and I. Surprising as it is, the side of a mountain isn't the most comfortable thing to sleep on. We got up around 7am and got ready to go. We left the majority of the camping equipment on the side of the trail and just hoped no one would take it, but neither one of us wanted to carry it so high. This turned out to be a good idea, since there was a bit of somewhat technical rocks to navigate a bit higher up. We took a side trail and missed Chicken Out ridge, which kind of annoyed me, I know I am lame, but I wanted to make the decision not to be a chicken, and cross it. We accidentally went below it and climbed up the side.

We made it to the top of the mountain at about noon - I know I am slow, I took a lot of breaks. Poor Scott, he had to wait for me so many times! But at least he got a lot of breaks...

Wow. The view from the top of Mt. Borah is amazing. On a clear day, you can see the Tetons. It wasn't a clear day. In fact it started raining, sleeting and then snowing on us while we were on the top. Needless to say, we didn't get to have lunch up there as planned. When we saw lightning, we decided we better keep moving. After climbing down about 20 feet, and after I had accomplished my goal, I started thinking about how excited I was to see Scotter and Jane. I am such a dork... I started crying!! Not because I was sad, but because I missed them so much and I was going to see them soon. A word of advice - don't start crying when you are on the side of a mountain, you kind of need to see to get down the mountain!!

Anyway, on the way back down I made sure we went over Chicken Out, even thought compared to some of the rock climbing we had to do, it didn't seem like that big of a deal. The hike down was hard for me. It was so steep that my poor little toes kept getting pushed into the top of my shoes. Occasionally we would turn and face up the hill so our toes could have a break, but the relief would only last as long as we were turned. By the last mile I was soooo ready to be done.

As we walked off the trail and into the parking lot I cried again (I know, I am too emotional for my own good!! See what Scott has to put up with). We had done it. I never thought I would be the kind of girl to hike mountains, even hike at all. But I did, and I did it only because I had such an amazing husband by my side encouraging me, "guiding" me, and praising me the whole way up. I love that I hiked Mt. Borah. I love that I have the bragging rights to such a cool mountain. And I love that I did it with Scott. Thank you Scott for helping me do more and be more than I ever thought I could. I love you.

Right before we started... don't I look so ignorantly happy??

Still enjoying myself.

We were so tired, we were getting a little silly...

I loved the view.

Our first campsite.

The trail below the tree line.

Second campsite, even better view.

This was the view from the tent door, pretty cool.
It was so cold up there!!

The next morning; too tired and sore to get out of the sleeping bag.

Hiking and hiking and hiking and hiking...

Don't slip...

There was a snow ridge toward the top that was so pretty.

Scott left a little message...

What a cute couple.

Yeah, we rock.

Views from the top...

Me - conquoring Chicken Out Ridge.

Yeah, I climbed that big rock that is behind me. In fact, we went straight over my left shoulder!

And then I climbed the side of this... now that was scary!! (Scott here) what a terrible guide I am; taking someone who has never even been bouldering before on a windy face. She did great and looked good the entire time.

Can you see the tired in our eyes?