“Sometimes the Lights All Shinin’ on Me and Sometimes I Can Barely See”

This past August, I climbed Mt. Washington with my friends Dan and Marty.  We all attended Erasmus Hall High School, in Brooklyn, NY, and have shared many adventures together through our more than 35 years of friendship.

We were going to hike up the mountain and sleep over at an Appalachian Mountain Club hut.  Mt. Washingtion is the tallest mountain in the Northeast, at 6,200 feet. It has the lowest temperatures and the highest winds ever recorded ON EARTH.  Many deaths occur here each year because of these very rapid weather changes.

Above the tree line, you really get a sense of the weather.  At about one in the afternoon, the fog came in so thick and fast that we couldn’t see more than a foot in front of us.  It was as rocky and desolate as the surface of the moon.  They don’t call New Hampshire the Granite State for nothing.  We had to climb across large, slippery bolders and the only  trail markers were tall rock piles known as cairns. The real danger was that we wouldn’t see them in time and might wander off the trail which could be deadly!

Talk about reacting quickly to situations and mood changes.  My mind was echoing The Grateful Dead lyrics, “Sometimes the lights all shinin’ on me and sometimes I can barely see.”  From a leisurely walk in the mountains with old friends to facing mortal danger gave us an immediate wake-up call.  If we slipped, we could hurt or kill ourselves.  Each step could be our last; we had to pick those steps very carefully.

Finally, after hours of slow climbing, we reached the hut.  There were no beautiful views.  There was no peace and serenity more than a mile above the earth .  The hut was crowded and noisy.  We were physically and mentally exhausted.  And wet and hungry.  The mountain fog had fogged my brain, as well.

How often in my life do I get down?  Do I feel in a fog?  Do I get overwhelmed?  Do I want to give up?  Do you ever feel this way?  Of course you do.  We all do.

I know we can’t control the weather...I just must learn how to not let it control me. 

As the fog started to lift, everyone’s energy and spirits lifted.  It was like a veil being removed so we could see the incredible panorama in front of us.  You really could see forever.  Of course, Mt. Washington was always there.  The weather just needed to cooperate.  The fog...my fog...had to lift. 

In mountain climbing, as in life, it’s taking one step at a time.  We need these wake-up calls once in a while  When you’re in a fog it seems like it will last forever.

Remind yourself that the fog will clear.  Share your journey supportive people.  They’ll help to bring you through the fog back into the light.  Having friends by your side makes the trip more fun and less scary.  As the Dead sang, “What a long strange trip it’s been...”  So keep on keepin’ on climbing your mountains.