So out of the blue, hubby decides he must climb Mt. Tallac in South Lake Tahoe, an elevation of 9,733 feet, a little under 6 miles of rocky, steep terrain, with little forthought, no malice and little endurance exercise leading up to this boyish decision.  It caught me a bit off guard and perhaps even a tad bit perturbed as we had originally planned to watch our two grand kids all day, which now, I would be managing through by myself.  Not even an invite to join him on his mountain trek.

On the way up

OK, so I really wouldn't want to make this steep hike anyway, the pain in the back side right knee, not anxious to engage in these types of knee stressing activities...but it would be nice to be asked.  So, whatever, he was determined to do this, this weekend, by himself, before the weather gets colder and his business travel takes an upswing again soon.  Many folks close to us were surprised he decided to do this alone and with very little preparation, regular walking and/or certainly no hiking of any significant nature, at all.  One thinks one would need to "build up" to this level of a hike, one might just think and a little skeptical about this.

View of Fallen Leaf Lake and Lake Tahoe

Midlife crisis anyone?  Certainly one realizes they are not getting any younger and the gray hair stares back from the mirror, the body and muscle tone ain't what it used to be and the carbs have taken up residense in the gut, you could say...or not say.  "No more beer.  That's it.  No more chips.  Only the "good" carbs.  Only in the morning.  Cutting back on unhealthy food. Cutting it out all together!  No more cupcakes.  Good chocolate in the house?  That's OK, right?  The dark kind."  His new mantra, along with the sudden urges to walk...a lot.  A good thing, right?

Favorite spot along the journey:  The Floating Island amidst the reflection of the trees on the water.

And it goes on and on.  Needs to look better.  Needs to feel better.  Needs to slow down this inevitable, increasing, once slow, it seemed, aging process.  Denial is yesterday's newspaper.  This is really getting to the man.  The hereditary bald spot on the top of the head is just not fair at all, even though the 6'3" stature allows very few to view this area.  He's lucky in this way.  The man is way over reacting to what each and every one of us faces, eventually.  The man is quite handsome, bearly over weight, a silver fox and enviably tall.  And his blue eyes are as blue on blue as the view he sought at the end of his hike.  Life is just circling in on him.

You see that pointy mountain peak?  That's where he's headed.

The urge to conquer the mountain, now affectionately called, "His mountain," was an accomplishment that just needed to be done.  And it was done, yesterday, in about 6 hours.  An 8 hour hike on average, he was pretty smug that it took this amount of time with 45 minutes at the tippy top of the peak to sit, relax, enjoy the beauty at the peak and eat a healthy snack (more or less and mostly carbs, but who's watching)!  He did it!  My proud papa made it to the top in record time and then there was the easier return down the mountain.  Ouch.

This seroiusly looks very far away, right?

Right about now he's thinking that the hiking sneakers he's wearing had better not fail him.  This is the easy part and is still in the shade.  The steepest is yet to come.  Now is when he wished he had brought more water.  Long way up and darn if it wouldn't be a long, hot way down.  Wishing he had brought more food; more variety.  Hunger grows with every 1,000 foot tick of the trail.  Determination is thine own self foolery.

Up, up and away...altitude, thin air, dry lips, rocks beneath my winged feet.  Insoles not as advertised.

What was he thinking, leaving me all day, on a Saturday and leaving me with the grandkids and no help?  What is up with this new selfish behavior of his?  Suddenly, he wants to be heathier, stronger, tanner, happier...What's up with that?!  How can I get through to him that he's just fine the way he is?  Eating healthier, exercising more, watching his weight, reducing his stress?  Over rated, right?  Wonder how he's doing up there on that steep, rocky mountain.  How many blisters does he have?  What if something happens to him and there's no cell?  It's friggin desolate and pretty doggone high up there, not to mention slippery and who know's what!  I feel some angst, naturally.

Oh my gosh, he made it to the top! 

Half wished he wouldn't and turn back earlier, fearing he might hurt himself.  Silly me. Whole heartedly wished he would be OK all the way but...I wished more than anything that I could be there with him.  What an amazing expereince and accomplishment!  So proud of him and that he followed through with this long time desire.  He had to do it, even if just this once . He did good.  He deserved to do this.  He made it in such good time and all.  Swollen male pride, rightfully so.  Happy he did this for himself.  Happier that he made it back by mid afternoon to spend the later day playing with the grand kids with me, sharing his photos, telling me every detail of his hike, right down to the dozens of chap stick applications and the breath taking views he captured in his head, mind and heart.  He was exilarated, refreshed, rejuvenated.  How could he not be?

He made an amazing day of memories without me. 

Yet I feel like I was right there with him, through his text messages along the way, the intensely happy sound in his voice when he called me from the base at the end of his adventure, the excitement he expressed at making it to the top.  His one real regret...not having anyone to take a photo of him at the peak of this magnificent, rugged mountain and the back drop to our life in the Sierra's.

He left me behind for a grand adventure, for the first time ever.  It was a new feeling and one with some discomfort.  We do everything together, for the most part.  This is good.  Adjusting my thinking, adapting to the many reminders of aging body parts, both his and mine.  I am really just so happy he made it back in one piece!  The look in his eyes, the big hug when he returned...priceless.

Just can't beat this kind of mountain therapy.

Well done, Sweetheart.