Finding success even in failure

I tried, I really, really did. Sometimes things just don't happen the way we expect them to but in the end, I think if you can look back and say, " wow, that could have ended so much worse", then you probably have some blessings to count....and I do.

I love backpacking in Yosemite. Period. My husband and I have completed some amazing trips through God's wilderness. Volgelsang, The Grand Canyon of the Toulumne, Glen Aulin to May Lake...... 

Volgelsang, Yosemite 2007 with my brother, Barry and sister, Marcy

This year was to be no exception...a trip up to Cloud's Rest 9,990 ft-ish elevation then down to Little Yosemite Valley and then down to Curry Village where a shower, pizza and our vehicle awaited us. Ok, so perhaps I should have taken the cue when I broke my wrist the week before we were to leave.....did I mention stubborn? FYI, when the Harley begins to lean....LET IT GO!! Pfffff.....hubby feels a little responsible for this one.

BUT, I was not going to allow a simple cast on my left arm to keep me at camp...no way. My husband, my brother, Greg, and I donned our packs for the 3 day 2 night excursion, purple cast and all and headed up, ....and I do mean UP. The trail ascends a great deal in a short amount of miles, the resulting trail is most definitely UP.

Oh, I've gone up before....Volgelsang is nearly 11,000 feet...not a walk in the park. At about 9400 ft. the top of Clouds Rest was so very close and the worst part of the uphill was over. But, what are you suppose to do when your head begins to spin and there is a feeling of disorientation? GO BACK? Yes, that's what you do.  One of the hardest things I have ever, EVER done. All the planning in the world doesn't prepare you for altitude sickness. I have never experienced it before and I hope I never do again. I admit I cried on the trail, I did not want to end my trek, but I knew I should not go on.

Getting back to camp was an adventure in itself, and whoa....this could have ended much worse for sure! My husband and brother were so strong at a time when I felt so vulnerable, I am truly blessed to have both of them in my life.

Of course as I descended and my head began to return to normal .....I was planning a return trip to complete this hike. Did I mention that I am just a little bit stubborn? I will be back to tackle this trip again.

I haven't blogged in a long, long time. This fail...if you can call the resulting almost there and back a fail? It was grueling....this fail, really weighed on me. I've taken some time and while the disappointment is still bruising, I know I made the right decision. Period...and that to me spells success! So, I'm getting over it...putting it behind me.

Life threw me that curve ball and I swung the best I could and I am just so thankful God gave me such amazing team mates to play the game with!

My road begins here

Oh snap! March has arrived. It's the day my hubby and I decided we would get back on the fitness stick...did February have to go so quickly?

We have a backpacking trip planned for July. We love Yosemite and try to go backpacking at least once a year....we missed last year....my scale shows it and so does my rear end :(

This is our planned route Tenaya Lake to Yosemite Valley via Clouds Rest
17 miles in the back country.
 3 days, 2 nights.
No shower.
 Change of clothes?...I think not (too heavy).


But this is why we go....


 the friends we meet along the way




The views you can only get from the top of the mountain!








The things you see ONLY in the back country...you can't get here in your car.

Your destination is often more beautiful at sunset as you pull off your boots and hunker down in your tent for a much needed night's rest.

 So, with that in mind....I will begin my quest to reach my  destination.


 I've done so many different things over the years and I've made many, many, ok, one more many, commitments to getting in shape.

And here I am putting it on this public forum that I am going to get to my destination and I am going to use this:   My Fitness Pal  to help me along the way.

We'll see just how much of a "pal" it is.
I surmise that we will probably get into a few arguments over how many calories are really in that piece of chocolate cake.


We'll probably have a conflict or two over just how many calories were burned when I walked twice around the high school at a brisk pace....I think there's room for interpretation there. 

It's always exciting to begin a new journey, gheez, I hope my enthusiasm  holds out till the end.

My road begins here.