I grew up in a valley enclosed by the Rockies. For my whole life, I’ve been surrounded by the mountains, some covered in tall pines and some so high that the trees stop and rocks crown the top. The mountains have made me who I am. They have protected me, challenged me and taught me more than any classroom. They have quite literally taken my blood, sweat and tears, and I love them more than words can express.
The mountains taught me strength.
They taught me that I had the strength to climb them. By the age of twelve, I learned I could hike twenty miles. Still, I am surprised that my legs can carry me up a mountain, or speed down it in fresh snow. The mountains also showed me the strength of other people in my life. I am always amazed by how quickly my mother can speed up a scree field. I love hearing stories of her backpacking adventures and marveling at her tenacity.
The mountains taught me perseverance.
Perseverance goes hand in hand with strength. When your physical strength starts to fail, you have to depend on something deeper; the belief that you can keep going. If you're hiking fifteen miles, you cannot decide at mile nine that you want to be done. The only way to finish is to climb down the mountain. If your legs are aching or your pack seems to heavy to keep on your back for any longer you cannot stop. You have to keep going. Take a break, take a breathe, and walk. This lesson has been important in other aspects of my life. If I do not understand my homework, I still have to do it, I just have to keep trying. If I cannot figure out a step for a dance, I have to keep working on it, even though my feet are covered in blisters. If I’m running a race and everything hurts, I have to keep running. I have to persevere.
The mountains taught me respect.
When you are staring up at a giant piece of rock, wondering how in the world you are going to climb to the top of it, you definitely respect it. A mountain is practically indestructible and it’s hard for man to construct roads on them, or get electricity to them. A storm during a hike has the potential to be very dangerous. Snow can completely change the landscape of a mountain, and can easily take a life. I learned to respect nature and take it seriously, because sometimes playing around can become unsafe. This has helped me realize that it’s important to be aware of your surroundings and know what you are comfortable doing, and when you should step outside of your comfort zone.
The mountains taught me self-confidence.
Confidence is key, right? This is similar to perseverance, but instead of knowing that you have to keep going, you know that you can keep going. I learned that it’s okay to be proud of yourself, to know you can do something challenging. I learned that you have to believe in yourself. I remember when I was learning to ski, my aunt told me to say “I think I can” over and over, like Thomas the Train Engine. It worked; I went from being terrified of the mountain I was skiing down, to knowing that I could ski it. This showed me that sometimes you have to give yourself a little pep talk. Sometimes, when you’re struggling, you have to say “you can do this.” This confidence that I learned from the mountains spread to the rest of my life. It allowed to acknowledge my own worth without feeling cocky or self absorbed. It showed me that being confident is a good thing, because it lets you overcome fears. I learned that confidence makes you happier and allows you to better know yourself.
The mountains taught me love.
After miles of burning quads and itchy bug bites, the view from the top of the mountain is always worth it. Standing on a peak, looking around at the other peaks, seeing nothing but miles and miles of mountains and lakes and waterfalls is an indescribable feeling. You feel like you are on top of the world, like you are commanding and powerful; but you also feel small, like you are part of something bigger. The mountains taught me to love where I live. Montana is an incredible place, filled with the people I love and with endless adventure. They also taught me to love myself. I learned to love my body, no matter what it looks like, because I know it can take me up a mountain. I learned to love the calluses on my feet from walking twenty miles and the scars on my legs from falling, then getting back up. I learned how important it is to love yourself and that it’s good to be proud of yourself. I learned to love and appreciate my family more. They have hiked miles with me, giving me pep talks when I need them. They have kept me company for hours on the trail and on the slopes. Hiking alone can get dull, so I learned the importance of having good conversation and strong relationships with my family. I learned that love comes in many different forms; that the love of a place is different than the love of a person, which is different than the love of yourself. Each of these unique relationships take different kinds of energy. Love can be strong and pure or complicated and messy. I learned that love takes dedication. In order to see the beautiful view, you have to take the time and effort to climb up the mountain.
The mountains have made me who I am and will always be a big part of me. I love climbing them, I love skiing down them and I love looking out my window at home and seeing them. Nothing is more comforting than being surrounded by the Rockies, having them wrapped around you like a blanket. I am so thankful for everything the mountains have taught me and I am eager to learn more.
