Keep Climbing

Keep Climbing
            Looking for a new trail to try with my boys, I spot a “Why didn’t I think of that before?” location on a map. How could such an obvious choice have slipped under my radar?
            0.2 miles from a parking lot connecting to another 0.2 mile segment to the top of a hill. After that less than half mile of climbing, the hike would be downhill or flat.
            How bad could it be?
            It was steep. I can chug along up sharp rises without stopping much, and my autistic son is like a mountain goat once he gets started. But for other people on the trail, the brief but sharp uphill stretch was a heart gripper.
            We all hit bumps in life. A problem that seems unsolvable. A heartbreaking loss that feels too daunting to overcome. A personal goal that seems unattainable.
            Persistence and determination—mixed with kindness to ourselves—often get us up over the highest hills. Taking intermittent rests as we climb a hill or try to solve a problem. Allowing tears to flow when our hearts are broken. Stopping to regroup and strategize to meet a tough challenge. There are ways to keep going, even through the hard times.
            Whatever your challenge of the moment may be, don’t give up in the long term, and remember to be kind to yourself in the short term.
            This week’s Hike Notes leads along the Gray Whale Cove Trail, a trail that rises high above Montara Beach in McNee Ranch State Park, in view of Devil’s Slide.
            Please feel free to share. If you’re not able to take one of these Northern California hikes, hopefully you can enjoy the photos! Check the Home page for the broader background story. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. 
            The list of hikes is getting long! Please check the Quick View Hike List or scroll down the main Hikes page to see the current list of hike notes.
New this week:
Hike Notes 93: Gray Whale Cove Trail