Gift from the Mountains

Breath came in fighting gasps. My body struggled to supply the lungs with oxygen while the legs churned onwards. As the grade began to lessen my breathing returned to a normal rhythm, at least for eleven thousand feet. The dirt trail meandered towards a distant mountain pass in the midst of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. The cascading water of a small creek could be heard through the scraggly pinyon pines scattered around the opening in the forest. As I ran onwards the trees thinned out and more rocky outcrops began to appear. The grade became steeper and then I emerged out of the trees, having reached treeline, the altitude at which trees can no longer grow. High above Mummy Pass loomed over the next rise. Even in late June patches of snow still rested on the mountainsides. At the very first snowfield I lost the trail and simply headed up. The sun-softened snow found its way into my shoes, chilling my feet. Eventually I found the trail and continued running.

Cresting the top of the Pass I paused to take in the grandeur of the scene. At high altitude life is harsh, but beauty abounds. Before me was an expansive alpine meadow filled with short grasses and colorful flowers of every variety. Mountain peaks stretched to the furthest ranges of my vision. I ran through the lush green meadow, skirting the persistent puddles, and descended to an alpine lake; its emerald blue waters ringed by late season snow. On its northern edge a scree field clung to the mountainside. Except for the snow, which revealed the water’s chilling temperature, the lake looked like the perfect place for a cool dip.

I ran further through marshy willow bushes and past another alpine lake. The trail became harder to follow and I was forced to slow to a walk searching for it. Eventually I gave up and simply ran through the alpine terrain wherever my mind and legs desired. I must have explored the area for well over an hour, running freely from one small rise to the next, searching out a new and exciting view. Except for the necessity of food and water I could have run throughout this grand mountain range, but eventually I forced myself to turn back.

Retracing my steps I saw a short incline of snow and decided to scramble up it. Reaching the top I was astonished by what I found. Nestled in a small depression, not more than twenty feet from the trail, was a small shallow lake. It couldn’t have been more than thirty feet across at the widest point. Through the lake’s shimmering emerald water could be seen ancient rocks of various shapes and sizes. It was a most extraordinary surprise! I sat peacefully treasuring the beautiful secluded lake hidden within the mountains.

Then bound by the constraints of a world that functions by the clock I continued running back towards the crest of Mummy Pass. Once again my breath came in gasps and the legs began to burn. Reaching the top I paused to look back on the incredible scene before descending into the valley far below. As I ran through the snowfield, back into the pinyon forest, and along the cascading creek I contemplated this most wonderful experience with nature.