Hope Pass double crossing, a wish for someday turned into an epic day realized! We did it! I had no doubt in my mind that we could, and would, but until a challenge is faced and accomplished it isn’t guaranteed.
Y’all, Jen and I had the best time on our adventure yesterday…
We met early (I left my house at 4:30am) so we would hit the trail at 7:30am. The weather report predicted thunder and lightning around 2-3pm so we wanted to be sure to be off the top of the mountain by then. We have both been in the mountains long enough to know how severe the weather can be and how it can change in an instant. Number one rule = safety.
Goals
Within the realm of safety first, our goals for the day were based on having fun. If that meant we hiked the whole thing, half, 10 ft, sat in the parking lot – it did not matter, so long as we were having fun.
And, feeling good. Remember, we both need another surgery. So, while we feel pretty good right now, we still have limitations that we need to be mindful of.
We broke our goals down like this:
- Pie In The Sky – Up and over, and back again. Double ascent.
- Totally Realistic And Awesome – To the top and back down. Single ascent.
- At Least – Show up. Check out the parking lot. Have a picnic.
The double crossing had significance for us. It represented the two of us, both of us doing multiple surgeries on both of our hips, and challenges that had multiple ups and downs.
We ended up hitting the Pie In The Sky Goal. Check out our awesome profile:
A giant “M”. We decided it stands for Dr. Mei-Dan, our surgeon, but I’m also assigning it the meaning of Magnificently Memorable Masterpiece. Magical. Mountains. Also a Celebration of Movement. Because, truly, she and I have both gone from many post-op moments and months of barely being able to move to now being able to conquer mountains together.
And with EASE! We kept remarking at how much easier the day was than anticipated. I have done this pass 3 times prior and this was by FAR the easiest. Her description was that it was DELIGHTFUL. How about that?
We were about a mile shy of the true end of the trail, but due to the rain picking up we turned back. I’m so grateful we did because the last few miles of the day were very wet, muddy, and slippery. We made the right decision.
The trails on both sides of Hope Pass are steep, not really run friendly. But, in the name of being able to say “I ran up Hope Pass,” we made short video clips of each of us running about 50ft of it at the top. Total posers and we don’t care! Here’s Jen’s run – PRESS PLAY!
By the time we summited for the second time it was raining sideways. The stinging freezing rain felt like a baptism for all that is new for us, the multiple beginnings we are both embarking on.
This is a video of Jen sharing her thoughts on the day. I agree with every word she says… (any lip readers?? Dang, it was windy!)
Perfectly timed, we returned to the car at exactly 2pm. Wet clothes flung, we picnicked in the car with butt warmers and the heat on full blast, celebrating that we accomplished all three levels of our goals. With permagrins and frozen hands, we wondered what adventures we would do next. We are passing through the surgery/recovery adventure and have a whole world waiting for us, and THAT. IS. AWESOME!
We can do hard things, we can do anything, and it starts with our first adventure together. This was an excellent stamp on our journey together, marking a completion (almost) and beginning all in one. I love you, Jen, and cannot WAIT for everything we have ahead of us! We put the HIP in friendship!
The Full Story:
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