Seeking Higher Ground
Last Sunday, I hiked Streaked Mountain the purpose of the trip was to return to higher ground. Streaked is a good starting point. One-half mile in length, with an eight hundred foot climb in elevation.
HigheR ground without HR is IGHE. IGHE is a nonsense word. Higher ground is where leadership occurs, both private, personal & public. Similar to seeking higher ground is taking the high road. Both offer perspectives not available to flatlanders. Flatlander hr is transactional, pure administrivia. HR management is the natural hilly transition between flatland and HigheR ground.
Climbing to higher ground may involve traversing slippery slopes. That was certainly the case for this hike. I watched the skies on the drive up. Showers were threatening. Mentally, I was making provisional plans to abort and reschedule. The arrival at the trailhead coincided with brief downpour. The accurate trail description warned of open granite ledges that would become treacherous with too much moisture.
After a few moments delay, I headed up – with the emergency poncho in my pants pocket A few moments later, the emergency poncho was donned and i continued upward, upward and skirted the ledge edges for firmer traction. A steady rhythm was established, fifty steps, then pause for ten heaving breaths.
Thirty minutes later, I was on the foggy drizzly summit of higher ground. For the next ten minutes I was alone on the top of the local world. After some photography, I headed down the slippery slopes.
The climb was worth the effort on mental and physical planes. I’ve felt the need for some time to leave the flatland and head into the hills, beyond the hills and up onto the mountains. I already have my next peak in mind.
When was the last time you took the high road and climbed to higher ground? The time is well worth every effort made.
