Hike the "Y"... Check!

Bright and early this morning, my boys and I did something that we've wanted to do ever since we've lived in Provo...

We finally hiked to the "Y"!

I was told that it wasn't an easy hike and so I shyed away from it. But, I made a goal, along with my boys, that this summer we would do it. Every week since early April they have asked me, "Can we hike the 'Y' this Saturday?"

(In Max's case it was a question I heard daily.)

I knew I wasn't going to get out of doing it this year so I shocked them last night and said we were going in the morning.

(Here's the excited hikers at the beginning of the trailhead)

Well, I have to say that I was miserable. Nothing like a mountain hike to show you just how out of shape you really are! I was sucking air like a fish out of water! At marker #5, I sat down on the bench and I really thought I wouldn't make it. I told the boys I was sorry but they would have to go on without me. But they waited with me a while and I told them to go ahead and I'd eventually catch up. So, the boys went on ahead.

I have to tell you that this was a big deal to me. I wanted to prove to myself that I could do this and when I thought I wasn't going to make it, I started crying. I felt like an idiot for crying but I REALLY wanted to do this. I just kept thinking, "How did I get SO out of shape?" I guess I just always thought that I'm not that out of shape. Today reality hit and it hit hard! I really need to change this! So, once I got myself together, I carried on to catch up to my boys.

I was trying not to get discouraged because all these groups of people were passing me up (one group even passed on their way down too!). It took me forever it seemed like. I had to stop every so often to catch my breath and rub my calves. (I was suprised my legs didn't cramp up until more towards the end so that was a good thing!) When I reached marker #8 I looked up and saw Jake! He came back to check on me! What a great son I tell you what!!! That made me want to finish this faster and it was so wonderful when I finally saw the "Y" up close! All I have to say is this was definitely the hardest thing I've done, physically, in a long, long time.

But I did it!

We all did it!

I wish I could have been with the boys and made it together because I guess when they reached the top Max said,
"This is the best day of my life!"

Unfortunately Max's excitment was briefly interrupted. He was climbing at the top of the "Y" and noticed that I had finally made it. Well, he tried to go down the trail to meet me and lost his footing and rolled down a small hill. (That's why he's good and dusty in the pictures.) He scraped his knee up pretty badly and has scratches all over but he's a tough boy and is doing fine (Thank Heavens!). Here's a picture of Jake carrying Max down the hill to me. What a good brother! Thank Heavens Jake was prepared too! He had a first aid kit in his backpack and was able to fix Max up a bit. I guess Scouts has helped after all!

But, Max wasn't down for long! He was telling me how proud he was that he had made it. I was pretty proud of us too! We stayed up on the hill for quite some time relaxing and taking pictures of good old Provo.

Then, after enjoying a snack and some rest, we headed back down.

For me, this was a huge accomplishment and I'm so proud of my boys. We had a great time and I'm so glad we went. But, don't be expecting to see me up that mountain again anytime soon. I have to get into better shape before I attempt this again!