Death Hike

Ring Ring

Hello?

Hey Jill, wanna drive up to Beauty Spot and watch the sunset? 

Yeah! For sure! See you soon.

Ok, bye!



This conversation was a hoax. After picking me up, friend Meagan and I realized we would not have enough time to drive to Beauty Spot before the 7:19 sunset, we made a decision to go to the fire tower instead. I've never been to this fire tower and had no idea what to expect.

The drive up was lovely, winding through the mountains, admiring the local wildlife, which is apparently chickens. We soon hit a gravel path and no cell service, always a good sign that beauty is near. The gravel turned to dirt as we meandered on and on, up and up, chasing the line of sunlight that was still visible. We kept anxiously checking the clock, hoping we would make it.

Finally we reached a gate. With a path beyond it that continued, up and up and up.

We ran from the car, expecting we could just jog the whole way and joyfully make to the top.. That lasted maybe 20 yards. This was going to be a butt-burning, back-sweating, heavy-breathing hike.

As the sun was sinking lower and lower, I kept thinking, we are gonna hike out of here at night. In the dark. I'm gonna get eaten.

Finally, after what seemed like 45 minutes, we made it the fire tower..

Oh! Fantastic, now I get to climb to knee-buckling heights.

I started out great, going pretty fast until I realized how high this thing really was. I had to keep looking at the stair in front of me and never ever look down. When I made it to the top, wow. Totally worth the death hike.

The sky was alive with blues and pinks. Spread across the horizon in a magical way. As we looked to our left we could see the mountain tops fade from green right below us to multiple shades of blue and they faded into the distance. The lights of Erwin twinkled in the valley like a tiny Christmas town. It was humbling to see. 

Meagan and I enjoying the rewards of a vigorous, unplanned hike. 


We did have to hike out in pretty dark conditions, but nothing ate us and it was actually nice. Very peaceful to be alone together in nature. 

My mother has always told me we live in the most beautiful place on earth. She's right. 

Let's do this, 

-Jillian