This was a hard and challenging hike in a few ways. I am not a big fan of heights at all! I wanted to do this hike first out of the peak challenges to get “Devils Backbone” out of the way. So I start out on a good 3 mph pace up to the ski resort and make my way uphill towards Devils Backbone. Once I get there I see it is just as gnarly as the pics if not more so. I stood there for a few minutes contemplating and staring. Another hiker came up behind me and I let her get some distance then tried following her up the trail. I got like 50 yards and could not go any further. I had to turn around. As I started my “hike of shame” back to the lodge and down the dirt road I felt completely discouraged, humiliated, cowardly, weak and almost totally defeated. I was ready to give up on this hike, the challenge and peak hikes altogether. But…. I knew there was another way up. I thought to myself maybe the Baldy Bowl Trail wont be as scary as far as huge drop-offs on either side. I contemplated if I had enough time and energy. When I saw the trail head I went for it even though I had already hiked almost 9 miles. I told myself “lets see if we can get up a little bit and see what happens”. So I went up the trail and caught a view if the Ski Hut. Then I told myself “lets see if we can make it to the hut” and I made it. Then I kept setting small goals to get up that steep trail. At some points I was only going 10-20 feet before stopping for a second or two breather. I was telling myself the scripture “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” over and over again, praying for the strength to finish this hike. He came through big time and got me to the top. I had to hold back the tears when I finally realized I had made it to the top. I DID IT!!! I stayed up top all by myself just taking it all in. I was the last one on the mountain as I headed back down Baldy Bowl at 5 pm. On the way down I made some new Blue Jay friends as I took a break at Ski Hut. Then I got to see and film a Big Horn Sheep, WAY COOL!!!! At the bottom of the trail was a deer that I hung out with and even walked down the dirt road away with. When I got back to Manker Flats my car was the last one there.