An early start to a Saturday, with only a couple of hikers and runners on the trail. The weather was cool and haze covered the mountains.  My  solitude was accompanied with the sound of water flowing and birds chirping brought healing to my soul.

A few hours later, the haze cleared up and the sunlight started to peek through, lighting  up the trees and greenery just perfectly. Certain parts of the trail were narrow , the walking path was clear of vegetation with a few rocks, visible trail signs, and a couple of snakes on the path.

I was appreciative of the few runners that stopped and guided me through the journey. One even mentioned a bench nearing the top that had me eager to find.

What an accomplishment to reach the top even though I was hungry, sweaty, and my legs feeling like jelly. I felt empowered!