So in my stupidity I thought it would be amazing to do what I thought was a 10 mile hike in Pacific Palisades the day before summiting Ontario Peak. I quickly learned that this was a bad idea. A friend and I hiked what we thought was a 10 mile hike to Temescal Peak on Saturday April 14. The only problem was that that so-called 10 mile hike quickly turned into a 14 mile hike when we foolishly got caught up in good conversation and followed some people we thought were going the same as we. Long story short, when I started the hike to Ontario Peak I was so tired. I was running on 4 hours of sleep and my feet were exhausted and blistered from the unexpected hike the day before. Needless to say, the first step I took on this trail was painful and every step there after was just another reminder of my foolishness. If anything can be said about the agony I was in for the duration of this trail, it would be that I learned a lot about myself and my own determination. I learned to suck it up. To deal with the pain and to accomplish goals even in the sight of terrible physical pain. Hiking has always been mind over matter, but this hike truly taught me what it is to overcome true pain. When we started the hike, our group leader told us that the hike was 10 miles if we didn't go to Big Horn Peak. I was all about cutting off miles so I had already decided that I would not be adding on the extra mileage and would just be summiting to Ontario Peak. There seemed to be a general consensus early on that this would likely be what everyone else would do as well since many of the girls in the group were also tired or had limited sleep from having to get up early for the hike. I myself had to get up at 3:30 to make it to the hike by 6:00 so I was very much so feeling the effects of sleep deprivation when the hike was just beginning. Between lack of sleep, driving 60 miles to the actual trailhead, and already suffering from blistering toes from the day before, I began the hike to Ontario under potentially the worst circumstances possible. It felt a shame to feel so much pain in such a beautiful place. The trees and the side running streams all along the first 2 miles of the hike were absolutely stunning to behold. The physical hike itself however was absolute agony from the first step. The large boulders and rocks that line and compose the trail were brutal on my feet every step of the way. Roughly half way through the hike I also started to experience the effects of the altitude as I have asthma. It truly felt like all the odds were against me. It took me nearly 7 hours to reach the peak. One of the most demoralizing moments was when we had already hiked 4 miles thinking we only had 1 more mile to go but then found a sign at the saddle that indicated that the peak was still 2.8 miles further. I remember how horrible the wind was at the saddle and my asthma was flaring up horribly. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to continue because of how my lungs were feeling. This combined with the high winds filled me with the fear of continuing to hike. We hadn’t yet reached the highest altitude. I didn’t know what would happen as we traveled further up the mountain but I had come so far I wasn’t going to give up. Reaching the last 1.4 miles was another exciting moment. Finally reaching the top of the mountain and seeing the view which overlooked the Inland Empire was remarkably one of the best moments. We still had 1.4 miles to go but seeing the end goal made everything worthwhile. Having good company along the way was also of considerable help. Johanna, Alejandra, and Connie made the journey tolerable albeit painful. When we finally reached the last section of trail before the final ascent, I remember feeling the worst pain in my feet. My small toe I could feel was completely blistered. I couldn’t wait to take my shoes off on the top of the mountain and that’s just what I did. When we finally reached the peak, it truly was a glorious moment that instantly made me feel both complete exhaustion and total relief that at least for a brief moment I would be able to rest before the long journey back the 7+ miles to the car. Peak number 2 was definitely a challenge that will not soon be forgotten.