Our first hike in the Sierras a couple of weeks ago had to be aborted. The very name of our destination, Saucer Lake, just over the ridge, inspired my 11-year old grandson, my good friend, Margaret, and me with eagerness. The hike started well enough, over granite boulders, through manzanita bushes, across noisy rivulets of snowmelt.
It had been a late summer in the mountains, though. As recently as two weeks before our adventure, Echo lake still boasted ice. As we now ascended, bits of snowfields lurked over parts of the trail. At first we worked around them, picking up the switchback a few yards further on. The incline sharpened, the snowfields became broader and increasingly treacherous -- as in steep and slippery, with very hard boulders or worse, cliffs, at their bases.
It had been a late summer in the mountains, though. As recently as two weeks before our adventure, Echo lake still boasted ice. As we now ascended, bits of snowfields lurked over parts of the trail. At first we worked around them, picking up the switchback a few yards further on. The incline sharpened, the snowfields became broader and increasingly treacherous -- as in steep and slippery, with very hard boulders or worse, cliffs, at their bases.
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| A small snowfield -- fun and safe to slide down |
I’d begun praying quite earnestly about safety probably half an hour before, when continuing the climb began to feel not right. It was a humble prayer, just asking God to place each step so that She would be praised by this activity. Neither did it feel right for Grandma (me) to be the one to say we needed to turn back. So each time I was tempted, I prayed the more earnestly.
Finally, about 2/3 of the way up, we reached the largest snowfield yet. We could not see where to pick up the trail on either the right or the left of it.
While my grandson scampered here and there, looking for a way to continue, Margaret and I paused to consider our next move,.
Diplomatically Margaret, the experienced hiker among us, announced, “I know you were really looking forward to seeing Saucer Lake today. But we were not counting on all this snow up here. It’s becoming very treacherous, in addition to which the snow is completely hiding the trail, and we need to turn around and go down.”
This was the day my grandson learned to deal with great disappointment.
At first his response indicated he felt he was a victim of hiking with two old ladies who weren’t equal to a perfectly fine adventure. To his credit, he reconciled himself to his situation within about half an hour. And each day after, with the perspective of other “good” hikes behind him, he began to appreciate the wisdom of that first, unwelcome decision.
Finally, about 2/3 of the way up, we reached the largest snowfield yet. We could not see where to pick up the trail on either the right or the left of it.
While my grandson scampered here and there, looking for a way to continue, Margaret and I paused to consider our next move,.
Diplomatically Margaret, the experienced hiker among us, announced, “I know you were really looking forward to seeing Saucer Lake today. But we were not counting on all this snow up here. It’s becoming very treacherous, in addition to which the snow is completely hiding the trail, and we need to turn around and go down.”
This was the day my grandson learned to deal with great disappointment.
At first his response indicated he felt he was a victim of hiking with two old ladies who weren’t equal to a perfectly fine adventure. To his credit, he reconciled himself to his situation within about half an hour. And each day after, with the perspective of other “good” hikes behind him, he began to appreciate the wisdom of that first, unwelcome decision.
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| Waterfall - great fun hiking up and down |
For my part, I was totally filled with gratitude. At the right time, the angel message spoke to Margaret. And very dear Margaret had been willing to deliver the bad news. This hike/climb was no longer the right thing to be doing. Somebody once said, “The right thing at the wrong time, is no longer the right thing.”
Happily the descent, which should have been at least as wicked as the up-hike, was easy by comparison. I have no explanation for that, except that our dear Father-Mother continued to place our feet safely and securely. Maybe overwhelming gratitude helped reveal a clearer path too.
Honor those angel messages. They always have your best interest at heart. And they are precise in their timing.
The steps of a good man (woman, child) are ordered by the Lord: and S/He delights in his way. Ps 37:23
Happily the descent, which should have been at least as wicked as the up-hike, was easy by comparison. I have no explanation for that, except that our dear Father-Mother continued to place our feet safely and securely. Maybe overwhelming gratitude helped reveal a clearer path too.
Honor those angel messages. They always have your best interest at heart. And they are precise in their timing.
The steps of a good man (woman, child) are ordered by the Lord: and S/He delights in his way. Ps 37:23
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