one clear day

(blogger's note: the only mountains I've actually climbed are metaphorical, but they didn't seem any less real to me.)

I love mountain climbing; the idea, the planning, the challenge, the physical training, the uncertainly, the technical skill, the lack of guaranteed success, the creativity, the courage. I'm talking big mountains, real mountains, like Everest.

Having never lived near such mountains or even traveled to such mountains, I do what anyone else would do - I read about them, about climbing them, a lot.

In short, an expedition is planned, equipped, provided for. A large group makes its way to a base camp (i.e. practice every day at 3:30pm). The expedition then advances from one camp to the next, each camp higher, each camp harder (i.e. training). At the highest camps, it is necessary to even descend to a lower camp to consolidate gains in altitude acclimatization (i.e. the taper). All along the number of individuals who make it to each successive camp grows smaller until, finally, the expedition attempts to get the largest possible number of individuals to the highest camp below the summit (i.e. where we are today).

Then, on one clear day, those at the highest camp make a summit bid. On one clear day, they set out where the air is thinnest, where guarantees are not made nor asked for. On one clear day, they set out to etch their names alongside those whose did, knowing there is equal chance they will rest with those who did not.

The forecast for this weekend is clear...will you make a summit bid?