Hi! I am Lucian. My wife (Mary) and I took hiking more seriously about 7 years ago after visiting a 4000-meter mountaintop in the Yunnan Province, China. Our love of mountaintops and summits quickly brewed into a passion. Slowly, the size and scope of our hikes increased, destinations by hearsay that had been undreamed of before were unveiled to us, one after another.
In more than 7 years, after accumulating thousands of photos and having friends and family asking for photos from us, we decided to share our love with everyone and allow others to enjoy these places themselves. Please join us to embrace God’s finest gifts for us. Please cherish it, respect it and protect it.
Please always practice "leave no trace and take nothing (but memories)”.
An Analogy (Must Read)
Hiking has changed our perspective on life. During a long hike/climb in Oklahoma, I came up with an analogy by comparing hiking with life’s events. I told Mary about the analogy as we inched higher to the summit:
“Just about everyone has goals/obstacles in life, some are working to be the next Bill Gates and an early retirement, some are working hard to ensure their children are healthy and successful, some are in the struggle to cope with an unexpected illness, and some are working hard to fulfill their dreams... These are the mountains we climb; Everest was probably Bill Gate’s inner mountain at some point in his life.
As we start off, the summit appears so distant and unreachable, but we step forward regardless. We assess the few hundred feet of ground before us and accomplish the hike one section at a time. As we continue, we must learn to take breaks, pat ourselves/each other on the back for the accomplishments we have made, and learn to rest so we have energy to continue. We must not forget to turn around and enjoy the views, and welcome the unexpected gift of mountain springs and berries along the trail. Sometimes we make it to the top, sometimes we don't. We have no regrets since we already took the 1st step and tried our best.
If we arrive at the summit, we will be rewarded with a spectacular view. Our horizon expanded and we are able to see and experience more than those in the lower elevations. But the views came at a cost - the wind is stronger, the temperature is lower, and the sun’s ray is tougher. We brace ourselves (or hold hands with our loved ones) to endure the elements, so we can continue our enjoyment of the spectacular 360 degree view of the world below us. As we descent, we carry scars of burned and weather-beaten skin down the mountain, along with torn pants and bruised elbows, but now it’s an easy stroll with a beautiful view. We arrived at the trailhead full of smiles. (It has been a privilege to experience the entire journey... and we were blessed)
At the trailhead, a hiker asked us:” What’s it like up there… is it a tough hike? I answered: ” You bet! There are lots of loose rocks and you need to watch your steps. Some sections have steep drop offs on both sides but with enough resolve, you can make it! The view is well-worth it on top. I can’t describe it, you’ll have to see it yourself. FOCUS ON THE POSITIVES! Just don't give up! “
So what is your next (inner) mountain, and will you now give up? Toss away all your worries, do not spend your precious life to stuck in the worst parts of your last summit attempt; LIFE IS TOO SHORT NOT keeping your chin up and smiling. Focus on the positives, remember the lesson learned & and start to climb a new ‘mountain’ for yourself or someone you love! NOW GET UP & LET'S GO!
Last Revised 6/25/11
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