“The best view comes after the hardest climb.”
– author unknown
This quote has been on my Facebook page for years… maybe even a decade! I have resonated with this saying since before I was really into hiking or going any sort of distance. It initially hit me that life and experiences take effort, they take time, however, there is always something to look forward to. The view to me could have meant getting a promotion and working hard to get there. It could have related to how I felt about relationships and how difficult or hard conversations (which I used to avoid) actually make your relationship stronger. Whatever it meant to me back then was important and essential and to this day, I have clung to it and adapted it to who I am. Who knew a random quote (that I probably saw on Pinterest- ha!) would lead me down a path of purpose and peace.
Now, a decade later, this saying has morphed into my love of hiking and pressing onward despite how challenging the present moment can be. When I hiked 26 miles through the Enchantments (a coveted hike in Washington) I remember thinking of this quote as I was climbing straight up a loose rock path over Asgard Pass. I knew what was over the top of this rocky and difficult pass was going to be worth the effort, sweat, and pain of carrying my 40+ pound pack on my back. Let me tell you, it was magical and I was truly in awe that this particular vista awaited me over a tough and formidable climb! It was more than I could have imagined and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
All that to say, no matter how difficult something in your life might be… remember that the best outcome can follow. So keep pressing forward. Keep going. Stay strong, determined and consistent. You will be better for it. I know I sure am.
The Salty Exchange 