Roads less traveled

I dug my fingers into the soil, searching for a better grip. I could feel the grit reaching up underneath my nails and I took hold of the loose earth. My calves quivered under the strain, and my feet slid slowly on the soft ground. I wiped my brow, reached for another hand hold, and new positioning for my feet. This time a rock would hold my grip... I felt a little better about my current placement. I took a moment to catch my breath, and I looked back down the way I came. I couldn't help but laugh a little...

"Why did you choose to go this way Wes?" I had to ask myself... but I knew the answer. I had grown tired of the nicely groomed trails, all with benches to rest on every few hundred feet and... well... people. I found it sort of silly that if I was going to climb a mountain, the way before me would be paved. I found this "trail" off to the side of the paved on, and I couldn't resist. This was a bit more like what I was used to.

I swung myself up higher, this time finding a root of a tree to hold onto. Sure it didn't help that I was a little bit frustrated this afternoon. My plans for the evening, which included me being social for once, had fallen through and I found myself alone once more looking for some way to pass the time. Why not go hike a mountain alone, find a sketchy trail that goes straight to vertical, haven not drunk water all day and refusing to bring more, but not to worry... I brought a camera. Mom would be proud.

It felt nice to be outside "in the woods." As far outside as I could be anyways in my current position. There was a faint breeze, and I'd try to capture as much of it as I could to cool me down. It was probably the first really hot day for me in Montreal, and my mind instantly went to a lake and a kayak. Unfortunately such things are but day dreams now, or perhaps something to drive to on the weekends.

I pulled myself up, I had finally reached the top... of this little hill anyways. Feeling accomplished I continued on some rocks, to what looked to be a clearing through the trees. As I hiked up higher I couldn't help but think that if I was homeless, this would be where I would go. At that moment I looked up to find a shadowed hole underneath a fallen boulder. I waited a moment, hoping my eyes would re-adjust just enough for me to make out what or who might be inside. No such luck though... Normally I'd be concerned about finding a bear or other woodland creature, but not so much here. Instead I was a little concerned about finding a person. Is it weird if I preferred a bear?

I had to make my way past the hole, and as I got closer, finally I could see a bit inside. It was empty of course; spare some garbage and maybe something used for bedding. Perhaps someone else got the same idea of where to stay. I couldn't let my apartment hunting woes get the best of me; I shook the thought out and continued upward.

I was feeling pretty accomplished at this point, with all of this city walking, and poor diet, I've begun to lose a little weight. This short hike was actually pretty easy; ignore the part where I hiked up the cliff face. I could see now that I was almost to the clearing; a breeze picked up and welcomed me as I made it out. I wasn't at the top, but it was close enough for me and well... I'm pretty sure there would be plenty of others at the top and this place had some seclusion to it. I was rewarded with a terrific view of the city, I smiled and pulled the camera out from around my neck. "This will be an excellent picture for my blog," i thought to myself... lame I know.

Sure enough I turned on the camera, only for it to inform me that the batteries were dead. There was a bit of cold irony to it, to the day in general. I laughed, what else was I to expect? Something to go my way? I realized then that this moment and this view would have to be mine alone. I took it in and appreciated it... I couldn't help but be a little sad that I couldn't seem to escape the sounds of people. Yet I had been able to escape people for at least a little while. Don't get me wrong, this may sound as though I'm pretty miserable. Quite the contrary, there are many things that are going well for me right now... mostly work. My social life could use a little tweaking but I think this is soon to change.

I used my shirt to whipe away the sweat from my brow and face. It was time to head back down the mountain and back to civilization... back to my life as it stands now.