As I sit looking at my girls growing up I can’t help but reminisce about last summer when I desperately wanted and needed a mental health day. For me that means hiking miles and getting on top of something. My daughter felt called to join me on this quest up Ross Peak and let me tell you, I tried to make it sound grueling and miserable because at the end of the day I didn’t think a 4yo was going to make it 9.8 miles and 2200ft of elevation gain.

She said, “no mom, I’m ready.” So I let her come with the knowledge that not going to the summit wasnt an option. Sounds harsh but I hadn’t had many days to go out and get the objectives on my list and I needed a day. We grabbed the climbing harness, helmet, snacks, and water then headed out.

We harnessed up at the base of the couiler and took it slow. When we got near the top we did some scrambling and eventually skirted around to the summit. She was on cloud 9, days before her 5th birthday signing her name on the registrar. We had a little dance party before heading back down.

On the way down we snagged a bunch of ripe elderberries and feasted on thimble berries. By the last 1/2 mile she began to complain about how much her legs hurt and I said, “girl, me too! We are almost there I promise!” When we got to the car her first words were, “I want a steak.” So we grabbed Dad and Sister and went and got steak. She deserved it. What a proud mom moment to finally not have to carry her up a summit. This kid decided 3 weeks later that she wanted to summit Sacajawea to but we’ll give that story its own post.