At times, tears will trickle down the cheeks for no apparent reason, at least no overt reason that anyone in our company could reasonably discern. Inside the body, inside the mind and soul, the reason of course, is much clearer. Even so, we're sure it depends on one’s perspective. It’s also influenced in relation to effort expended and beauty beheld by the eye, interpreted by the brain. This again is subjective. Before continuing in this vein, which may seem like a riddle, let’s seek an example, one of but hundreds, without any fear of exaggeration.
Driving towards the great volcano, Mauna Loa on the island of Hawaii, we did not know what to expect. Our idea was to park the car at the trailhead, some 11,000 feet above sea level, spend the night acclimating before ascending to the peak at just under 14,000 feet. During the night, spread out on the back seat and extended trunk of a ‘hatchback’, we gazed at 'millions' of bright stars covering the night sky. In the early evening, the sunset for a start, was mesmerizing. We observed the sky change colors, like an artist perfecting a palette in various shades of blue until just before the sun disappeared on its way to New Zealand.
We caught one more glimpse of an even brighter blue as if the sun, in a final effort, wished to make a point about its influence over the sky. Along the horizon, the shades of yellow and orange were stunning until night fell; a red band usurped the lighter colors, the final encore. If we weren’t so inhibited, we might have stood and cheered the mastery occurring before us.
The action and beauty was not limited to the sky alone. We sat on the black volcano rock, looking across toward Mauna Kea, a sister volcano, while the clouds covered the complete area below. The contrast of the harsh black rock against the soft white cloud, with colors above and along the horizon, competing for attention was overwhelming. The soul seemed to whisper: ‘You are viewing your eventual resting place’.
The scene described above is passive from the human perspective. The real action commences, after little sleep, as we leave our resting place and attempt to reach the summit of this harsh but very attractive volcano, in cold weather and early, strong winds. It would be easy to question, at this juncture: Where’s the enjoyment? The struggle upwards to the peak and return, straining every muscle in the body while playing tricks on the mind with the added complication of oxygen pressure issues, adds to the ‘enjoyment’. So you still don’t understand why it’s uplifting? Perhaps the answer is that one had to be there. Sounds glib but we think that’s it. And, something else. You never forget the feeling—it lingers long after the struggle is forgotten—the last push over the final hurdle.
We listened to the song, ‘Mr. Bo Jangles’, on the way to the trailhead, not knowing what to expect. That in itself creates mystery and at times, introduces an element of fear. We played Mr. Bo Jangles the following day again (and again) as we drove from that magnificent, daunting and dangerous mountain. The song has special memories for us—whenever we hear it, it never fails to transport us back to that period. Not all, but many of the hundreds of hiking experiences we have enjoyed, have a similar effect.
We do feel blessed, indeed.
Cheers,
Jenni and Jeffrey
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