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Alison Rich
Professor Roberts
English 101- Friday class
September 19, 2014
The Summit
To say my family likes hiking would be an understatement. In fact, I would be
completely honest if I said the earliest family photo I have of all six of us was taken on the Mary
Jane Falls trail at Mt. Charleston. From annual Christmas Day explorations to summer camping
trips, to backpacking adventures, my family does it all. My father in particular is a prime
example of a Boy Scout leader with a why not? attitude. However, up until a few weeks ago, I
had no idea how seemingly boundless my fathers sense of adventure really is.
Hiking means getting up early, especially for the hike my dad had planned for my sister
and me. So early in fact that we did not even bother trying to sleep beforehand.
If we can get to the trailhead at 11:00 p.m., we can be watching the sunrise from the
summit! My dad explained to me and my sister.
His attempts to enthuse us into hiking the North Loop trail at Mt. Charleston a little
differently this time certainly had me intrigued. Any doubts I had of being able to stay awake
over the course of a 17 mile trek were quickly set aside and replaced with reassurances like,
Weve done harder things before, right? and How many people can say theyve done a serious
night hike like this?, and Just think of all the shooting stars well get to see! Not seeing a
single shooting star was one of the lesser misfortunes.
My dad was victorious in convincing us. However, the night of the hike happened to be
the same night my younger sister Haley received some unfortunate news about a violin audition

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she had earlier that week. She had not been accepted to the orchestra she had been practicing all
summer to get into. As per her usual outrage, she ran out of the house, slamming the door behind
her. This would have been a perfectly fine fifteen year old outburst, except for the fact that she
ran off mere minutes before we had planned on leaving for the trail. Slightly annoyed and
increasingly worried, we went out to look for her. After a couple hours of coaxing and
counseling and crying, we somehow got Haley into the car all packed up with her gear. Although
we were a couple hours late, we still managed to jam out to Coldplay the whole drive there. We
took seeing a deer on the way and not hitting it as a good sign.
As soon as my feet hit the pebbly gravel in the parking lot, I could tell that I was
underdressed. Usually I am over prepared to extremes, but even Haley had remembered an extra
jacket and I had not.
Stupid stupid stupid, I thought to myself as I shivered near the car. Itll warm up once we
get moving, right? I silently hoped.
We started on the trail around 1:30 a.m., hiking steadily by the light of the moon. We had
brought flashlights just in case, but they were quickly made obsolete. Our path was guided by
pale beams of moonlight coming down through the trees, our eyes fully adjusting to night vision.
I knew my legs would hate me later down the road, but I kept up a brisk pace ascending the first
hill, by far the steepest part of the trail. I knew I had to warm up, but I found myself caught in a
cycle of hiking ahead and pausing for the others to catch up. Was it really worth it to waste all of
that extra energy? I finally settled in to a more steady rhythm alongside Haley, my dad bringing
up the rear. I realized as I was busting my butt to get ahead and stay warm, the others had started
making conversation about the constellations.

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...and thats how you can usually pick out the North Star, I heard my father say from
behind. Good thing I already knew that.
Thats the Seven Sisters there, right Dad? I asked confidently, pointing up at a small
cluster of stars among the thousands in sight.
Its amazing what a few miles outside the city lights can do. The next hour was spent
pointing out other constellations and reflecting on the few other times we had gotten to do this.
We hit the two mile marker and a split in the trail in no time. Left would take us to the summit of
Mt. Charleston; right leads up to Mummy Mountain. We stopped for a quick snack and water
break before continuing to the left.
Were certainly making good time, my father remarked as we set off again.
I was positive we were making excellent time, but not good enough to make it to the top
in time for sunrise. The longer we hiked, the more anxious I became. If we did not make it to the
top as quickly as we had planned, the domino effect of delays would continue. I pushed these
thoughts out of my mind as we hiked higher and higher. As we were sure that the three of us
were the only living hikers on the trail at this hour, we did not mind laughing and joking loudly.
Just after Haley had finished telling us a story about our cousin, I stopped in my tracks mid-
laughter. There was a tent, right in the middle of the trail! Concluding that whoever owned the
tent was probably sleeping inside, we snuck around as stealthily as possible. Shocked into silence
for the next few minutes, each of us contemplated the possible circumstances that would have
resulted in that inconveniently placed tent. Pretty soon, our musings were interrupted by an
abrupt screech. Two dark forms swooped down from the trees, just over our heads. The
thunderous flapping of wings, accompanied by the screeches, confirmed that these were not
Dementors, but owls.

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After the scare, we hiked mostly in silence, keeping in time with one another by the
rhythm of breath. The cool mountain air always seems to be a source of added strength,
especially when faced with a trail as daunting as this. For the next few hours before dawn, we
plowed up the mountain, still hoping I think, to catch the first glimpse of sun from the peak. As
the first signs of dawn spread over the mountainside, we accepted that our original goal was out
of the question. However, we took advantage of the earliest morning rays to snap some photos,
ranging from silly to spectacular. Since we had already hiked nearly to the end of the tree line,
we watched the sunrise from every angle around the valley. Even the most impressive of photos
taken in those early hours of dawn could not come close to the real life beauty and awe we were
experiencing. It truly was an unforgettable sight, no camera necessary.
The sunlight felt so wonderful on our chilled skin. I was especially inclined to absorb
every ray of warmth (I still could not forget about my lack of preparation). We soaked in the
view and the heat from a rocky outlook newly touched by the suns rays. Haley was the first to
fully collapse on the trail, her pack still securely fastened around her chest and waist. My dad
and I soon after followed, lying seemingly unaware of the dozens of sharp rocks poking into our
backs and legs. What began as a short recess in our journey turned into an hour long
intermission. All three of us had fallen completely and soundly asleep! After feeling the sunlight
burn against my eyelids, I became aware of the uncomfortable nature of the situation. Yes, there
were rocks jabbing into my back, but I was also increasingly aware of the unmistakable burning
sensation that comes only from a fresh sunburn. Of course I had forgotten to put on sunscreen.
We were all so preoccupied with soaking up as much sun as possible that we had failed to
remember what damage it could do. I turned to the others to see that they were waking up to

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similar predicaments. We still had nearly ten miles to go! Slowly getting back up on our feet and
moving again, we applied generous amounts of sunscreen.
Not today sun, I thought, my face already growing tender from the exposure.
From that point to the peak was certainly the slowest, what with us still being half asleep
and, unfortunately, lightly toasted. Once we finally made it to the top, we took an obligatory
photo, signed the logbook, and settled in to eat lunch. I found myself, once again, lying
uncomfortably on sharp rocks. Not only that, I fell asleep yet again! It really is amazing what
ones body will stand when faced with the challenge of staying awake for over 24 hours. What
sunscreen I had on when I dozed off did little good; I woke up burning just as before. I could not
blame the others for not waking me, seeing as they were in the same boat as I was. After
regaining consciousness for the second time, checking the time was a jolt. It was already 11am!
Nearly ten hours from our start time, our journey was merely half completed. Sinking fear set in
to my stomach as I realized how much time we had already wasted. Even if we took half as much
time to get down as we did going up, I would have approximately half an hour to spare between
getting home and going to work for five hours. I attempted to hatch a plan for getting a couple
more hours of sleep before the day was through, suggesting to my father that I take the keys and
head down the trail ahead of them. If I could get to the car even a few minutes before, I could
rest there for those few extra minutes and recharge for the long night ahead. He agreed, handing
them over and wishing me luck. I yelled I love you over my shoulder as I sprinted down the
trail. There was not a moment to waste.
After about twenty minutes of flat out sprinting, I decided to check my pace. At this rate,
I would make it down the mountain fifteen minutes before Dad and Haley. I resolved to stop
only when absolutely necessary, which turned out to be only for water and to give a group of

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scouts directions. After sprinting down the trail for another two hours, the parking lot was finally
in sight. It was at this moment that I realized my legs actually felt like they were on fire.
As I stepped out of the brush and into a still somewhat empty lot, I heard a voice far off
to the right. There was a man standing behind an Explorer with the trunk open, revealing all
kinds of posters, buttons, stickers, and other wilderness preservation memorabilia. I was sure he
had some sort of sales pitch I did not have time for. But, with my incapability to be impolite, I let
him approach me and talk my ear off about the various functions of his particular wilderness
group. After about ten minutes of smiling and nodding, I told him that I really had to go. He
thanked me for my time, but not before pushing an email signup sheet into my hands. I signed it,
trudged towards the car, unlocked the door, and quickly turned on the A/C. Yeah, that sunburn
really burned. Not a moment after I got my boots off, I watched my father and sister emerge
from the brush. My time for recharging was lost. Slightly disappointed, I resolved to sleep for the
hour back into town. This time, however, my body wasnt having it. Accepting that I would look
like a lobster and feel like jello for my night at work, I settled into the passenger seat and realized
that I would have one heck of a story to tell.