Activity 8/12/2021 (Learning Outcome 2)

 I would consider myself a strong hiker because of the numerous trips my family has taken where we embark on challenging hikes, but I questioned all of this when I climbed my frist 14,000 foot mountain, Mt. Bierdstat in Colorado. The hike was short, but that only meant one thing: it was extremely steep. Going into the hike I was very excited, but also nervous of what challenges the high elevation would bring, since I had never been that high other than being in a plane. As the trail started everything was going smoothly because it was flat and not to challenging of terrain. Then we reached the uphill. As we progressed it felt like it was getting steeper and steeper and each break became more and more necessary. The high altitude caused a headache for me, who lives at sea level and was not so acclimated to this hight, and the thin air made me want to rest every few steps. Despite this feelings of discouragement, I knew I had to continue because I had already come so far and would be extrermely disappointed in myself if I gave up. When I reached the top I was so happy I had kept going. It was such an accomplished feeling knowing I had worked very hard to get there. There were breathtaking views of other mountains all around, and it was fun to be able to share the experience with my family. 

This falls under learning outcome 2, because hiking a mountain this challenging was something I had never done before, however I learned tricks to become more accustomed to the terrain and high elevation so that I will be able to do it again in the future. I learned tricks for not getting altitude sickness and the importance of staying hydrated on a hike like this. Although it was challenging in the moment, I am so glad I did it, and I know I will be ready to take on more mountains in the future and continue to challenge myself in these circumstances.