Joe Pascale - Misc Blog I

Today I was sitting in class, but my mind was not present. The amount of work I have in these last 2 weeks of class has caused my brain to go numb most of the time. So while I was sitting in this haze, I was thinking back to spring break. Despite the fact that it was "spring break" it was cold. The mountains near my home were still snow covered. These mountains have always been my escape. Because I was finding it hard to relax during SB because of Senior Sem. hanging over my head, I found myself venturing into mountains again. The snow got deeper the higher I climbed. The trail was completely buried and there were drifts close to 6 feet high. The first mile of the route goes up the west side of the mountain (Flat Top at the Peaks), and on this particular day the wind was ice cold as it slammed into side of the mountain. The sun was hidden somewhere on the eastern side of the mountain. It was an arduous trek in the deep snow and numbing cold. But then a transformation took place that warmed my soul, literally. The route climbs up to the southern ridge and then ducks back down on the eastern side. All of a sudden the wind was gone (but I could still hear it roar up the west side of the mountain, it was amazing) and the sun was shining. This is an experience I like to think of when things get tough and life seems to be working against me. If I just push on and keep working, there is shelter and sunshine just over the next ridge.