Notes from the Mountain - Issue No. 12

Every Fourth of July, our country celebrates another birthday...and so do I. This year feels especially meaningful as our country marks 250 years and I celebrate a milestone birthday of my own.

My mom still likes to remind me that the day I was born it was 104 degrees outside. Apparently that's become part of our family's birthday tradition. Every year, I hear the story again, and every year it makes me smile.

Maybe that's why milestone birthdays feel a little different. They have a way of making us pause. Not because we want to stay in the past, but because they remind us to look back for a moment and think about what we want to carry forward.

One of the memories that came back this week was standing on Mt. Rainier before sunrise. Watching the first light spill across the mountain reminded me that some experiences stay with you long after they're over. They become part of who you are. Not because they're the biggest moments in your life, but because they quietly shape how you see the world afterward.

I've realized that birthdays matter less because of the number attached to them and more because they remind me to ask a simple question:

Am I still making time for the things that make me feel alive?

For me, that's always been the outdoors.

It's mountain trails.

Campfires.

Wild places.

Traveling somewhere I've never been.

Learning something new.

And, then sharing those experiences with people I care about. Those are the things I hope I'm still chasing many birthdays from now.

Speaking of staying cool...

Since much of the country seems to be baking this holiday weekend, I thought I'd share a couple of photos from my Mt. Rainier climb. One of the most unforgettable parts of the trip was descending into an ice crevasse. It was one of those moments that was equal parts exciting, humbling, and just a little intimidating. The kind of experience you don't forget.

I can also confirm... It was considerably cooler than the 104° weather my mom insists on reminding me about every birthday. Looking at these photos this week almost makes me feel cooler just remembering them.

Almost.

And maybe that's what milestones are really for. Not simply to count years. But to remind us to keep collecting experiences.

To keep learning.

To keep exploring.

To keep saying yes to the things that eventually become the stories we tell years later.

As we celebrate another Fourth of July, I hope your weekend includes the people you love, a little fresh air, and another story worth telling.

So Happy Fourth, and thank you, as always, for letting me share a little piece of my world with you each week.

From the Trail:

A short reflection inspired by the outdoors.

"Never stop collecting stories worth telling."

More soon,

Dianne

Bring the outside in.