Its 10 AM. You’ve just started a six hour hike and there are a million things on the mind. Apparently it’s time to stat facing some realities back at home. The thoughts race through the head from one to the next as you try to figure out how and what you will do when you get back state side. You have no money, you own a house and the job market is terrible. It’s something you shouldn’t be thinking about but you do. You keep thinking about until you enter the peacefulness of a quite hike with two good friends. You enter the forest which is almost enchanted. It seems like a mix between the Rocky Mountains and the rain forest. There are pines but they are draped with fungus and endless plant growth. Everything is as green as can be and all you can here is one close waterfall and then next one off in the distance. Its amazing. You begin to realize the beauty surrounding you and suddenly you forget the worries that were in your head just 20 minutes before. Suddenly life feels so good. That thought enters your mind that says what and why was I worrying just 20 minutes ago? Life is good. Maybe it’s because of the beauty surrounding you or maybe its because your blood is pumping again.

As you continue you find yourself in a deep canyon surrounded by rushing water. The only way to get up is to climb seven steps. …aka seven ladders. As you climb the water is rushing right by your head. It has the intention to take you out and send you down but there is no way you are letting go. The only thing you are thinking about is grabbing the next rung. You get through it. Your up. Now it’s just you and your buddies as no one else could step up to the intimidating climb. You say to yourself, ” I think we are almost to the top”. Two hours later you realize that when you said that it wasn’t true…at all. We did get to the top and it took us three hours. It was step after step of a forested hillside. It was almost enchanting. It was a challenge but it was well worth it. We reached the top and it was nothing but beauty. A few horses, a few dogs, a house and few people tending to the donkey`s. We found a rocky perch that overlooked the town of Brasov below. All you could here was the wind and all you could smell were the wild flowers. We took a nap in what felt like a heaven for a minute. It was a great day, it was beautiful and these are the things you need to forget about your worries. Here are a few pictures from this hike. It was one of the best I have done in my life.

Jamie

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