MOUNTAIN VIGNETTES A COLLECTION OF RECENT STOREIS SUBMITTED BY OUR MEMBERS A SIGHT FOR SORE THIGHS By Ashleigh Livingston #ASP31018 I’LL ADMIT, there are occasions on some of my High Peaks ascents when the fact that I’m closer to the summit than to my car hardly seems worth celebrating. Occasions when the enchantment that initially consumed me becomes rivaled by the pressing weight of my pack and the aches that accompany each step. And all that remains of the once lively chatter between me and my hiking partner are rhetorical sighs and expletives. In these trying moments, however, even the smallest dose of dopamine can have the power to perform miracles. And on more than one occasion, that delightful dose has been provided by a chance encounter with a dog. What a sight for my sore thighs is that pooch — panting just as I, but with its tongue protruding from the side of a goofy grin. Suddenly, my pack is lighter, my aches are duller, and I, too, must grin. As a dog owner myself, I find the idea of man and man’s best friend embarking on an outdoor adventure together the ultimate example of the trust and loyalty that define the canine-human bond. At times, I’ve also found myself envious watching hikers reach new heights with their rides-or-dies, while my golden retrievers, Simon and Stella, sat at home, awaiting my return. As much as his pure, wise spirit would have communed effortlessly with the mountains, Simon was already in his senior years and riddled with arthritis by the time I took up hiking. Stella, on the other hand, was five years younger and remains the picture of physical health and athleticism. She’s compact, nimble and harbors more energy than a case of Red Bull. Often, however, much of that energy is expressed as anxiety. She runs for cover if a fork is dropped in her vicinity. She 44 | ADIRONDACK PEEKS
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