Taking some time to heal up in the mountains
By Meggan Wenbourne
Sometimes it’s a good idea to take a weekend and relax. It’s great to head up to the mountains with a goal in mind for a challenging adventure or a summit to bag, but it’s also so wonderful to take some time and just enjoy the beauty that we are lucky enough to have in the great state of California.
This last weekend was one of those relaxing weekends for me. With my elbow still on the mend, I found myself up in the foothills of the Sierra in my hometown with nothing planned, but to enjoy myself. The mountain air, the sappy smell of the pines and the still chilly snow melt water in the reservoirs was all this girl needed to relax and enjoy herself. And of course some familiar hometown food and some great company did not hurt one bit!
It’s weekends like this that remind me how lucky we all are that we’re able to adventure at all, in any capacity. It doesn’t always have to be some sort of epic where you’re racing a thunderstorm and wondering if you’re going to make it down by dark or red lining and scaring the pants off of yourself and your partner (note: climbing shouldn’t be about this all the time). Adventures and enjoyable time in the mountains come in all shapes and forms and for me, this weekend, was exactly what the doctor ordered. I loved it all! I believe most people would agree when I say, a little mountain time will do nothing but good for the soul.
I hope there are some mountain times to be had by you this summer, whatever that means to you. Travel safely and breathe in the mountain air!
Meggan Wenbourne is an avid climber, mountain biker and backpacker who works and plays in Santa Cruz, CA. She spends her time traveling to the mountains as often as possible to get lost in the pine trees and explore the granite rock of the Sierra Nevada range and has recently developed an obsession with the desert and its red rocks. When not away on an adventure, she can be found eating burritos and training at Pacific Edge Climbing Gym, riding amazing trails in the Santa Cruz Mountains or nestled away in her cozy tiny house with cookies and adventure reading.
