Lessons on the Trail

The Pinnacle in Albany Township is in my front yard. That is I have a clear view of it from my front porch. The last time I hiked to the summit pictured here was over 40 years ago. I’ve been staring at its attractive profile for the last three years now. 

Last week I decided to make the trek to once again take in the majestic beauty of viewing three counties from its 270 degree panoramic perspective. Getting there would be more of a challenge than I anticipated or could remember. It took me three attempts!

First attempt: I took an old familiar trail taking the least amount of time right up the face of the summit. I remember it taking about 90 minutes. I was excited to be on my way, clearly making my way up to the top when the trail suddenly ended. For the next hour I fought through brush, thorns and winding nasty stuff.

Someone later told me that a tornado took out the trail about 20 years earlier. I was forced to return as daylight was leaving me.

Second attempt: My neighbor told me about taking a route along the ridge of the mountain from a fire tower in Port Clinton. The route was an old logging trail that later linked up with the Appalachian Trail that led out to the vista. He failed to mention the distance was 5 miles one way, but consumed with zeal for the vista, I launched out with hope of once again taking in the magnificent view.

I took the wrong trail delaying me about an hour, and after hoping to reach the vista, I realized, once again I was going to run out of  daylight. I had to turn back.

Third attempt: I headed out from the Hamburg reservoir taking a well managed trail  up to the helipad on the Appalachian Trail (AT). From there you turn east on the AT and hike another 2 miles. My vista was straight ahead. I was tired and exhilarated at the same time!

Lessons learned: Hiking is not for the faint-hearted! Hiking is a lot like living. I really appreciated learning this, because on all of these hikes, I realized how fainting is so close to my character and especially noticed how my mood would shift. I could be powerful one moment when I was going the right direction, and distraught over a wrong turn or trail that suddenly ended. Life is full of these experiences.

I noticed the trails don’t have many signs. When you come to a crossing, there are very few directional signs, you know something to build confidence you’re going the right way. On one of these attempts where I had to turn back as I reached the general area where my van was parked, dusk was coming on strong, my phone died an hour earlier and I was exhausted.

The thought of spending the night in the mountain was in the front of my mind. Confused by where I was, I took 2 turns off the trail toward where I believed the van was only to turn back and continue on an logging road. My conviction was to keep going even though I didn’t know where it would lead, but I knew this, “It goes somewhere, and I guess I’ll find out.”

I realized how little intuitive resources I possessed, and how much I was addicted to signage. It gave fresh perspective to an old cliche, “You may not know where you’re going, but you know Who goes with you.” At that moment, that’s all I had. God’s presence, and it had to be enough. It was!

When you feel lost, are exhausted, the road is so much longer.

The pace of others is not the standard for you. Comparison is deadly to the spirit. As I was nearing my long awaited vista the Pinnacle had to offer, I would ask other hikers how far my reward was. Their numbers were not mine, I had to find my own self in the journey and be content with what I found.

The struggle in life’s hike is worth it.

Yesterday’s struggle is today’s muscle.

Everything noble is difficult.

Enjoy the journey!