This week we were challenged to share with you a “Victory.”  One immediately came to mind.  I shared the complete story and lots of pictures here.  Mt. Ellinor sits on the very Southern tip of the Olympic Mountains.  I first met her a few years ago.  The meeting did not go well.  In a word, she kicked my ass.  That’s more than one word.  But, you get the idea.

From the upper parking lot the hike is 1.6 miles to her summit.  The gain?  2400 feet.  It’s a puffer.

The first time I summitted the weather sucked.  Rain, sleet, and, at the top, snow.  It was a miserable day and I swore I wouldn’t go back.  Ever.

The next year the husband went without me.  It bothered me.  I don’t take failure well, and while I was not eager to try to climb that hill again, it nagged at me that the first hike had gone so poorly.  The year after that the husband again announced he was going…and I said I wanted to go with him.  He was surprised.  I was surprised.

It took two more years (and two more treks up that beast) before I finally saw the view from top.  Ahhh…that’s what all the hub-bub is about.

I’ve now summitted Mt. Ellinor four times.  She never gets easier.  But, every time I do it it’s a victory…though I’m complaining most of the way.