Lemei Rock: A Short Story

My eyes peeled open slowly and the bright sunlight flooded into my eyes, blinding me. I heard the sound of running water and felt the cold breeze flow over my body. I looked out of my hammock and in front of me was a beautiful waterfall and several towering, bright green trees. My friends whom were with me shortly awoke and we packed our things and set off on our first true day of hiking in the Appalachian mountains.

The mountains were tall (11,000 feet +) and covered with bright powdery snow. It was like nothing I had ever seen before. I was eager to set-up camp and prepare for our nine day hunt. But, Dad said that we had to drive around and check out all the good places, just to make sure that we were in

Sight, I saw many cool things on the hiking trip. I saw rocks in the middle of the rushing waters that were disputing the water away from it. Another thing I saw was a tree that was 30 times taller than me.

I had never seen such an incredible view from the mountain. As these place was on altitude you can see clouds cover the view every now and then.

It was amazing , I could see everything from the edge. As soon as we were getting ready to leave

When she reached the top, she didn’t wait to push the rock door aside. It was like nothing she’d ever seen before. The land was encompassed in darkness; she took in every detail with awe. She could see outlines of mountains and valleys, of forests and swamps shining in the dark, but what truly captured her attention were the bright shining dots in the sky.

. Slowing down I looked up to the top, which seemed to grow further away from me banishing into the sky. Emily, who was beside me, had the same wrinkle in her forehead. “The only way is up” she sighed. We continued our hike exchanging dreadful looks, while facing the intricate obstacles of massive rocks along the face of the mountain. I’ve climbed mountains before in my lifetime but nothing like this monster. Not only did this mountain bring upon me persistence and strength I didn’t know I had before but it also introduced a new feeling of gratification and nobility that put a smile on my face. Beside me Emily pushed me along mentally and physically being the voice of reason to continue to progress just like she always has.

The voices I heard earlier in the day were a group of five with a couple of canines making their way up the trail. After a few comments of the rain were exchanged, the group passed to continue their ten or twelve minute journey to the top. Continuing the descent and rounding the south ridge to the west side, a second group of three approached on the trail below. In passing, I offered that our time from the top was approximately twenty minutes at minimum, meaning they at least had twenty to thirty minutes to the summit. Minutes later the trail delivered us to the familiar rock wall embedded in the mountain, and it sliced under the rock continuing on a long stretch to the second switchback leading down. After making the estimated 325 degree turn a third group could be seen below. The mountain, suddenly becoming crowded, felt as if traversing the switchbacks and navigating the trail resembled playing “chicken” with oncoming trekkers. Who has the right of way, and who will step aside and relinquish the trail

Once we arrived at the top of the butte, the view was breathtaking. The whole countryside was stretched before us and we stood level with the towering mountains in the distance. What a satisfying sight!

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to go hiking with some friends, and have them tell you to walk off a cliff backwards? Well, that is what happened last summer when I went camping at Capitol Reef. It was a Monday morning when my friends and I met at a neighbor's house. After everyone stuffed all their bags into the truck and grabbed their snacks we all piled in the vehicle and started off towards Capitol Reef.

Then, we were off. We took off in dead sprint towards the side of the large rock. After about five steps we launched ourselves into the air and off the side of the rock. It felt like we were falling forever then, we hit the freezing cold green water. Josh was the first one to the surface, then I emerged. We both looked at each other and I asked, “wanna do it again quick?”

Climbing up the moss covered steep spur after it was raining was one of the main challenges test expedition as it tested both my endurance, balance and courage. It was not helpful that my glasses were covered with droplets of water as it made me paranoid about tripping over stones. It tested my fears as I was afraid of heights, looking back what kept me from slipping and taking a break was never looking back behind me and never looking up at how much longer I had to go, keeping focused on where I was stepping, breathing and the position of my centre of gravity. Towards the end of the first day of the expedition there was one main highlight that made my day. We were all exhausted and down after the long first day hike, and we were no longer at the high spirits we were at in the previous days but, one thing that really helped everybody regain their spirits was the box of free apples on the side of the road on the way the orange tree grove

We saw gorgeous mountain views from the train. My son and I picked the open-view cars to experience the cool weather and beautiful views. I remember clearly about the trip was the view of the Verde Canyon. We looked down into the canyon and saw a lush vegetation next to the gorgeous Verde River. We also saw wildlife, for example, eagles. In addition to lovely views, it’s a wonderful memory because of my son's excitement.

The main destination of the seven hundred ninety six mile road trip was Crater Lake National Park. I had been there once before in the Spring of 2011 and made my first memory of being in snow that accumulated on the ground for more than a millisecond. However, this trip was in July. A completely different, breath-taking experience. As my parents and I were approaching a viewing area in our blue Prius, the stunning scenery had me in a state of pure awe. The seemingly infinite hues of green of the trees and brush were over-whelming and the steep slope of Mount Mazama was vertiginous. We parked at Watchman Overlook and stepped out into the cool, crisp, and thin air that was scented of pine trees and anything but pollution. I quickly retrieved my jacket from my nest in the backseat due to the cold, yet calming, wind and the under seventy degree Fahrenheit climate. I rushed to the splintering wooden safety rails as fast as I possibly could in order to take in the deep, crystal blue lake and picturesque mountains lying on top of a sky full of cottonball clouds.

One of the days when we at the cabin, it was a rainy day. The clouds hang a little below the top of the Smokies and it was so beautiful. Another day two of my second cousins and I went