Sometimes life can feel like such an uphill battle.
The Stairmaster, courtesy of Sequoia National Park and Moro Rock.
Some battles we choose, welcoming the challenge, the chance to test our mettle.
Only 400 stair steps to go!
Some battles find us, testing our will to live the life we’ve been given rather than the life we’ve planned.
People don't have a monopoly on life's challenges.
Several months ago, we (me, Jimmy, my son Ryan, and my brother Chris) chose to climb Moro Rock in Sequoia National Park. It was a beautiful September day bolstered by the high altitude of the Sierra Nevada and the endless sunshine so typical of California; a day so often take for granted when life goes as planned.
Our day started with an early morning hike in King's Canyon Crescent Meadow.
Lately, in the midst of our unplanned sabbatical, the days thick with concern, I realize I miss the promise associated with that carefree day encased in so much beauty. I miss the anticipation of our climb, the challenge it offered, as well as the spectacular, 360-degree view of the world (actually, more like 270 degrees, but who's counting).
The Great Western Divide separates the Kaweah River watershed and the Kern River watershed.
Some days, I feel the need to touch the sky, to rise above the pain and suffering that occasionally defines our earthly bonds!
Nature's palette had a bit to say about pain and suffering.
Today, I’d welcome the physical distraction of climbing Moro Rock again, all 400 steps. I’d actually welcome the burn in my calves, the pull in my lungs, the pain in my knees.
Yeah, those are Jimmy's calves, lungs and knees, but you get the picture.
I’d welcome something, anything, to slough off the sadness that is my shadow these last few weeks.
That is my shadow. Can you see my calves burning?
And so I’ve squeezed the memory of my climb up that granite monolith for all it’s worth,
Sometimes the going up Moro Rock got a little tight!
reveling often in the heady sense of accomplishment,
The vertical climb was approximately 1,000 feet.
in the sheer joy of the shared experience,
 Ryan and Chris took off leading the way up Moro Rock. |  Jimmy and I were all smiles again, once we reached the summit. |
in the sheer wonder of this magnificent world. I remember feeling very humbled by the beauty and grandeur of it all.
The General's Highway snakes through the mountains of Sequoia National Park.
Life is so often humbling, one moment magnificently beautiful, the next poignantly tragic.
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The Bottom Line on Moro Rock
Verdict: Moro Rock offers heart stopping views and a good (but not impossible) workout minus the crowds you’d find in Yosemite National Park. If your knees can take it, you don’t want to miss this chance to see the best side of nature.
Insider Information: If I had it to do again, I’d have planned my 30-minute climb up Moro Rock to catch the sunrise or the sunset.
How to Get There: The parking lot for Moro Rock is two miles from the Lodgepole Village inside Sequoia National Park. Sequoia National Park is approximately 4 hours northeast of Los Angeles. This link provides specific driving directions from surrounding areas in California and from Las Vegas, Nevada.
Nearby Food: Very little is “nearby” in Sequoia National Park. There are several small convenience stores throughout the park offering the basics in terms of food, food service, and supplies.
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The Bottom Line on Moro Rock
Verdict: Moro Rock offers heart stopping views and a good (but not impossible) workout minus the crowds you’d find in Yosemite National Park. If your knees can take it, you don’t want to miss this chance to see the best side of nature.
Insider Information: If I had it to do again, I’d have planned my 30-minute climb up Moro Rock to catch the sunrise or the sunset.
How to Get There: The parking lot for Moro Rock is two miles from the Lodgepole Village inside Sequoia National Park. Sequoia National Park is approximately 4 hours northeast of Los Angeles. This link provides specific driving directions from surrounding areas in California and from Las Vegas, Nevada.
Nearby Food: Very little is “nearby” in Sequoia National Park. There are several small convenience stores throughout the park offering the basics in terms of food, food service, and supplies.
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