Three Peaks

Last Friday, our team decided to trek the great Three Peaks.

Well, our team minus Anna.

We've been working aside Three Peaks every single day at the sight, 

and had been talking about hiking to the top ever since we've arrived.

We heard mixed messages about how long the trip would take.

Mike said about 4 hours...2 hours up...2 hours back.

Eduardo promised 45.

We had to alert the ranchers of our trip,

otherwise we could get shot at.

We packed our little Cesar Chavez backpacks full of snacks,

unsure of how long we'd actually be gone for.

We talked about which path we'd take.

The first peak has the most gentle slope--

perfect for first time climbers.

We planned to take the first peak up,

and the walk over the top, all the way to the third peak--

the steepest slope.

It was sunny and warm when we began.

We walked to our work site,

moved the barbed wire gate,

and crossed the train tracks.

We crawled under a few barbed wire fences,

and began our journey.

Immediately we realized that Three Peaks appeared a lot closer than it actually was.

We trekked up and down hills,

stepping on cow pies along the way.

At one point I grabbed for a rock to pull myself up,

only to realize it was a hardened chunk of cow poop.

Every 10 feet or so, we would stop to turn around and view the landscape surrounding us.

The scenery was like nothing I've ever experienced before.

Climbing the steepest side of the peaks quickly revealed itself to be a terrible idea--

that is, for newbies like me.

The group naturally split up:

the really in-shape, competitive folks were at the top first,

and I of course, the incredible athlete that I am, 

was one of the last people to reach the top.

For most of the climb, the hill was so steep that I was close to panic-mode...

for fear that I would slip backwards, and tumble straight down.

The dirt fell away from my feet as I latched onto twigs or small weeds to stabilize myself.

I stabbed my hand on a cactus and blood rushed from my finger.

I tripped on rocks while forcing my legs to take steps towards the top.

Finally, we reached the top of the third peak.

We sat and watched the cloud roll in for a minute.

It got dark out, and we could hardly see anything in front of us.

We climbed across the top of Three Peaks,

taking in its mystery and beauty.

We met up with the others on the first peak.  

Some had cigarettes of relief,

some sat in silence.

We set the timer, 

camera on a rock,

and took a group photo.

Then we trekked down.

Down was my favorite.

Three Peaks was as sinister as ever on our way down,

but why wouldn't it be?