Big NSV for me! Pics of my climb to the summit

So, I started my journey here in Feb of 2010 and to date have lost 80 lbs (yay me!). I'm working on my last 20 now to reach my goal. Last year in the summer of 2010 I had already lost almost 50 and made it a personal goal to climb to the summit of a mountain known as "flat top" in Anchorage, Alaska (where I spend 8 weeks every summer). I did not get the opportunity to attempt it last year because frankly, I couldn't find anyone willing to go with me. Bummer. On looking back, I honestly don't know if I would have made it last year or not if I *had* attempted it. But, I digress.

So, this year, I had a party of 4 going - myself, my dad, his new wife and her son. About midway up, new wife didn't want to proceed and would not allow her son to proceed as she thought it was "too dangerous" (people of all ages do this all the time and son is 19, but that's another story). So, my father didn't want to leave her alone either so all of a sudden I am completely abandoned, left to finish on my own or quit. I honestly was a little hurt that my dad didn't proceed with me and actually cried for several minutes after they headed back down, but sucked it up and proceeded on my own. That was my first mini NSV Prior to this, I would not have even considered going forth on this trek from that point by myself.

So, here is the mountain looming ahead (already halfway up the 3500 ft mountain side by this point):


Most of the trail was great and it was not a difficult climb at all, even for an inexperienced climber/hiker such as myself. As I got nearer the summit, however, the difficulty increased as did my trepidation lol:

Looking up toward the final climb to the summit


Looking down


I almost quit then, not from being tired, but being chicken :blushing: I am - never have been nor will I ever be - an adrenaline junkie. I just wanted to do this one thing and accomplish a personal goal. So I waited for some other people to start the climb so I wasn't by myself completely (you know, so someone could notify my next of kin should I slip or misstep and plummet to my death on the rocks on the way down the mountainside, lol) and up I continued.

Well, about 20 feet from the summit, I made the mistake of looking down and got lightheaded, dizzy and MAJORLY PANICKED. I mean, I froze on the spot, couldn't go up, couldn't start down and honestly thought someone was going to have send a rescue helicopter for me because I honestly didn't think I was going to be able to move to continue. Just paralyzed with fear. Thankfully, another woman climber noticed my trepidation and asked if I was ok. I told her no, I didn't think I was, lol. I said this is not me, I don't do this kind of thing, I should not be up here and I need to get down. LMAO. She was very kind and I thank her immensely for her encouraging words. She proceeded to tell me how far I had come, how close I was and really encouraged me to continue. I finally took a deep breath and continued. For about another 10 feet. And panicked again. My wonderful new friend encouraged me some more, pointed out how very very close I was and how much I would regret it if I turned back now. I don't know how I managed to overcome the sheer terror I felt, but I was definitely encouraged by this woman and did manage to summon the will to press on.

Victory was mine!


All thanks to Tracy without whom, I know I could not have done it:


The view was amazing:




But even more amazing was the fact that I accomplished my goal (even though I needed a little gentle prodding lmao) and I am so proud of myself for that! I could not have done it at the weight I was before, nor without the self-confidence I have gained along the way of my journey.

I have to say, I was just as nervous on the trek back down, but I made it and am thankfully still here to share the story with all of you here at MFP :happy: