I have always carried a little girl within me who has been in love with the outdoors. She has always wanted to wander, climb, get dusty, feel the sun on her skin, and simply be somewhere beyond the walls of everyday life.
So, over the past three months, I decided to go looking for her.
I started with Sleeping Warrior.
With absolutely no preparation, I simply showed up, ready to climb a mountain standing at more than 7,600 feet above sea level. But before the climb even began, we had to walk about 6 kilometres to get there.
It was no easy task. My body protested. Every step seemed to come with its own complaint, and somewhere along the way, I began wondering what exactly had possessed me to think this was a good idea.
I never made it to the top.
Instead, I found a comfortable spot somewhere in the middle, sat down, caught my breath, and looked around.
And honestly? I was happy there.
The views were beautiful. The wind felt different. For a moment, there was no pressure to conquer anything. I simply sat there and enjoyed being outdoors. Maybe the little girl in me wasn't looking for the summit after all. Maybe she just wanted to be outside.
The following month, I decided to take things a little more seriously. This time, I prepared myself—and, apparently, decided that one mountain was not enough.
The plan was Sleeping Warrior and Mount Ugali, both in the same day.
We walked the 6 kilometres to Sleeping Warrior, then climbed under the unforgiving sun. This time, my body knew what was coming, and I was better prepared for it. After conquering Sleeping Warrior, we walked another 4 kilometres and took on Mount Ugali.
Two climbs. One day. Plenty of sweat.
And once again, the views made every tired step worthwhile.
Looking back, I think these adventures have been about more than mountains. They have been about rediscovering a part of myself that I had somehow left behind—the little girl who wanted to explore, who was curious about what lay beyond the familiar, and who never needed much of an excuse to step outside.
For the first time in a long time, I am giving her room to wander.
And she seems very happy about it.