Summit...

The word holds a kind of alluring gravity. As a noun it refers to the highest point of a known geographical prominence. It is, however, as a verb that the power of this word holds the susceptible in its hypnotism. We speak of "summit-ing" this, that, or the other peak... quite nonchalant, but those in the know realize just how much experience can be packed into this efficient language.

So today was setting up to be a life changing experience for my youngest son, Julian. We completely spontaneously raced out the door with a singular purpose. Climb. Up the mountain. To the top. His idea, really, but it didn't take too much persuading for me to start making preparations. I wanted to take advantage of the coolness of the morning, the intermittent cloud cover. And I wanted to avoid the building afternoon thunderstorms. We would ride quickly, climb until within striking distance of the top, and then hike the rest and let him finish under his own power.

It worked out well.

A suitable spot to leave the bikes.

And change into footwear more suitable for hiking.

Julian found a tree to climb.

I think we were heading down by this point,
but its the only picture I got of the kids actually hiking.

Purple and green.

The kids near the top, looking down over Mt. Jumbo and East Missoula.

Tree statues.

Still plenty of color up high.

Julian standing at the highest point of Mt. Sentinel (5,185 ft).

His very first summit.

Now it bears saying that Mt. Sentinel is a sort of local hike that everyone takes their kids on. Some will hike up from the "M" and others from the Crazy Canyon TH. It isn't remote, or even very high. But I think it is all a matter of perspective. When you are three and a half years old, this counts as an epic adventure, and must be just like - in his own words - "climbing into the sky."