As my friends know, I have become rather preoccupied with climbing mountains this year. It's pretty much all I think about, and all I do with my free time (should read as: time when I should be doing productive, grown-up things). I really haven't discovered anything that gives me a better feeling and a better high.

  I climbed my first 14er (mountain over 14,000ft) when I was 20 years old. I was in fairly decent shape at the time. However, in the following six years I slowly gained weight, hiked less, and stopped climbing mountains all together. I began to get serious about hiking again in 2011, when I discovered MFP and started losing weight. Last summer, only a few months after beginning to lose weight, I began climbing mountains again.

  Now, over a year later, I am in the best shape of my life, and I am on a serious peak bagging mission. I have set a goal to climb ten mountains over 12,000ft in elevation in 2012. So far, I have climbed eight. I imagine I will far surpass my goal. One day, many years from now, I hope to climb all 58 14ers in the state of Colorado. It will be an enormous challenge, but it is achievable. Before then, I have a lot to learn and a lot of fears to overcome. 

  This picture is from last July on top of Mount Sherman. It was my first 14er in about six years. I weighed about 30lbs heavier than I do now. It's safe to say, this was the most I struggled during a 14er climb, but I made it to the top. 

  This second picture is from July 1st on top of the same mountain. This time I found the climb to be a piece of cake.

   I am comparing these photos in attempt to ground myself, and to remember how far I have come. Also, to remember how many more miles, how many more peaks, and how far I have yet to go.