wilderness

So much of life is about timing. The rub is that we have little control over it. Often the best we can do is to position ourselves and prepare, so if and when the stars do align, we can seize the moment. This idea has been reinforced recently during my morning ritual. I have been taking the same hike every morning for months. I wake up in the morning before the sun rises and reach a ridge that overlooks the Las Vegas Valley and Red Rock National Conservation Area. For some reason I get cell reception on the ridge so I will snap a quick photo on my cell phone and send it off to my wife. Every morning conditions are different due to weather, the season, when I leave the house and encounters with wildlife. Most mornings the view is incredible; however, there are days when I am caught off guard by the beauty. I just happen to be at the right place at the right time and the reward feels priceless.

Interestingly, these moments only last a few minutes and then quickly transition into something more mundane. What heightens the experience is that I appear to be the only one there to witness it. Even the photos I send my wife, or occasionally share with friends, pale in comparison and never fully capture the encounter. I have never come across anyone else up on the ridge at sunrise. I imagine this is largely due to the barriers, or what is required, to get there. Like waking up at 4:30 am, hiking uphill for over an hour in the dark and doing so on a regular, consistent basis. After all that work you are never guaranteed a spectacular view. Perhaps you could get lucky, but based on my experience, you can expect to witness something truly special less than 5 percent of the time. With these odds very few are willing to position themselves to seize life’s rare opportunities.