Breathless and Still was Windy Peak in the Hills.

On top of the rock as the clock went ticktock, was a walk without persons all the way to the top. 6 miles on trail, 6000 feet high, as our boots met the mountains, the mountains the sky.  Nine miles on 160 from 9 plus 150, we set out for the summit all clipped up and nifty. On the ridges and dirt humps, through the sages and tree trunks, our boots were laced firmly making click clacks and clue clumps.

From limestone to sandstone like pepper to salt, beneath us was changing to the Keystone Thrust Fault.  Rocky and sandy all in one place, the vista and sunshine and the smile on our face.  Up here in a high place and the home of the clouds is a far place from people and the blah of the crowds.

All twisted and gnarly, all chiseled with spunk were the ghostly leftovers of the dead trees one trunk.

On the summit, the apex, the capstone or peak, the height of the mountain, the achievement of feet. All wrapped up in color from sundowns sunlight, not a breath was a blowing, not enough for a kite. To the signing and writing of names with delight, on the paper, the saver of times out of sight.

So down to the lowlands, down with a frown, from leaving the polished and glamorous crown. And then from the distance came a great shine, the sun on the mountains all jagged with spines.

All was not over, though close to the end. Through a gap in the red rock I saw a good friend.

The pictures have ended, the battery done, the moon has now taken the place of the sun. On down to the auto, on down in the dark, on down to the comfort, the car out of park.

Windy Peak is located within the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Follow this link for detailed information about the hike.