Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Or- Making Molehills Out of Mountains
Think.
Last week, on our final day in Guam, Worth and I climbed the highest peak on earth without supplemental oxygen. Fortunately, we only had to climb the portion Above Sea Level (ASL).
Guam’s Mt. Lamlam (represented by the tiny above-sea-level peak in the image below) reaches a height of 1,332 ft. ASL, but if measured from its base at Challenger Deep, the bottom of the Mariana Trench, it measures 38,300 ft.- 9,000 ft. higher than Mt. Everest.
While in Guam we stayed at the Bayview Hotel which was positioned on a hill overlooking Tumon Bay (hence the name). Exiting the front door of the hotel, an incredibly steep hill led down towards the water and nearby restaurants.
We climbed this hill 2-3 times each day during exercise and when returning from meals. Being from coastal North Carolina, the hill left us sweaty, panting, and sore-legged. After the first week, we realized that the climb wasn’t as challenging. By the second week, we barely noticed the hill.
This reminded me of a saying I heard growing up, “That ain’t no hill for a stepper.” This meant that for someone accustomed to climbing, a hill is no problem.
What you call a mountain depends on where you live.
I recently read a study in which random people were asked to estimate the percentage of slope of a hill. Most wildly over estimated guessing 25-35%. Those who guessed most accurately (5%), were members of the local college cross-country team.
A hill is less of a hill to the person used to running hills.
A challenge is less challenging to the person accustomed to dealing with challenges.
A problem is less problematic for a problem solver.
The more we challenge ourselves the more we grow.
Whether your problem is Mt. Everest or Mt. Lamlam, that ain’t no hill for a stepper.
Thanks to those who used ‘betwixt’ in a conversation last week!
Read. Recapture of Guam
By Daniel Wrinn
By invading Guam, US forces were not only getting access to a fine harbor and a number of airfields to use in future operations but were also liberating a US territory captured by the Japanese in 1941.
The attack on Guam was intended to begin only days after the landings on Saipan but was postponed for a month. US forces used the delay to make the preliminary bombardment and air attacks extremely thorough and to ensure that offshore obstacles to landing craft were cleared efficiently.
The landing force included both Marine and Army units from General Geiger's III Amphibious Corps, in all 55,000 strong. General Takashina commanded 18,000 defenders, who had built a typically elaborate network of bunkers, artillery emplacements, and other fortifications. (From Indiebound)
Write.
I wanted to take this opportunity to thank Anne Wright and her team from the National Park Service Submerged Resources Center. It was incredible to dive with Anne, Matt, Blair, Marissa, and Natalie. I learned a lot and gained a much greater appreciation of the scope of our National Parks and the work that it takes to maintain them.
For more than forty years, the National Park Service Submerged Resources Center has been a nationally and internationally recognized leader in operational and scientific diving as well as the location, documentation, interpretation, and preservation of underwater resources--primarily cultural resources.
The mission of the Submerged Resources Center is to provide direct project support to superintendents and partners responsible for the stewardship of submerged resources and to enhance and facilitate public appreciation, access, understanding, and preservation of these resources. (From the NPS SRC website)
Here are a few cool photos courtesy of the NPS:
I also wanted to thank my great friend and loyal reader Brett B. for the gift that was waiting for me when I got home. It is probably the coolest thing ever. He had it carved in the Philippines. Thanks, Brett!
Thanks for reading and sharing.
One final time, Operation Forager II was brought to you by:
Repeat.
Words of wisdom from those who said it best:
“He who climbs upon the highest mountains laughs at all tragedies, real or imaginary.” ― Friedrich Nietzsche
“Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain.” – Jack Kerouac
“Every mountain top is within reach if you just keep climbing.” – Barry Finlay
“My foot slips on a narrow ledge; in that split second, as needles of fear pierce heart and temples, eternity intersects with present time.” – Peter Matthiessen
Thanks for reading Think. Read. Write. Repeat. See you next Thursday!
Amazing perspective. Climbing hills reminds of when I began learning web development. Everything seemed overwhelming at first but in time it felt normal. The beautiful thing about coding is that the peak keeps getting taller. You're never finished.