DAWN PATROL
Groggy and eyes half shut, we stumble around in the dark making sure gear that was put together the night before is all there. Choking down breakfast and a cup full of coffee, we scamper out the door, knowing that time is ticking and we are already late. The drive is quiet with the exception of mellow tunes whispering in and out of the radio.
We’ve done this too many times to count, but each time it hurts just as much as the last. Yet — each time brings the same heightened level of excitement. We pull into the parking lot, first car there as expected. It’s a quick shuffle around to make sure we haven’t forgot anything. One last swig of coffee, a echo of the car lock, and we’re off.
The sky is clear and the stars feel closer than they really are. Besides the slight glow on the peaks, the only light is from our heads, bobbing up and down as we start up the trail. Our footsteps seem loud, and our breath feels thick in the dewy morning. The trickle of a creek is off to the right, and every rustle of a small animal keeps you alert. The chatter has stopped for now, as we move fast before we can only move slow.
Fifty minutes pass and we can start to see our surroundings. With a half mile left, we turn our headlamps off as our eyes have now adjusted. We stop for a minute to shed a layer and then continue on. Finally we top the last steep climb and arrive. Dropping our bags on the edge of the lake, we grab a snack and then scamper up the last bit of loose rock. We have made it just in time, with the best seat in the house.
The light just before the sun peaks over the ridge is my favorite part.
Pink illuminates the rock faces as you start to feel the warmth on your face. Its impossible not to smile inside when the light hits you, knowing that you are the first to welcome it. As it continues to rise, the shadows start to sink into the valley almost as if they are chasing the creek downstream. Looking down you are hit with a splash of color, as the wildflowers shake off the moisture from a long night. Even though we are sitting only a foot or two apart, for a moment it feels like I am alone. The silence is grounding, yet the slight breeze almost makes it feel like I am flying. We sit for a while longer, with an unspoken understanding of this moment.
With one last breath, we inhale the energy of the morning and slowly make our way back to the lake.
Passing no one on our way back to the car, its like we share a secret that no one else will ever know. The hike back down reveals the crazy happiness that the morning has birthed, and I am reminded again that whenever I start to feel off balance, all I really need is an early adventure with a good friend. Someone who is seeking the same freedom as I am, and will get up way earlier than needed just to feel the first light from the top of a mountain.
Current graduate student at BDW in Boulder, CO.
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