La Jonction, Chamonix, France

Duration 6h; Distance 7.8 mi Elevation 4,918 ft

After nearly two years of keeping my feet firmly on the ground, the mountains were calling. There I was, at the foot of La Jonction in Chamonix, France, the weight of anticipation heavy on my shoulders, and the burning question “will I make it to the top?!”.

The journey of becoming a mother, embracing the miraculous journey of pregnancy, and navigating postpartum recovery had kept me earthbound. Every mother will attest to the transformation that comes with it, that often means giving up some pieces of your old self. But this hike, it was about reclaiming a piece of me that I thought I might have lost forever. It wasn’t just any hike; it was my reawakening.

As we started the ascent, from shaded forests, to expansive ridges, the trail was nothing short of enchanting. But its beauty was also its challenge. The stretches of rocks and boulders demanded a scramble.

A few times, my heart raced as the path took a vertical ascend. The fear of heights, tucked away in some corner of my heart, made me contemplate turning back. But then, there was my partner, urging me to conquer my fears and push through the final stretch.

And so I did! And the reward worth it! Like a cherry on top, there was the Glacier Le Bossons. All the fatigue melted away. The payoff reminding me of why I cherished the mountains so dearly.

But in the middle of this profound personal journey, there was a tiny, four-legged surprise. My little dog Miguelito, an embodiment of spirit and courage, made it up the trail almost entirely on his own! Only during the vertical scrambles he needed a lift, but for the rest, Miguelito was a mountaineer in his own right!!

To be on that mountain, to share the journey with my partner, my friends, and my little canine companion, was a reminder of why I love the mountains so much!

This hike wasn’t just a physical journey, but an emotional one. And as I made my descent, I carried with me not just memories, but a rejuvenated spirit, that made me look at my day to day life differently.

Because the mountains, they don’t just challenge us; they heal us!