Hiking With the North Family

I was ready for a 4 mile hike. Marcus told me it was a good hike and not too long. Fossil Springs by Strawberry, AZ is an 8-mile hike. On the way back out, it is mostly uphill. Emily and Grace her friend were done about 2 miles on the way out. Andy North and I developed a little game. Here are the rules;



Run Uphill



If you are going uphill;

• Pick a prominent landmark about 50 feet ahead of you.


• Run uphill to the landmark.


• Chant "GO, GO, GO!" until you run out of breath.


• Turn around, but don't sit down.


• Look at the view, celebrate your progress, and wait for the rest of the group to catch up with you.


• Evaluate the next 50 feet. Repeat if you are still going uphill.

If you are going straight;

• walk with the group until you approach the next hill (see directions for going uphill).


• Play "The Minister's Cat" from the movie 'Scrooge,' until one of the group gets irritated, or you arrive at the next hill.

The kids beat me out of the canyon.

Optional rules for the recession;

I didn't intend to hike this mountain, and there is no way out of this without climbing out of the canyon I am in. I am tired of sitting on this rock, paralysed.

Run Uphill

• Develop a plan of action based on the principles of preparedness. Take your plan to the Lord every morning in prayer.


• Tackle 50 feet of the most urgent part of your plan with speed and vigor. That means only run one day at a time. Work hard and remind yourself to Go! Go! Go!


• Don't go to bed without celebrating the progress of the day, and express your gratitude to Heavenly Father. Ways to celebrate - pray, read your scriptures, serve someone else, taking care of your body's needs by exercising, eating well and drinking enough water.


• Don't try to keep up in any way with any other hiker. Don't look too far uphill.

When it is time to hike a straight road again, I will have awesome spiritual and emotional muscles. I will come out of this experience with a greater capacity to love and be grateful.