The Saddle - Part 3

The first part of the hike up was not too hard, but still pretty steep. It was pretty cool because it was early and we were still hiking through the forest. Mid-day, we emerged from the trees. The view was amazing, really, really amazing. Peaks and valleys unlike anything I have ever seen before. The sky was a mix of blue and clouds which made big shadows that glided through the valley below us. A little further up, we came to a lookout that stuck out from the side of the mountain. From there we saw that the hut we came from looked like a small white speck. 

We continued on and each time we stopped to rest we saw even more spectacular views. Eventually, we got to a sort of peak which gave us a view of both sides of the mountain. This is where the four of us not continuing on over the mountain thought we would stop and turn around. We sat and had tea and granola for a while and then the two guys moving on asked the rest of us if we wanted to join them to the base of the saddle. It would mean another three hours hiking, but we eventually decided that we would join them. The short hike was easy and mostly downhill, but the path followed the clearest, coldest water I have ever seen. We had spread out quite a bit and I ended up being the last person in line, so I was the last to reach the clearing at the base of the saddle. We had all been chatting throughout most of the hike but as I got closer to rest of the group, I noticed that everyone in the clearing was quiet and Axel was squatting with his hands on his head. I joined the rest of the silent group and looked out in the direction they were looking. My fingers when numb and I gave a little involuntary sigh. I wasn't sighing because I was tired, it was a sigh that I now know happens when one's breath is, "taken away."

I think the photos that I posted from that peak are pretty impressive, but they only show a fraction of what it felt like to be up there after that hike. I know that there are better views from higher mountains out there, but this was, by far the most astounding view I have ever seen. I never imagined I would see anything like this in my life.