Even my arms and hands are in motion when the trail gets steep. Reaching, grabbing, holding, supporting. At times, I connect to the mountain on four points. The trail winds up the mountain. At lower elevations there's water and ferns, lots of trees and shade.
Wild flowers are still in bloom.
The creeks, raging torrents in rainy season, probably stopped running just a couple of weeks ago. As you go up, the trees thin, the trail turns into a dirt road that spirals the peak. And then, this time it was no surprise, the view of the valley opens. No surprise, but it's just as sudden. Whoooosh, you're in space.