The Flat Part
CAMPFIRE STORIES
8/18/2026
The first four miles of the hike were flat. Minutes passed, and the initial excitement was fading. I still wasn't climbing the mountain. I was ready for the challenge. I wanted to feel the pain in my muscles and the tightness in my lungs.
But I had to walk the flat part first.
The mountain was slowly appearing in the distance, but it hardly felt like I was making any progress. I couldn't speed up. I had to preserve my energy for the hard climb.
I was enjoying the nature. It looked magnificent that day. The curves of the trail allowed me to look at the plants and terrain in different light. So many insects were going through their usual rhythm of the day, working hard, fulfilling their role in this universe.
The mountain was still far away.
When I eventually reached the bottom of it, it was time to refuel. I found a small spot to sit down, relax my back, give my feet a break from my heavy shoes, and eat.
Clouds covered the sun. The wind turned colder. It was only 10 a.m., but the sudden change in atmosphere and darkness made it feel much later. It felt like 7 p.m., like a storm was coming.
I shivered, looked around and thought, shit, I am stuck.
I hadn't even started the climb up the mountain, yet I was hours away from civilisation.
I reached for my phone, hoping to get some signal so I could check the weather forecast again.
No signal.
I had planned my hikes hundreds of times. I had to trust myself. The weather would be fine.
I noticed my map and took it out. I made sure I was exactly where I was supposed to be, and suddenly I saw it.
I was so far from my car.
The walk had felt effortless physically, but the progress I had made was incredible.
I am drawn to movement, to adventure, to the feeling of being challenged. When the trail stays flat for too long, the hardest part can become the one inside my head.
It's time to climb.
The ascent will be difficult and technical, but the distance I have to cover to reach the peak is much shorter now.
I'm on my way.