What brought me to the mountains? (Realizing a dream and the harsh reality)

What brought me to the mountains? Definitely not an accident. It was definitely a dream. I’ve dreamed about this since my school days. And this New Year, I decided that time passes irrevocably, and dreams must be fulfilled.

There is nothing more beautiful than the mountains. It is the element of strong, strong-willed people. Not selfish people, but those who know how to think and care for a comrade, ready to help at any moment. In the mountains, you feel a special kinship with your companions, even if you saw them for the first time in your life just yesterday morning. Up there, a person cannot hide anything. They are in full view. Just as they are. No masks, no pretense, no games that we play daily in society.

But let's be honest: mountains aren't just the romance you see in pictures. The climbs alone are a challenge. When you walk, and walk, and walk... and you think only about the campsite, when you can finally take off that heavy backpack, sit on the ground... and relax.

And that's when I realized one thing: my gear really saved me. In those moments, when your strength is running out, you start praying to your boots that support your ankles on the loose rocks, and you are thankful for a smart backpack that doesn't cut into your shoulders. I caught myself thinking: how important it is to be prepared. If I were wearing regular city clothes, I probably would have given up halfway. Quality gear out there isn't about showing off ("flexing"), it's a matter of survival and determining whether you will have the strength to enjoy the views or if you will just suffer.

But what a thrill it is when you finally drop the gear! Food cooked over a fire after an afternoon of constant walking seems absolutely divine.

Mountains are for those who feel cramped within the limits of ordinary society. You keep walking and suddenly realize you can't stop! An unknown force draws you forward, pushing fatigue, hunger, and the weight of the pack to the background. What awaits us behind that mountain? What view will open up? Will it be as stunning as the previous one?

It was on this hike that I felt truly happy. A sense of childish joy and delight wraps around you, making you want to fly and soar over these rocks like an eagle. An indescribable feeling of FREEDOM and peace of mind accompanies you the whole way.

You want to constantly smile at the sky, the stars, the fire, and your companions. All the fuss and troubles of ordinary life disappear from your thoughts, as if they never existed.

A person in the mountains is renewed, physically cleansed, and spiritually reborn. It is there that you understand the meaning of the song line: "Better than mountains can only be mountains you haven't been to yet..."

Mountains are not just romance; mountains are a DIFFERENT reality that becomes an integral part of the Heart once you have experienced them.