It is the Continental Divide that slices America into two sections. If you are west of it your rivers will eventually flow into the Pacific Ocean. If you are east then all your rivers eventually flow into the Atlantic or Arctic. My home state of Colorado sits on that big split and it definitely shows. There are more mountain peaks over 14,000 feet in Colorado than anywhere else in the contiguous 48 states. California has 13 peaks, Washington State has one, and Colorado has 58.

On Wednesday I climbed two of my favorite peaks: Gray’s and Torrey’s. These are not technical climbs but rather an excellent indicator of strength and endurance. The climb is 9 miles round trip with more than 3,000 feet of vertical ascent. Gray’s peak has the distinction of being the tallest peak on the continental divide. At 14,270 feet the summit is nearly three miles above sea level. The air is thin up there. Amazingly spectacular views and the occasional mountain goat combine with a lack of oxygen to make the experience surreal. I thoroughly enjoy it. It’s Rocky Mountain high. At the summit I stand elated and exhausted. I’m standing on the rooftop of America (stole that from Kerouac). But you know what? There is no way I could have done that climb five years ago. At that time, with 40 extra pounds, even a gentle climb at low elevations was too challenging to really enjoy. I find it very interesting to see how my interests have shifted in relation to my body weight.

As a Health Coach I teach my clients that having a physical activity that they can really enjoy on a regular basis is essential to living life at a healthy weight. Many of my clients are regular, brisk walkers. They have a path, or paths, that they will walk daily or very close to daily. It doesn’t much matter what form of exercise you choose as long as your muscles are working, the blood is flowing, you enjoy it and you do it regularly. Ideally you are also building a little bit of muscle because your muscles naturally atrophy as you age. Do something to neutralize that. It keeps your metabolism up.

Below is me atop Torrey’s peak, 14,267 feet. I was fortunate to be up there completely alone for about 10 minutes.

eb.