Continental

At 13000 feet there
is little visible life.
The trees have receeded
to leave a tundra landscape.
Rocks and grass underfoot.
The cool air preserves the
cold mountain snow in my path.

A steep climb behind me
is soon forgotten in
the minds eye as the
descent beckons us.

But from this ridge
a clarity is found. Staring
down the towering giants
are more my equal. We dare
not linger long for the
length of this journey will
last the rest of the day.