My Life as an AROHAK!

AROHAK - is a Sanskrit word that stands for "one who climbs" (AROHAN - means Climbing). As I continue my venture of hiking different mountains, I thought of having one post that references to all of my hiking experiences; and this is my master post :)

What does Hiking mean to me? When I started hiking, it dint have any great importance then, it was just for fun. But today, as I continue to attempt more strenuous hike, it has started giving me much more than "just for fun" feeling.

Hiking teaches you to push yourself beyond your limits.

When you just slam your back against a rock all exhausted saying you cannot hike for even one more minute; and then continue to hike for another 5 hours; it shows that you are never really done when you say you are.

When you pull your muscles so bad and you think you cannot take another step; but yet continue to hike for another 4 miles; bearing the pain taking just one more step at a time; you prove to yourself that your tolerance level is much higher than you actually think it is.

As I continue to fight different battles of life, my hiking experience gives me inner strength - both mental and emotional; to face the difficulties with much more confidence, with much more energy, with an attitude of never to give up, to give that one more try - one more step, to continue to breathe in the moment, to smile thinking I will reach the summit sooner than later.

Here's list of all my hikes till date; I am mentioning only 14ers and some smaller hikes with special experiences. Will tag them to the individual posts, as and when I write them.

1. Mt. Bierstadt - My first 14er.

Elevation - 14,060'
Rank - 38 of 53 (14ers in Colorado)
Range - Front
Route - West Slopes, Class 2, Gain - 2850', Mileage - 7 miles
Date Hiked - 7/30/2009

2. Arapaho Pass Trail - Boulder (Dated - 8/22/2010)

This one was a team outing, and it had some of the best views. See below reference

http://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/arapahoe-pass-and-lake-dorothy-trail

Arapaho Pass Trail

3. Grays Peak & Torreys Peak - Combo, 14ers.

Started with Grays Peak - Argentine Pass Trailhead as Chichuahua Gulch road was closed.
  Elevation - 14,270'
  Rank - 9 of 53 (14ers in Colorado)
  Range - Front
  Route - Southwest Ridge, Class 2, Gain - 3800', Mileage - 10.5 miles
Date Hiked - 7/30/2009

Grays Peak

Torreys Peak
Elevation - 14,267'
  Rank - 11 of 53 (14ers in Colorado)
  Range - Front
  Route - From Grays Peak and then headed down to Grays Peak Trailhead, Class 2, Gain - 3600', Mileage - 8.5 miles

Date Hiked - 8/29/2015. Total Mileage - Around 12 miles.

We missed the trail, added some real difficult rock climbing sections, an adventurous experience - my blog on it- http://saritahere.blogspot.com/2015/11/you-got-to-finish-what-you-started.html

3. Mt. Democrat - 14er - Failed attempt in Snow.

We did not have snow gaiters and were not prepared for 4 feet snow up the mountains. Also the weather started getting cloudy, so we headed back with just .7 miles remaining to the peak. Oh, and we were planning for covering all 4 peaks; how ambitious. The snow had the road to trailhead parking closed, so that added 1 mile to our hike. I have listed this, because this is my first experience of hiking in snow, and I did have one hell of a time.

  Elevation - 14,148'
  Rank - 28 of 53 (14ers in Colorado)
  Range - Mosquito
  Route - East Slopes, Class 2, Gain - 2150', Mileage - 4 miles

Date Hiked - 10/24/2015

4. Mt. Elbert - Highest Peak of 14ers in CO

  Elevation - 14,433'
  Rank - 1 of 53 (14ers in Colorado)
  Range - Sawatch
  Route - NorthEast Ridge, Class 1, Gain - 4700', Mileage - 9 miles

Date Hiked - 6/18/2016

I got severe muscle pull on both my legs just after 3 hours of hike, and that slowed me down, but I still continued to hike to finish this. One of my worst conditions to hike, I dragged myself through the finish line, but it was worth every drop of sweat and pain; increased my endurance level a lot.

5. Delicate Arch, Utah - Arches National Park.

Adding to this list, not just because I saw one of the most beautiful sunset from here, but also had stayed back for night sky watching. My first time hiking down at 11 in the night; watching the start studded sky along the hike. Simply Sufiana.

  Distance - 3 miles, Open slickrock with no shade.
Date Hiked - 9/2/2016

6. Quandary Peak - 14er

  Elevation - 14,265'
  Rank - 13 of 53 (14ers in Colorado)
  Range - Tenmile
  Route - East Ridge, Class 1, Gain - 3450', Mileage - 6.75 miles

Date Hiked - 9/10/2016

-Sarita

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