Brilliant writing, @jhimmel! I had to stop to laugh after every sentence, from one-time-Sammy to the County Education Officer!

I appreciate the comical take you added to what seems to be a bizarrely long trip just to get to the base of the mountain. I also appreciate the hematite-schist photo, as a retired geologist!

But give me more numbers! How many hours of hiking? What's your elevation gain? What's the temperature at the peak?

What we thought was the peak at first. Just a tease.

It happens to the best of us!