Northern Vermont

Red and I are three days from the Canadian border. Two if the terrain wasn't what it is: strenuous, wet, rocky, muddy and steep. While climbing a particularly steep section of trail going up Mount Mansfield, I stopped to look at an expansive view. It was a rare sunny day. I secured myself from falling by sticking my fingertips in cracks in the rocks. "I could die right here." I said quietly to myself "I love this." I wasn't using hyperbole, like when someone says they are so happy they could just die. I meant, I need to watch my step.