Magic mountains

From the oldest times to today, mountains are a powerful attraction

Mountains have always held a magical, mystical place in human history.

The Bible is full of incredible experiences on mountains. It was on Mount Sinai that Moses received the Ten Commandments in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, Jesus delivered the famous Sermon on the Mount atop the Mount of Beatitudes.

Meanwhile according to Buddhist tradition, Gautama Buddha presented the “Flower Sermon” from atop Vulture Peak. He held up a flower, and without speaking, delivered a message that direct transmission of wisdom is beyond words.

Near the top of many people’s bucket lists is a trip to the famous Machu Picchu in the Andes Mountains in Peru. The city was built in the mid-1400s during the Inca empire. People from around the world now travel by planes, trains and buses to reach the magical remains of what has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In more modern times, hundreds of eager adventurers brave the elements every May to attempt to scale Mount Everest, the tallest point on Earth. Why? Because it’s there, and it’s impressive.

During the Covid pandemic in 2020, the hills and mountains all along the Hudson River in New York state were a lifesaver for me and my family. When everything else was shut down, and most towns even removed the nets from outdoor tennis and basketball courts, the mountains were there. And available.

Nearly every weekend we planned outdoor hikes to many mountain tops, from West Point all the way down to New York City. As we stood on those mountain tops, six feet apart of course, we delighted in the sweeping views of the river and the countryside below. Our mental health was restored and refreshed every time we stepped out into nature and ascended those modest peaks north of New York City.

I was reminded of the power of the peaks recently when our family visited Zion National Park in Utah. The park is not as big or famous as places like Yosemite or Yellowstone, but it was recognized as far back as 1919 as a national treasure. For more than 100 years it has been designated a national park, so we eagerly planned a visit.

With one son flying in from Boston and the other joining us on spring break from school in Syracuse, it was an opportunity for Mary and my wife and I to bring our party of five together for a long weekend. We could be heard “oo-ing” and “ah-ing” as we made the drive from Las Vegas to the mountains of southern Utah.

As we drove the black rental minivan closer to Zion National Park, the terrain grew more and more impressive. There weren’t many trees or flowers, but we saw dramatic cliffs, buttes and mesas everywhere, the rocks in various shades of red and gold and pink.

Upon entering Zion, we parked the minivan and headed out on a hike. We were seeking an all-encompassing view from the Canyon Overlook. It was just a one-mile hike out to the Overlook, but literally every step was joyful and wonderful. We saw mountain goats, deer and chipmunks, although oddly not very many birds.

The trail meandered around rocks and across narrow passageways, occasionally requiring handrails to traverse particularly narrow paths. Mary did great. While Mary has her moments of anxiety in social situations, she is completely at ease and happy when she’s hiking. This is especially true when her two younger brothers are there to help her explore.

Mary is quite fearless in the mountains, she isn’t scared of heights and she loves to climb rocks and boulders. Her joy was shared by all of us at Zion that day, and eventually we saw the trail coming to a dramatic conclusion just ahead.

Finally, we reached the Canyon Overlook, looking back westward over the length of the majestic canyon. It was a magical and epic experience.

It was the kind of place that Jesus or Moses or Buddha or the Incas or any ambitious Everest climber would have to admire. We were totally impressed but not surprised. The word “Zion” after all once referred to a hill in Jerusalem sacred to Jews and Christians alike. Nowadays it is often applied to any place that might be considered heavenly or spiritual.

From our vantage point at the Canyon Overlook in Zion National Park recently, we agree that the name fits perfectly.

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