My two sisters, dad, aunt, and I put on our heavy shining armor the day trip ahead of us. We were headed on a mission to slay the fire breathing dragon that that lived on the top of mount Honeycomb. We knew it would be a strenuous journey and a difficult mission to accomplish but knew that the fate of our town rested in our hands.

We started the trek around 9 a.m. The air was brisk , making our bodies shiver inside our armor. The crisp air felt dry and clean against the parts of our faces, not covered by the helmet. The pine trees stood tall and strong. The ground was sloshy and wet from the melted snowfall from weeks before. The wet mud stuck to my metal boots, making my feet feel like lead.

The trail up to the dragons lair swerved back and forth (so called “switchback” by those familiar with the landscape). The steepness of the mountain and the confusion of what is actually the way to the top of Mount Honeycomb made us stop, take breaks, determine our location, and occasionally break out the granola bars and butterscotch.

The recent unpredicted snowfall in the canyon made it difficult to know which dirt “path” was the trail. A few times we ended up climbing over large stone rocks on the side of the mountain (which was quite difficult concerning our dress and the weapons we had attached to every limb of our body).

As we got further up the mountain we could now notice distinct trails and were able to recognize the one we were to take. I was ready to see what the next section of the trail was and to slay the dragon, bringing safety to my home town.

We knew we were getting closer to Mount Honeycomb as the trail was getting steeper and steeper. Our boots slipped often on the loose gravel and dirt from the trail. We reached for shrubs, tree branches and trunks to help us keep our balance going up the trail. We hiked and hiked and hiked some more up the trail. The trail gradually turned more rocky and we were able to see a clearer view of the canyon. I, being afraid of heights, got nervous when one side of the trail became a sharp rocky drop that seemed to have no end, as if anyone who fell would never reach ground.

We could finally see the top of Mount Honeycomb, and it seemed to be within arm’s reach. We were so close. It was around 2 p.m. The trail required us to climb over boulders to reach the tippy top. I followed my dad’s lead and we maneuvered our way up the gigantic rocks. Falling off the rocks would cause a pretty bad injury so we were very cautious. I was so excited, we were minutes away from the dragons lair. I tried not to look down, but I could feel the altitude, so I felt a bit shaky.

Climbing over the last rock and reaching the top of the cliff made me feel as if I was on top of the world. I could see everything in the entire canyon. I could see the lakes, roads going to ski resorts, and lodges stretched up the mountain. I could see where the sun hit the mountains, highlighting and contouring the crevices and bulges of the summit. The pine trees were all shades of green and looked fluffy and thick. The mountains pierced the clear blue sky, peppered with white cotton candy clouds.

The elevation; 10,400 feet. I could see the dragons lair being up high in the mountains. It was just footsteps away. With my heart beating violently in my chest I witnessed the beauty of this creature. I could not slay it. I drew back and couldn’t bring myself to kill the dragon. The dragon was beautiful as it peacefully flew around us and the mountain, minding his own business. It had no intention of bringing us harm. I always knew of dragons as a scary and threatening creature, but being at a view where I could see everything around me at large distances made me gain a greater appreciation for the creatures of the world.