A distant range of mountains, rising above flat terrain, is, for me, the most stirring landscape on our planet. While, as a naturalist, I realize that the majestic peaks may have once been a featureless seabed or plain, since crumpled skyward and sculpted by natural forces, they command admiration and respect during my brief lifespan.
To the traveler, the distant range may represent a destination or a milepost. It may promise adventure or warn of difficult passage. Depending on one's perspective, the towering mountains may offer an opportunity for exploration or trigger a sense of danger. Consulting maps, one may choose to head for the highest summits or plan a detour to avoid their treacherous slopes.
I suppose our reaction to distant mountains says a good deal about our approach to life. When obstacles loom in our path we can choose to face them directly or attempt to evade their difficult terrain. Those who refuse to veer from the course may either carelessly crash into their immovable wall or take the time to explore and understand their varied mysteries. Ramparts will always appear on the horizon and the course of our life is determined by how we choose to cross them.
