How Busting Your Knee Can Be Worth It

This is Bunderspitz. Where I was at dawn. And then it was time to leave my perch.

So shortly after we left the peak, the rain arrived. And my thoughts were now down in the valley where we were headed. It was a bit chilly, and I was tearing my rain trousers to bits on the sharp rocks we were stepping through. I had brought some ski poles to help take the wear and tear off my knees, but unfortunately, they weren't doing much for my pants.

Moving along was slow, but we made progress. And of course, the view was absolutely gorgeous.

As I said before, I was hiking with a group a lot quicker than me, and I'm not sure at what moment it happened, but after a couple of hours hiking down the mountain, my knee went. The terrain was very steep, and even though we were zig zagging in true Swiss fashion, I still felt a bit out of control and apparently my knee just couldn't handle it.

But I was determined to make it down the other side with the others, so when the gondola ride was offered(after 3 hours of walking), I refused. I felt that the worst was over...

Then, after another hour's walk, we came to a cross road, and we could take the road which would make us late for lunch at Kandersteg but was a little steep. Or we could take the shortcut that would put us on time for lunch, but was extremely steep. And me not wanting to hold the group up, agreed to take the steep trail. I nodded my head as if it was a brilliant idea. Absolutely brilliant. I couldn't walk on level ground without limping but the shortcut sounded great!

But after much grueling work, and two hours of pain, and two hours of falling way behind the group, and two hours of slipping on rocks and mud, and two hours of trying to sing to take my mind off my knee, I made it. I hit level ground in the valley that Kandersteg is located. And eveyone clapped for me. I felt like crying. Not from some poetic overwhelming moment of pride and sense of accomplishment. Oh no, I was pissed. Pissed at these people for choosing the steep path. And they clapped!

But it was all not in vain. We arrived at the scout center, also named Kandersteg (they're really creative), and I was promptly given an ice pack and a sympathetic glance. After a few minutes we were shown to the dining room for lunch. And then I understood why I was determined to make it down the moutain on my own. The reward was too great for a gondola ride. They were serving....

CHEESEBURGERS!!!!

The skies smiled on me and gave me a cheeseburger. A cheeseburger to say, "Jena, you have done well. You worked hard, and sacrificed much. And put up with these people long enough. Here is redemption."

And it was the best damn cheeseburger I ever ate. And that's exactly how busting your knee hiking down a big ass Alp can be worth it. It's important to go on difficult journeys and do things that are difficult. Because in the end, when you have succeeded, you'll get a cheeseburger.