It was 6:13 when I started up the trail, with a mere three minutes to get to the top before sunrise.
First light: 5:45 AM
Sunrise: 6:16 AM
Daylight: 14 hrs, 49 min
And I can’t really say that I don’t know what happened; I have a vague, very groggy memory of getting up about 4:35 to hit the restroom and thinking I still had an hour to sleep before I had to get up, and going back to bed. I suspect I might have turned off the alarm while more than half asleep and that it was then the call of nature asserted itself. Woke up to Jerry’s alarm at 5:47.
So today, the Midland Trail was put to the test; I went rock climbing! I crested the ridge at 6:25 and was taking pictures by 6:31.
It was a strenuous climb. Not something I want to do every day, but it got me to the top in time to still call the pictures sunrise photos. I probably missed some very pretty fog in the process, but I made it, and the sunrise streak is yet unbroken! …Though I will agree it’s maybe a loose definition of ‘sunrise.’
Tell you what, I can now see where people can slip and fall to injury or death on this hill. More than once I had to set the tripod down on the rocks above me so as to use both hands clambering up and over. It’s steep, there’s no real sense of direction other than up, and if you’re at all prone to vertigo, don’t look around. Keep your eyes on your feet and hands, because the view around the rocks and the sight of Red Wing are both disorienting.
I do believe it’s time to switch to just getting up at four every morning, in anticipation of the earliest time I’ll have to be up – then I won’t have to worry about being on time.
Have to admit, though; I will probably never be afraid of that hill ever again. Now, that could be a bad thing, if I let myself get too bold. But at least I’ve a shorter route up to the overlook – even if it is a rather fierce climb.
