The photos from our first hike at Rolling Hills somehow made their way around the family. Before I knew it, some of my cousins, nieces, and nephews wanted to experience it too. And just like that, another climb was planned.

There was only one problem. A forest fire had happened not long before our hike. The surroundings were still fresh from it, and there were even areas where you could still see smoke rising from the ground. I honestly thought the hike would be canceled. There weren’t any updates in our group chat, so I assumed it wasn’t pushing through anymore.

Then suddenly… It was on.

I rushed to change into my hiking clothes. No time for a proper shower this time (don’t worry, I showered before going to bed the night before). Everyone was already waiting, and I didn’t want to make them wait any longer. Thank you, guys, for being patient with me.

This hike was different from the last one. We didn’t really pack food. I only brought a few pieces of candy because I knew I’d need something sweet along the way. I wasn’t feeling as energetic as I hoped, but somehow my legs kept moving.

The climb felt much quicker this time, probably because there were more of us. We were around twelve in total—cousins, nieces, and nephews—and I honestly loved that. Hiking is fun, but sharing it with family makes it even better.

Even though parts of the mountain had been burned by the fire, the beauty of the place was still there. Nature has an incredible way of healing itself. Standing there reminded me once again how amazing God’s creation is. It’s hard to believe that after everything the mountain had gone through, it could still leave us in awe.

Of course, we spent a few minutes at the top taking lots and lots of photos before heading back home.

Going down was… a different story.

Instead of taking the same trail, we used another route. Normally, I enjoy exploring different paths because every trail feels like a new adventure.

This one? Not so much.

It was unbelievably steep and slippery. There were moments when I could clearly see where I’d end up if I lost my footing, and that alone made my heart race. I found myself sitting down just to safely slide through some parts because it honestly felt easier than trying to stay on my feet.

There were moments when I truly wondered if I’d ever make it to the bottom. I was so nervous that I felt like my legs would give up before I did. But thankfully, I reached the end safely—not even a scratch.

Although next time… I’m definitely wearing leggings instead of shorts. After taking a shower at home, my legs were stinging from all the grass and tiny scratches I didn’t even notice during the hike.

The funny thing is, I didn’t really feel tired while climbing. It only hit me once we were already at the bottom. Suddenly my legs and thighs were aching so much that all I wanted to do was sit down and not move for a while.

It was the kind of exhaustion that reminds you that your body worked hard today.

Still, I’m incredibly thankful. Thankful that I made it through another climb safely. Thankful for the beautiful views. Thankful for another adventure with family.

And most of all, thankful to my dear cousins, nieces, and nephews for waiting for me every single time I fell behind. I’m always the slow walker in the group, but not once did they make me feel like I was slowing everyone down.

Sometimes the slowest person just gets a little more time to appreciate the view.

Until the next climb.