I Used to Climb Mountains

"Sure, you did" was the unspoken comment of
Technicians at a stress test, and
The cardiologist at an annual checkup.
"What mountains?" they asked in bored tones.

"Oh, the White Mountains, Adirondacks, Catskills."
And left it at that as their attention turned elsewhere.
Memory takes me to the top of Mount Washington,
Reached twice from Mount Adams on a traverse of peaks.

Two long, slow slogs up Mount Marcy in New York;
The first from Johns Brook Lodge,
The second from the weather station near the Adirondack Loj
That my Mohican Chapter donated to the Adirondack Club.

Two presidential traverses in the White Mountains.
Including Adams, Madison, Eisenhower, et al.
Thirty of the Adirondack forty-six 4000 footers.
Some reached from a base camp deep in the wilderness.

All of the 35 Catskill mountains over 3500 feet.
Each about 3000 feet in elevation gain.
Half of them on snowshoes.
Number 350 in the Catskill 3500 Club

Almost forgot Killington in the Green Mountains
On a three day trek along Vermont's Long Trail.
Not to mention days and days of hiking up
The Ramapo "mountains" in Harriman Park.

Now a little hill on a local trail is a daunting prospect.
I stop at the top of each to catch my breath
And remember the fabled "mountain high"
At the scaling of another new peak.