Timothy Peters

You’re standing at the trailhead. Wind cuts sharp. Your ears pop before you’ve taken ten steps. Drailegirut looms (not) a peak, but a presence.

You’ve heard the stories. The ones that make your palms sweat and your compass spin. Drailegirut Mountain doesn’t just sit there. It watches you back.

You’re standing at the trailhead. Map in hand. Phone battery at 37%. And the elevation for Mountain Drailegirut Height? One app says 8,422 feet.

You’re standing at the base of Ascend Mountain Drailegirut. Map in hand. Phone battery at 17%. Wind picking up.

My hands shook the first time I stood at a trail fork with no signal and my GPS blinking red. You know that feeling too. When the map app freezes.

You’re staring at the map again. Wondering if this is even worth it. The Drive to Drailegirut looks beautiful on Instagram. Then you read the comments.

That puddle by your foundation again? The one that won’t go away after two days of rain. Or the basement floor that feels damp even when it’s not raining.