Mt. Longonot Crater
When 2012 is chronicled in the annals of N’ASA, the then scribes shall speak of it in awe, for we challenged a mountain to a duel, and we beat the mountain. When we were done with it, the mountain stood behind us, subdued, silent, and vanquished.
Maybe these are rather grand terms to be attaching to a simple one day affair that took all of our energy and gave us memories and new friendships in return, but if you were there then you understand that the Longonot experience deserves every last letter of praise that I accord it.
This was a team building experience that was designed to cultivate camaraderie and forge strong bonds within the membership of N’ASA. It certainly lived up to its design. The event was well attended, especially by first and third years. The climb was arduous but worth it.
From the bottom, Mt. Longonot is imposing. It’s the very definition of a mountain. It inspires awe and if you’re one for challenges, it’s irresistible. The climb starts gently enough, with a flat terrain which gets steeper and steeper, and then you have to let go of your friends’ hands and its you and the mountain.
Getting to the top of the mountain was hard, but N’ASA is made of stern stuff, and virtually everyone made it to the peak. The real tip of the hat though, should go to those who made it around the crater. For most of us who did it, going round the crater was the most physically demanding thing we ever had to do. We literally had to crawl over some of the cliffs; so steep were they. And the worst feeling was being down with one cliff only to see an even higher one right ahead of you. The best part of it all was having a team to do it all with, having to do this with people you never really talked to before and descending as friends. I guess that’s kinda what the point of the team building event; to make new friends and get to know other N’ASA members and have fun in the process.
Even with the sore muscles and the aching joints, the Longonot experience was certainly an amazing way to kick off the 2012-2013 N’ASA year. It can only get better.
[slideshow_deploy id=’132′]
Leave a Reply