"The mountain peaks look skeletal, their rocky ribs jarringly exposed for February. These past two seasons, I have felt as if all the ways I love my body are at risk: legislative attacks on trans rights, dwindling winters with shrinking snowpacks."
"Every vertical foot I gain is a reclamation, and, on this tour, I'm resisting both gravity and government. Burning lungs paired with burning quads, cold-bitten toes squeezed into tight boots: I meditate on all the microfeelings in my body."
"The mountains across the way are wearing the kind of snow I'd expect to see late in the season, after the year's last snowfall, not now in what should be midwinter."
Colorado's winter has been significantly affected by climate change, resulting in a disappointing snowpack and exposed rocky peaks. The author expresses concern over the legislative attacks on trans rights and the erosion of public land protections. Despite living in a state that safeguards trans rights, there is a pervasive anxiety about the national debate surrounding these issues. The act of climbing serves as a personal reclamation, allowing the author to connect with their body and resist external pressures while enjoying the mountain's beauty.
Read at High Country News
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