After searching for Mount Zion on the Google, I discovered this is a hugely popular name for a mountain. There is a Mount Zion in Illinois, Michigan, Georgia, California, Washington, and Jerusalem. While I’d rather have explored the hills of the latter location, I ventured to none other than Mount Zion in Washington.
A new to me climb, this short and relatively easy hike was somewhat hard to find. I always make a pit stop at the ranger station and ask for directions to unfamiliar territories, and to use the bathroom. I drink a lot of water.
The head ranger was on a bike run to the post office (small town living – I love it) and the ranger left behind was new. Like, brand new. He was unfamiliar with the area so I tried my best at following a drawn map, but as a woman I prefer verbal directions with step by step turns. Trying to follow drawn out lines and squiggles is like trying to decipher what Jabba the Hutt is saying without subtitles.
After an hour of driving the area (and finding lovely sights along the way) we finally found our destination.
This climb will be a fantastic addition to my solo hike list. The trail follows a ridge like edge with views of the surrounding mountains, all while maintaining a secluded canopy from the trees. The final view is only visible to those that can channel their inner billy goat. A scramble up a semi awkward rock provides a beautiful panoramic view of the surrounding hills.
Oh me, oh my.
Life doesn’t always go smooth, and we usually don’t have written directions for how things are supposed to be done. Life maps often look like a series of hieroglyphics and I was born in an era that uses words over pictures.
Instead of focusing on the troubles of getting lost, it’s up to us to focus on the journey along the way. All we have is now, so why dwell on what we don’t have?
Post climb and life reflection I had a void in my stomach that could be filled by none other than Vietnamese food. My third time in one week. I have no shame.
My theme for this week is to stop focusing on problems I cannot fix. Without hoops of fire to jump through life would be rather boring, don’t you think?
Q: Do you choose to enjoy the journey, or focus too much on the future? I’m all about the now.
Blissfulbritt 
67 thoughts on “Mount Zion”
Kelly (@LeafynotBeefy)
What a beautiful place! haha on the inner billy goat, and love how you connected the hike to life… I’m with you on living in the present and embracing those firey hoops, though I usually don’t appreciate the struggle until way after the fact… something to work on, though, for sure!
Brittany
I admit I appreciate the struggles much more in hind-site too, but that’s what makes us human!
Andrea Weidel
Washington State is so beautiful. A trip to the PNW – from San Fran to Vancouver – has been on my travel list for so long. Hopefully I’ll get there within the next five years. That being said (written…?) I usually have tunnel vision to the future. I’ve been working on enjoying my life/circumstances as they are now. Choosing to be content is so important!
Brittany
I have high hopes of you finding your way to the PNW!! It is a masterpiece of the US for sure.
idreamaboutcarbs
I have been loving your solo hike stories!! It’s almost like you’re taking us all with you so it’s never truly a solo hike 😂 I have been apprehensive to take a solo hike but after hearing your stories of reflection, it sounds magnificent. You’ve inspired me to make that a goal to do at least one this year!! I love the theme for this week. I think it’s such an easy one to get wrapped up in. The other day I was being really pissy and I just stopped and said to myself, Why ARE you so pissy? Who cares if your boss/co-worker has done XYZ. You do you and do the best you can do. It was a nice moment when I realized I had the control to change my attitude! Sometimes we all need that reflection and quiet time to get ourselves together or sometimes to just enjoy oneself. 😀
Brittany
This comment brings so much happiness to my soul. I love that you want to get out and solo hike! It’s all about being prepared and being safe! Once that’s covered, the rest just unfolds into a magical moment of self discovery.
What you said about controlling attitudes is so spot on! Something I am always working at!
LWynalek
Ah, looks like a gorgeous hike! I’m always so jealous of your adventures, as I desk chair travel from the flat Midwest 🙂
Brittany
Vicarious living at its best, now get out there after work and EXPLORE! 🙂
GiGi Eats Celebrities
WHY THE F did you not come to the Mt. Zion in Cali?? HA HA HA!
Brittany
I JUST discovered it, so basically next time we go. OK? GOOD!
Rach @ This Italian Family
I love the analogy you made from this hike! I’m with you on enjoying the journey right here and now!
Brittany
Amen my friend! 🙌🏼
B
Your hiking photos are always so beautiful! I really appreciate them, especially on rainy days like today here in Maryland!
Brittany
Thank you, they make me happy. 😄
Gmoney
Your blogs are so inspiring and soul soothing!! Beautiful pictures!!! Three things in life that make us, us. The obstacle that breaks us , the obstacle that defines us or the obstacle that strengthens us. I choose strengthen and it looks like you do too💪💪💪💪💪
Brittany
Atta boy, I’m trying that’s for sure! Thanks for reading 😝
Josie @ Literature Mistress
You’re probably right about enjoying the journey. I’ve been working on this, but I can’t say in all honesty that I’m completely there yet – I still find myself either stuck in the past or trying to plan the future way too often! Maybe it’s a lack of beautiful Zen inducing mountains? 😉
Brittany
I think the Mountains definitely help. 😝
Angie
Love the pics! I’m all about the now as well. 🙂
Brittany
It’s all we’ve got after all. 😄
Heather Patton at Afternoon Glow
I’ll add this one to the list! Lovely photos, and it sounds like you worked hard for that Vietnamese food at the end!
Brittany
Oh man, well worth making a trip to this side of the water.
Rachael @ Catch Me If You Can
beautiful photos and way to make me really think today 🙂 i think im half and half, sometimes its about the journey but sometimes i get stuck in thinking too much about the future…thats usually when i pop in a harry potter and get lost in a world of imagination, my favorite place 🙂
Brittany
Oh brilliant! I’ll have to remember that next time I feel overwhelmed. HP to the rescue.
fionajarrett
Your hike photos just get better and better – absolutely stunning & looks like you got a beautiful day. You can’t help but love life on days like that! Especially when there’s good vietnamese food at the end 🙂
Brittany
Thank you! It was a perfect day.
Ellie
I totally focus here and now, sometimes that sucks like planning vacations (or college hahha). I have a question, because I subsist on peanut butter and bananas, I have no idea what Vietnamese food it. Please explain 🙂
Brittany
Lots of rice, tofu, stir fries, curries, mung beans, vegetables, peanut sauces. Haha, that’s what my experience has been at least. Full of flavor!
dave379
Love your theme for the week, and all the hikng beauty and connections. I know I focus too much on the future sometimes, and the past, and it’s definitely better when I let myself be fully in the present and enjoy it. When that happens it feels amazing.
Brittany
I go back and forth dwelling on past and future, but am always more grounded when I focus on the present.
Anthony
Now is amazing. Now is living. The future….well, that will just happen.
Brittany
Yes! Well said.
Josh dV
I’m all for now, it’s all I have. You’re right not to focus on what we can’t control, which is everything besides myself, and even sometimes I’ve been beyond my own power.
God, grant us grace to accept with Serenity, the things that cannot be changed,
The courage to change the things which should be changed,
And the wisdom to distinguish one from the other.
Brittany
Yes! The serenity prayer is perfect.
Jade
That’s funny that it’s such a popular name for a mountain. That looks so pretty! I love exploring the PNW. It’s just fantastic.
Brittany
It’s my favorite time of year to explore here!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
I really am so jealous of all the amazing hikes that you get to go on, but I love that you share them here so I can live through you haha.
Brittany
I’m glad someone can appreciate my obsessions with hiking adventures. 😄
Angela
I’m jealous of the hikes and the blues skies!m as I sit in an office looking out at miserable grey clouds! Great post and awesome photos as always xo
Brittany
Thank you, take some sunshine from the photo and pretend it’s in your office. 😝
katalysthealth
How beautiful. I used to only focus on the future, but Im trying more and more to be in the present. NO ONE is promised tomorrow [or 5 years from now] so while I want to be smart of course and take care of things for my future, I also dont want to miss out on the beauty of the NOW. Love you girl! ❤
Brittany
Yes, all about that BALANCE! 👍🏻👊🏻
Hayley
Your hiking pictures are always stunning and make me want to hike…just texted Danny saying we are hiking this weekend 🙂
Brittany
Yassss! Go go GO!
Amy @ A Desert Girl
I try to enjoy the journey! You never know when it’ll lead to a worthwhile detour. 🙂
Gorgeous views. And that Vietnamese food is included in that statement. Tasty!
Brittany
The detours are half the fun!
Heather
I do both… I think it depends on the situation. I love Vietnamese food 🙂 Then again, there isn’t a food I met that I didn’t like. Keep these awesome hikes (and eats) going!
Brittany
I haven’t met many foods I don’t like either, that’s my struggle. Haha.
usabaker
beautiful hike! whats the chain-link fence about? I don’t know if im about the now or furture; maybe somewhere near the middle.
Brittany
The fence was a shot along the way, just a random angle I thought looked cool haha. Wasn’t at the actual mountain.
usabaker
Oh okay 🙂 I was wondering why the forest service would fence in that area.
Nicole @ Foodie Loves Fitness
Looks gorgeous! There have been countless times when I’ve gotten lost driving to trails, finding the trail parking lot, hiking on trails themselves, etc. The signage usually sucks and I have no sense of direction to begin with haha but it sometime turns out okay in the end!
I actually think I’m pretty good at enjoying the journey! One of my favorite quotes is something like, “Worrying is like a rocking chair… It gives you something to do and you go back and forth, but you never get anywhere.”
Brittany
Oh I love that quote! LOVE.
Nicole @ Foodie Loves Fitness
somehow turns out okay** (typing with my tired eyes!)
Kayse
Every hike you post makes me want to hop on a plane and come see you. So damn beautiful.
I’d say I’m pretty steadily a here and now gal. I mean, I definitely have some ideas of what I would like to currently work toward for my future (helloooo herbalist certificate), but I don’t often worry about anything farther than tomorrow’s lunch.
Brittany
Tomorrow’s lunch, good thoughts to focus on! 🙂
Amy
I need your amazing, upbeat blog posts as a reminder to live more in the now!! I’ve always been too focused on the future and forget to simply enjoy the moment… We’ll see if I can remember that for more than 3 seconds this time. (I tend to have the memory of a goldfish when it comes to this topic! Just like Dory. I love Finding Nemo. Whoops, there we go… 😉 )
Brittany
I know the Dory feeling all too well!
dweezer19
I will go the Zen mile here and say “there is no future” and the past is but a memory. Only the moment we are in truly exists.
Brittany
Yes, yes, yesssss!!
stateeats
Big sigh, those pics look so beautiful. The mountains are calling to me here in the hinterlands of the Midwest. I don’t think too many people can enjoy the journey as it unfolds, only after reflection does one appreciate it . Or maybe that’s just me -Kat
Brittany
I’m with you on that!
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
I prefer to avoid those hoops of fire whenever possible. Either that or charge right through them.
We should check out the Mt. Zion in Jerusalem. That would be awesome.
Brittany
Please?! Let’s go…
Allie Zottola
“Instead of focusing on the troubles of getting lost, it’s up to us to focus on the journey along the way. All we have is now, so why dwell on what we don’t have?” I so needed to read that today! Thank you!
Beautiful, beautiful pictures. As per usual 🙂
Brittany
Yay! Have an awesome day, kick some booty!
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