Mountains are my favorite.

Having cruised all around the United States, exploring forests, deserts, and coastlines, I can wholeheartedly endorse mountains as the top-tier landmark. Sure, I recognize this as purely an opinion, but having spent a significant amount of time in the mountains, I am convinced that they are special places full of life, freedom, and… well, the pursuit of happiness.

(Backpacker agrees with me, posting a list of “15 Reasons Why Mountains are the Coolest”)

I recently spent a couple days enjoying the mountains in Red Rock Canyon near Las Vegas. This National Conservation Area is a natural playground made up of a variety of rock types with literally thousands of rock climbing options. I scrambled in and around the interesting formations, finding my way to hidden rock walls where I relished the early morning solitude. My friends and I enjoyed grabbing onto the unique holds formed by iron in the gritty red sandstone. Tent caterpillars, chuckwalla lizards, and a myriad of birds kept us entertained and fascinated. We snapped photos of the desert blooms and couldn’t get enough of the ecosystem’s biodiversity.

This guy crossed our path on the hike back out

Flowers in our hard-to-get-to hidden climbing spot

My experience in Red Rock Canyon also reminded me of my personal affinity for mountainous areas. Each peak is one of a kind; each ridge a distinct space of exploration. And while I love the physical-mental challenge of rock climbing, it is the geographical place that leaves me feeling most alive.

“The mountains are calling, and I must go.” – John Muir