English Paper

So I am writing this paper for my English class about hiking up to Ruffneck Peak. You can read about the whole experince on my mom's blog mamallama8.blogspot.com but anyways, for this paper, I am going to present it to my class. This paper is a very descriptive paper, it paints the picture for the listener/reader to see in their own mind. But, in order for it to have full effect, I wanted to have a visual. So here are some pictures of what I am describing in my paper.

And here is the paper:

Ruffneck Peak

                “Is every one ready? Alright. Let’s go,” Dad commands. I love the sound of our footsteps as we walk. Crunch crunch; our feet crumble the dead pine needles on the ground. Sweet pine fills my nostrils as the sun beats down on my face. A slight breeze balances the radiating heat from the sun. Our breathing grows heavier as the trail gets steeper, although I feel light weight, like a feather. This is much easier than yesterday’s hike without our packs weighing down our shoulders.

A meadow filled with green grass and wild flowers comes into view. Little patches of water form mini lakes in the tall grass. Trees line the outsides of the meadow, standing guard; protecting the serenity of this place. The mountain peak that is our goal appears; patches of pure white snow glisten at the very top.

                The mountain disappears again as the trees guarding the meadow allow us to pass under. A snap of a twig alerts my ears. I turn just in time to see a deer bound away, frightened by our footsteps. A squirrel scurries up a tree, its mouth full of nuts.

                The ground becomes rocky, the crunch more persistent beneath my feet. Boulders line the trail and the trees and plants vanish; rocks dominate the ground. I can see far distant mountains behind me; purple along the horizon. The tops of the trees are no match for me at this elevation. I can see right over them.

                We continue onward in the rocky terrain. Up ahead is a monster. A tree deformed and black; no leaves nor pine needles grow on it, completely dead. It is huge! Almost 40 feet tall. Streaks of brown run along the trunk and branches. We call it the Big Scary Tree. As we pass it, it looms over us; impending and powerful.

                Once past the dead tree we come under the sweet shade of the live trees once again. We sit and revel in the coolness before continuing onward. As I look out at the view again, I can see little blue circles surrounded by trees; the distant mountains ever prominent.

                As we approach the awful switch backs I look up at our destination: the peak. My legs weigh me down; I struggle for breath. The feeling of lightness has long since fled from me. The switch backs are the steepest part of the hike, but also the most rewarding. The beautiful view is ever present as we climb higher and higher, the valley expanding below us.

                At the last stretch, the last couple of switchbacks, my siblings and I decide to climb straight up the mountain. We are too anxious to get to the top. We practically sprint up the side; sweat running down our necks. We arrive triumphantly at the top and wait for our parents to join us. I look out at the valley before my eyes. I am at the top of the world. Below me, blue splotches occasionally interrupt a sea of green. Dad points out the lake where we stayed overnight. The peaks in the distance are too many to count. I can see forever.

                 Suddenly a thump of cold, surprising wetness runs down the back of my neck. I turn and my brother is standing in a white war zone. It’s on.