Outside Reading- Hiking the Y

1.      Over Spring Break, I visited a high school friend who lives in Utah. Unfortunately, BYU doesn’t get a spring break, so my friend was in classes during the week I was visiting. We were able to hike Y Mountain, which is a short yet steep hike up a mountain right next to the Brigham Young University campus. It is about 2.5 miles from the parking lot to the top of the Y, and there is over 1,000 feet in elevation gain in those 2.5 miles. A sign at the beginning of the trail described the history of the trail, which included the “lighting of the Y”. This tradition began in 1924, when students would carry mattresses up the mountain, and then line the outside of the Y with the mattresses, which were later soaked in kerosene. The mattresses were lit on fire, which illuminated the Y for the surrounding area to see. My friend and I reflected on the sign as we hiked the trail, which for me, was incredibly challenging due to the lack of oxygen. We struggled to finish the hike because of the elevation, and could never imagine carrying a mattress up the same trail. My friend even jokingly compared having to carry a mattress up the hill to Jesus carrying the cross on his way to his crucifixion. While not exactly appropriate, we could not imagine the struggle He suffered having to carry something so large and awkward. We made it to the top of the Y hike, and the view was incredible.