Bell Rock

If you head north on HWY 179, there are parking areas on both the north and south sides.

If you park on the south side, you can take various trails (there are many—check a map), circle the west side while looking up at Bell Rock, and then climb from the north.

The north side is a shortcut. If you don’t want to walk much, that might be the better option—if you can find an open parking spot.

Even looking up at it from the car, you get high energy the moment you step out of the lot.

Ignore people getting bikes or heading to the trails and head for Bell Rock.

The parking lot may be full and it may look crowded, but by the time you start climbing Bell Rock you usually don’t see many people. That can be reassuring if you’re worried.

First, see how far you can go—climb as far as you can.

Whether you reach the top or stay at the base, you’re inside a power spot, so it doesn’t really matter where you are.

You can go straight up or try detours—experiment. If you stray off a trail you’ll find all sorts of places.

If you wander around, you’ll probably slip once and put your hand down.

If you don’t remember, you might not be able to find the shady spot where you rested before—it’s that big.

I found some shade at the base of a cliff.

I sat and meditated slowly.

First, gratitude.

It felt like a push on my back.

A feeling of moving forward, like something lifting me up.

Various thoughts surfaced. I realized they were small in the grand scheme.

It felt like my father’s reassuring presence.