Overcoming Challenges on Mt. Rainier

Is your cup half full or empty? Looking at this photo, you’d never know that an hour prior I had experienced running out of gas for the first time in my life, atop the highest drivable point on Mt Rainier, with no gas station, cell service or hope in sight and the nearest gas being at minimum 40 minutes down the mountain. Was meant to be a nice day hike experience and instead turned out to be a lesson in creative problem solving and a humbling experience where I learned to ask for assistance. Through an entire brain storming session of solutions, I was able to get in touch with a ranger and ask that they radio a fellow volunteer nearer to a gas station and offered to pay for them to deliver gas (their provided solutions were to coast in neutral down the mountain and/or call AAA (which would have cost $500+) 😬🙄). 30 minutes later a ranger appeared with 5 gallons of gas, we filled up, AND i was able to carry on with my plans of a day hike, saw tons of wildlife, had lunch, and witnessed a gorgeous sunset atop the mountain. The volunteer wouldn’t accept payment for gas, so I donated to the ranger station. This day is now a benchmark for me in “oh shit” moments and now a measure for my ability to overcome challenges and deal with situations. This is the mentality of travelers. Go with the flow, deal with things as they arise, creatively solve problems, and look back fondly when shit hits the fan because its just an example of your ability to rise. On this day, my gas tank was literally empty. But my outlook and outcome were full because of attitude.