The Challenge of the Climb

One of the saddest yet most gratifying memories I have of my first wife, Carol, occurred on a family vacation in the summer of 2000. Our son Paul was home on military leave, the entire family was gathered together, and we decided to take a series of day trips rather than a longer vacation.

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One of the activities we wanted to do was to climb Mt. Timpanogos and go through its fabled cave. To reach the mouth of the cave is a hike of approximately 1.5 miles with 1,500 feet of elevation gain. The trail is paved, and if a person is in good shape, it can be walked in an hour and a half (or less), but before starting we anticipated that it would take us a little bit longer because Carol was not in great shape and would need to stop and rest a little more often.

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What we didn’t anticipate was how much more frequently Carol would need to rest. In fact, the farther up the mountain we walked the more rest she required. Eventually we were stopping for three to four minutes after every 15-20 steps. The longer we hiked and the higher we went, the more frustrated some of us became and we tried to convince her to stop and turn around. But Carol was determined to reach the top and take her grandkids through the cave.

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I was amazed at her stamina and determination as she plodded up the mountain, weak and tired and short of breath. Each of us took turns helping her, and I don’t know about the others, but I was shaking my head and silently asking myself, “What is she trying to prove?”

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It took us over three hours to reach the cave, more than another hour to rest and go through the cave, then another three hours to get down. Was it worth it? You bet! Each of us came away with an indelible memory of a woman who was frustrated with herself but who wouldn’t quit, a memory of this wife, mother, and grandmother who knew what she wanted and was not going to be denied the opportunity to reach her goal.

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In retrospect I am glad that Carol made up her mind and refused to compromise her desires and goal. I learned a lot about her that day, most of which I didn’t understand until a few months later when she was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast Cancer. Then I fully realized why she had such a hard time climbing up Mt. Timpanogos. It was not just because she was out of shape, but because she had something seriously wrong with her body.

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Oh, the pride we all had in her when we realized the sacrifice she made that day to be with her family, the courage it must have taken to keep climbing when some of us were encouraging her to quit and turn back. She was so weak, yet so strong. That day she set an example that still lives in our memories.

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As I think about Carol hiking up that mountain one step at a time, in pain but with a goal and purpose in mind, I am cognizant of the example of persistence and goal setting she shared with us that day. Some of us were trying to discourage her from reaching her goal. We wanted her to quit and turn back, BUT if she had listened and given up, she would have felt unfulfilled, and this memory that her posterity formed that day would not have been so powerful.

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Because of Carol’s great example and courage, all of us remember the day that she endured to the end and took her grandchildren through the cave. What she taught us can be applied not only to this event but to life itself.

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Earlier I mentioned that this memory is both terribly sad and deeply gratifying. I said this because I hated watching her struggle up the mountain, but at the same time I was privileged to witness her incredibly courageous effort. I’m sorry to say that I was one of the family members who tried to persuade her to turn back, but she wouldn’t. She knew what she wanted, she knew how to get there, and she accomplished her task. I am so grateful for her effort, perseverance, and example. What a champion to our family!

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That day, Carol set an example for us that we will never forget. When we get discouraged and want to give up, I hope we will remember the day Mom (Grandma Cazier) climbed Mt. Timpanogos and her determination, pride, grit, courage, and desire.

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As I look back on this memory once again, I cherish the lesson she taught us. It is a lesson that I cherish and hope it will continue to influence me to live a better life and to set a better example for our posterity.

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Happy Failing Forward,


Calvert Cazier


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