Sounds a little like our Tour USA and Canada 1994 trek. From CNY to Memphis, San Antonio, Las Vegas, LA, SF, Seattle, Vancouver BC, Yellowstone, Devil's Tower, Mt. Rushmore, back home. Once in a lifetime journey.
Funny that there is a Gilbert Hill on the North side of Syracuse not as impressive as this one, but I had to walk over it on my way to high school and back. Always told my kids I had to go uphill both ways. One time drove them over the route I walked to show them what I meant.
Reminds me of a job I once interviewed for, working in a hospital and in charge of OR instruments. It came dow to me and one other person and they got the job. Shortly after I got my job at Cornell in entomology research. I was happier with that.
I've seen trees like that hit by lightning. When I was working at a boy scout camp we had one catch fire, I helped cut it down with a chain saw and put out the fire.
Guess so. I remember sitting in my last summer school health class and thinking I can't do this anymore. Lucky for me I was able to retire from teaching tht year using the early retirement plan that was available.