Mt. Verstovia is the most prominent mountain overlooking Sitka. I like looking at old pictures of Sitka, and seeing how the mountain looks exactly the same now as it did then, despite all the changes that have happened to the town.

There is a trail to the top of Verstovia. It is two and a half miles to the top of the first knob, locally known as Picnic Rock. It is another mile or so to the summit, the last part of which is a hands-and-feet scramble up a steep gully to the summit rocks. I like it because it is a simple mountain that is easy to climb, but the scrambling near the summit always makes me feel like I'll find a wise man at the top who will answer all my most important questions. Indeed, some days I feel like that wise man when I reach the top alone in the calm of an early morning in our brief summer.

The ridge between Verstovia and Arrowhead is an amazing hike. It is steep and rough and narrow in places, exactly what I like about hiking in southeast Alaska. One time I was hiking on the ridge, crawling along a section about a foot wide with sharp drops on either side, when a small plane flew around the mountain. I stood up carefully and waved, and the pilot dipped his wing in my direction. I smiled deeply at the simple joy of life in the mountains.