I saw this in the challenge and it reminded me of my Road entry Jimmy! Love the colors and the composition except for the odd area to the lower left corner.
I'll be checking to see if you have listed the post work done. Did you equalize? I love to show my students good examples of filters and effects well used.
Your image seems overly sharpened and very dark. For me, if there had been more of the large tree on the left hand side, it would give a better impression of fortitude - in my novice opinion anyways.
"Fortitude - strength of mind that enables one to endure adversity with courage" Not sure how this fits, exactly. The picture is composed well but it seems over sharpened, especially the foreground.
you used too much photoshopping for a basic challenge (ie: your curves balance has lost all detail, all of the sticks along the bottom are very distracting)