I wanted an adventure and I got an adventure
Lying under the oldest cedar tree in our back yard, I begin to reminisce about our trip from the previous weekend; wind-swept peaks, craggy cliffs, and the high alpine midnight-blue lake. It seems dream-like until I shift my achy knees and sunburned skin. I ponder why the truest sense of contentment I have come to know is only achievable while in these wild places. I guess the answer to pure contentment will have to wait, but for now the love for wilderness and our mind-blowing adventures are reason enough to endure achy knees and sunburned skin.
The weekend before: Beep, beep, beep! The sound of our alarm wakes my stiff muscles and sleepy eyes. I roll out of bed and excitement slowly permeated my body. I can’t pack or eat breakfast fast enough.
As we crawl into our beat up ‘92 Honda civic I begin to question if I have brought enough food and water, if I’m physically fit enough for this adventure, and will the good weather stick around long enough to reach the summit.
My mind clears as we reach the trail head. We throw on our packs and head up the trail. The first mile is full of anticipation and waking muscles. “Pace yourself” my husband says “It’s going to be a long day”.
Before I know it, I am gazing up at a 8,742-foot peak. I feel a rush of adrenaline throughout my body as Anthony says “Let’s do this.”
Snowshoe Peak looked intimidating, but I wanted an adventure and I got it. As we scramble over Bockman Peak we realized we had taken the path less traveled. From there, Snowshoe towered over neighboring peaks and welcomed us with her craggy cliffs and glacier cut beauty. From a distance, we spotted two white dots roaming around in a small alpine meadow. Mountain goats! We went to take a closer look. As time passed, we just sat watching and experiencing their beauty and way of life. Sitting in awe, we observed how amazing these animals truly are to be calling this beautiful place home.
Exertion, sweat, pushing physical limits and absolute breathtaking scenery describe the next few hours. We reach the rounded summit and look out from the heart of the Cabinet Mountain Wilderness. Sitting completely immersed in unending beauty, I realize this is why wilderness and wild places are essential for now and for future generations.
We took our time on the descent, eating whortleberries and drinking the fresh snowmelt, savoring our surroundings. As we reached the valley floor, I found myself connected to this place in a way words can never describe. Each step taken deeper into a wild place will allow every person to be immersed and replenished with a deeper sense of realness and enlightenment. I am thankful for Snowshoe Peak and the adventure it led us on.
— Ashley South is the Lincoln County Outreach Coordinator for the Montana Wildnerness Association