A Night Hike with a Dash of FrightA Story by Molly SanbornIt all started with a bison jam. This was a pretty
ordinary event in Yellowstone National Park, a.k.a. my summer home. I was on my
way to hike the infamous Mount Washburn with a group of co-workers, but clearly
the bison family marching their way down the middle of the road had no desire
to let us by. We finally managed to escape the gnarly rush hour traffic, but
our plan to trek six miles up the side of a mountain was severely jeopardized.
We had lost some serious daylight. It didn’t help that only a mile or so from
the trailhead, we saw two baby black bears on the side of the road. Bear
sightings are the last thing you want when planning to complete a hike in the
dark. Shadows were dancing up the mountainside upon our
arrival, a sure sign of the impending twilight. We started power walking up the
steep trail, trying to outpace the descending sun. Our legs were burning from
the effort. It seemed that the faster we’d walk, the faster the sun would creep
toward the horizon. It didn’t help that every turn we made revealed yet another
breathtaking view that screamed for a photo. We gave up when the sun finally
hit the horizon. It was a hot pink spectacle that deserved an audience. The six
of us just stood there, snapping pictures and marveling at the celestial beauty
before our eyes. The clutches of darkness had firmly taken their
hold by the time we summited Mount Washburn. Although a frail strip of sallow
light lingered on the horizon, we knew our return trip down the mountain would
be like swimming through ink. Our hike began with trepidation; as the only
people on the trail we were completely isolated. Our recent bear sighting only
amplified our uneasiness to another level. Thinking shrewdly, we began to take
precautions against any wild creatures that might be lurking nearby. What a
sight we must have been: a group of six people practically sprinting down the
mountainside and conversing loudly, playing Latin music from a cellphone and shining
flashlights in every direction. Our madness paid off though. After what seemed
like an eternity, we safely reached the beautiful sight of our parked car at
the trailhead and piled in, exhausted and exhilarated from our crazy adventure.
In this moment, I truly experienced what it means to feel ALIVE. Pushing the
boundaries of our comfort zones tends to have that impact. It’s the wild, fly
by the seat of your pants experiences that create some of the greatest and most
memorable moments of our lives. © 2017 Molly Sanborn |
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1 Review Added on April 26, 2017 Last Updated on May 29, 2017 Tags: night, hike, fright, adventure, travel, yellowstone, national park, nonfiction, personal, nature AuthorMolly SanbornCAAboutTraveler. Writer. Photographer. I have a deep affinity for words and use writing as a medium for divulging my crazy musings. more..Writing
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