Mountain Treasures I

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.  Colossians 1:16

     Hiking in the Rockies, especially when setting off cross-country, can yield some interesting discoveries. Obviously, if in a high-use people area, it’s best to stay on the man-made trails. That reduces erosion and allows for people passing by to experience more fully the surrounding magnificence of creation.

     Fortunately, for those like me who desire some solitude, there are still places to hike where neither boot print nor candy wrapper can be seen. Often these places can be a bit steep, which is probably why no one else is crazy enough to leave a footprint there in the first place. When I get to hiking about and crisscrossing only game trails, I’ve sometimes wondered when was the last time a person put their foot where mine is. I sometimes think maybe never, but that could be reaching a bit. Still, I’ve been in some pretty strange places while wandering about, so I never know. If possible, I don’t like to go back out of the mountains the same way I went in, so that in itself can lead to my exploring some unusual places.

     Early spring is one of my favorite times to go on day hikes. A lot depends on the weather, but if that is good, I just never know what I’ll find. Following a severe winter, the weaker animals will have succumbed to the elements and not survived. Their carcasses can sometimes be numerous in highly populated areas. That usually brings many signs of activity from the predators and scavengers, like the bears, wolves, cougars and coyotes.

     I once tracked a bobcat a long distance during a spring snowstorm, hoping to get a glimpse of the elusive animal. I never did see it, but my old yellow lab Moon and I had to be very close at times as the cat’s tracks were only moments old in the heavy snowfall. I don’t doubt the cat knew we were there, but the swirling wind may have caused it some confusion as to where our scent was coming from.

     One of my favorite things about hiking in the spring is finding a shed antler from a deer, moose, or elk. For those who don’t know, these animals shed their antlers each year and grow new ones. Horns differ from antlers in that the animal keeps the same horns all their life, they just grow larger as the animal ages. Mountain goats and sheep are examples of some animals with horns.

     When I first see an antler on the ground (or occasionally in a bush), I often stop in my tracks and just smile. I get that familiar thought once again. Of all the billions of people on the planet, I am, most likely, the very first person to see it there. And when I pick it up, I reckon I’m the first person on the planet to ever touch it. Out of all those people, and I’m the first one.

     When you see something unique in the outdoors, something that perhaps no one else has seen or smelled or touched or heard, do you ever ponder this fact?

     On rare occasions, the matching second antler will be nearby the first. I often hold the treasure up to the sky and thank the Lord. I thank Him for creating the animal that shed the antler, and I thank Him for letting me be the first to find and touch it. He’s the one Who put me in the right place to find it and gave me the freedom and ability to hike. But regardless of what I find or don’t find on any particular hike, I’m just very grateful to be out there.