There's a path that runs both ways up and down the Bald Mountain in the middle of the Bear Paws of Northern Montana that has been the walk of many young men seeking wisdom, experience, and an escape from what waits them on and off the reservation. Great care should be taken when walking this path during the early autumn as those that you meet along the path may be friend, foe, or predator. After all in these hills man is sometimes considered a snack.
This trail also doubles as a small access road used by Forest Service jeeps to gain admittance to a fire tower on an adjacent peak. At the point where the road forks right the path turns quickly into a game trail. About 500 feet up from the turn a small brown bear sow stood up in the middle of the path. Frozen in place was a plan, not a real good one, but a plan.
She placed her nose right in the middle of the forehead of the walker, stood there for what seemed like an eternity and snorted out loud blowing snot all over the head and face of the frozen one. Just a moment more then she stood up straight and took a step, then two back. She was tall with a white patch under her belly with soft tan brown fur. She bent back down to all fours and made a quiet howl. At that point two small cubs scampered down a couple nearby trees to meet her on the trail. She spun around and headed into the trees with the cubs following behind. She grunted twice and was gone in an instant. No site was seen of her after.
The trail continued up for another 4 or 5 thousand feet. Baldy is between 6 and 7 thousand feet high, the highest peak around for more than 300 miles. On top was a fire pit stoked and waiting for the walker. This was going to be home for the next 4 days. The fire was produced using the usual newspaper and pocket lighter. Dry wood is always a good thing.
Around the fire pit was a large ring of rocks. Each stone meticulously picked from a stream and placed in position by one who knows many moons before. This quest was important, possibly the most important in the life of this wanderer. The sun went below the horizon.
The second day came and memories began painting fields of color in the minds eye of the seeker. Paranoia snuck into the mind, but remembering what the old man said, "Do Not go outside the circle." kept the wanderer from wandering. The sweat of fear came after the paranoia left. Black images of death flooded the mind. The sun went again below the horizon.
The third day awoke with a pain in the pit of a lonely stomach and a small stone was place under the tongue. Thirst and hunger were constant companions for the rest of this journey. This day was hot. Hot and dizzy, voices in the distance could be heard saying words not understandable. Tired, and the sun began bouncing below and above, and finely below the horizon.
During the night just outside the fire a small sow brown bear stood up and looked at the seeker across the ring of rocks. She had a white patch just under her belly. She was sniffing the air then dropped to all fours and crossed the circle and walked directly up to the seeker and put her nose on his forehead and snorted out loudly. Snot ran down his face as two small cubs rolled into the ring laughing at the two. They wrestled for a bit and ran up a nearby tree. The sow bear stood back up and looked down on the seeker, raised a great paw and struck him once across the neck and head.
The sun rose high on the 4th day and the old man was standing just inside the ring of rocks with a canteen, sandwich, and a couple horses to go down with. He seemed amused. The seeker had a powerful dream...
Peace and Balance,
John
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