“The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills. (Habakkuk 3:19)
Wow, the first twenty days in Montana have flown by. It has been an adventurous three weeks with physical and emotional challenges but my faith in God has helped me endure.
My first adventure was a five mile hike up to the top of Storm Castle with Randy and Molly. We met Molly at the trail head and I was amazed that she was going to brave this hike alone. Storm Castle Mountain is in the Gallatin National Forest and creates Squaw Canyon with abutting Garnet Mountain. It is as wild as the back country gets. You literally become part of the food chain. On this hike I felt pretty confident knowing that all I had to do was outrun one and be in the clear. I’m just kidding; Randy had a bell on his pack and a canister of bear spray. Ok, so the bell would let the prey animals know we were coming and the bear spray would just add a little spice.
The hike itself was a serious of switch backs up a steep, narrow, snow and ice covered trail barely a foot wide. Each step worked every muscle in my legs, hips and back for stability. Molly had snow shoes on, which would have been the gear of choice for this hike. Randy who has scaled this trail over fifty times, considering it is literally out his back door, trudged up the trail like a big horn sheep. I on the other hand, put my body through its first test in foreign terrain and altitude and my body responded. I felt a little pinch in my right lateral quad about three quarters into the hike that prompted me to hydrate, but it was too late. My Asolo hiking boots were performing well, holding the ground, supporting my ankles and keeping my feet warm but only another hundred yards up the steep switchback my legs went into full on cramps. My survival instincts flashed quickly backed to two-a-day practices in August at Florida State. My mind was processing the escape route and procedures to alleviate the pain. Randy Orvits (FSU Head Trainer), electrolytes, and cold tub. Well I had one of the three; there was plenty of snow around but not an option when keeping warm means surviving. So I let Molly know that I was going to turn back down and began a tumultuous hike back down.
The hike down as difficult as it was, slowed me down and enabled me to absorb the amazing landscape; the smell of fresh pine, the snow squeaking under each step the still vastness contrasted by cold wind cutting as I turned the corner on the next switchback. Oddly enough the dangers just seemed to disappear as I soaked in Gods wonder.
Half way down the trail I heard Randy shouting my name and waving his arms on the ledge of Storm Castle’s five hundred foot cliff. I waved and yelled back and after a minute he was able to spot me through the trees as the speck in the snow. I never thought I’d describe or compare myself as a speck. Randy then shouted “Wear Your Soul” ™ and as it echoed through the canyon I realized; I was, wearing my soul and this hike was the epiphany of my journey in making my dream of Blue 42 becoming a reality. I was reminded that I have never let my size limit my pursuit of adventure and my goal in life is to extend that confidence to men and woman who, because of their size, feel limited to what they can do because the gear and apparel is not available.
This hike challenged me in so many ways and was a great benchmark for where I am in my life and direction for where I have to go to be successful. I will by the end of this expedition hike to the top of Storm Castle.
