Angela Jamison is a native Montanan and she grew up in beautiful Bozeman. I'm the mother of two girls and write a blog about our life here and taking in the simple pleasures of family and food. http://www.rdeliciouslife.blogspot.com/
The M.
As winter begins to melt into spring, I begin to get the itch. Green and brown is starting to replace the white on the Bridgers and the "M" is starting to make its appearance. This means hiking season is upon us. Every year the itch begins around April…the desire to throw on my hiking boots and get lost in my thoughts on the trail. This year the desire has heightened for me as I just finished reading "Wild" by Cheryl Strayed. It's an amazing memoir about a woman who hikes the Pacific Crest Trail from California to Washington. Reading her adventures has amped up my longing for hiking. It got me thinking about one of my favorite, simple hikes right here in town….
The M trailhead. Easily one of the most popular in the Bozeman area. From people who hike it everyday as a part of their workout routine to tourists who have never climbed a hill…all make their way to this visible landmark. It sits on the side of Baldy for all to see. People push their way up the steep trail or go the more leisurely route. It means a lot to many. Last summer at the top I met an old man sitting on the bench. It was his 90th time hiking the M. His friend, who usually hikes with him, couldn't make it that day so now he had one day on him. You could see it was an ongoing competition. I never hiked it as a kid. Hiking wasn't my families thing. Hiking came to me when friends introduced it to me as a teenager. I had grown up surrounded by these mountains, but never much ventured in them. The M was my first hike. It was this hike that got me hooked.
Hiking can be very social. Going with friends and chatting your way up the mountain. Soaking up the fresh air and having the type of conversations where everyone can talk freely. Something about getting your heart pumping with miles ahead of you and nothing to do but talk opens the lines of communication. This is why I have been trying to instill a love of hiking into my daughters. As they grow my hopes are it becomes the perfect setting for those tough conversations. The kind where not sitting face to face can make it easier and more honest. Right now these conversations consist of 6 and 8 year old talk- who is their current BFF and why does the dog pant while we hike. It doesn't matter what the conversation is right now, it's that we are talking. The person I have put the most miles on with would be my husband. A city boy through and through, he came to Montana aching to play in the mountains and this only added to my new found love of hiking. He pushed me to try harder and steeper trails. To do them with a pack filled with sleeping bags, tents and food so once at the top we could camp. Together we saw amazing places and grew closer with each conversation on the trail. Back then we talked about our hopes and dreams, where we would go in life, what we wanted out of it. To this day when it's just the two of us on a hike we have these same conversations. Being in our mid-thirties with two kids and careers you would think we were in the middle of doing those things we talked about years ago. We certainly are, but there are new hopes and dreams that come out on the mountains.
Hiking can also be very personal. I have had many a solo hike. The M being one of the most popular for me. It's close, easy to get to and because of the amount of traffic it gets it feels safe to be on alone. On your own the only conversation you can have is with yourself. Alone, scrambling up the mountain with your thoughts. I find this a meditative time. To notice any thoughts that are bothering me, things going on in my life. I notice them, think them through and leave them on the trail. I notice thoughts that are making me happy, take in a breath, soak up the view and feel peaceful. I notice what I'm capable of, pushing myself to the top even when feeling tired. The feeling of accomplishment, looking down and feeling strong. The hike down is always the best. You breathe a little easier. Your mind cleared. The mountain air, the quiet of the nature surrounding you, it adds to my ability to slow down and be present.
The M trail offers so much. I know some feel it is too busy, but if you take the time you can meet someone new. Someone who may be seeing it for the first time. When I sit at the top and overlook our Bozeman, I love to listen to those visiting talk about our town. Hearing others in awe of it makes you realize how very lucky we are to live here. You never know who you will see or meet on the trail. An old friend you haven't seen for years. A family visiting from Australia asking you to take their photo because they're in Montana for the first time. A group of strangers coming together to sit with a girl who fell on her run down. Seeing the look of pride in my daughters eyes when they made it to the top for the first time, hiking the whole way on their own. Yes, the M may get busy and I've never been on it without seeing another hiker, but this is okay. It is there for all of us to enjoy. A place to socialize, exercise, meditate…all right in our very own backyard.