Dan and Hannah Shake, Rattle, and Roll on Missoula, Montana’s Rattlesnake Trail

In the Mountain States in 2011, the winter was snowy and the spring was wet.  Our plans to hike in the Grand Teton (6-7000’) and Yellowstone (8-9000’) National Parks are derailed by heavy and late snows.  Normally, in early June we can hike the Jenny Lake Trail at GTNP without any snow.  This year at that same time, the trail had 2-4 feet of snow and the ranger, when I called, said the trails are only hike-able with snowshoes.  A call to the ranger at Yellowstone revealed that trails had 40 inches of snow and were impassable.  As such, we opt for lower elevations in Pocatello, Idaho (4500’) and Missoula, Montana (3200’).

Each morning of our stay in Missoula it rained.  But today by 9A the raindrops have stopped falling on our heads (Never a bad thing when you can reference a Burt Bacharach song (Academy Award winner 1970) from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.).   Dressed in bright green ponchos that Hannah feels make us look like Mr. and Mrs. Dorque, we are not going to let a little rain keep us from the trail. 

Just a few miles out of town, the Rattlesnake trailhead has parking for 30 cars.  Sloppy and muddy after the recent rain, the gentle trail is just what our sore quads need after hiking the steep Big “M” Mountain and Mount Sentinel near the U of Montana.  Twelve feet wide and easy for side-by-side talking, the trail is made for horses and bicycles.  Immediately, we find this forest-covered, mostly-level trail skirting the Rattlesnake River easy to catch a hiking rhythm.  The turbulent, rushing waters are bad signs for North and South Dakota and further down the Mississippi River this summer. 

Literally, we are just ambling, as there is little rise or fall in trail elevation.  Meaty topics come fast and furious.  It’s a serious three course meal of conversation.

We dive into the dangers of being judgmental.  People need support not judgment.  I’ve learned that I want to support people, not help them.  When I support you, we become partners.  (How can I support you? is the question to ask.)  I thank Denny McLoughlin (http://www.hightrust.net/) for my new insights on this matter. 

 

That quickly evolves into a discussion of the second agreement from The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz (http://www.frumi.com/images/uploads/thefouragreements.pdf) - Do not take anything personally.  A key understanding for me is that you don’t take things personally even if you think comments are meant to be personal.  One, you really don’t know and two, even if they are, don’t let them control you.  Listen, discern what is valuable, and then let the comment pass by like a cloud, let it float away.  My recent reading of Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation – A 28-Day Program by Sharon Salzberg has supported me in my understanding in this matter.

We leap forward into parenting, still believing that the best thing a father or mother can do to have healthy kids is to treat their spouse well.  Treat her or him with care, respect, and love all the time, especially in front of the kids.  That’s the lesson kids will remember.

I’m guessing you might be feeling a little bloated after that meal.  Though pretty tasty, yes?

And then, we find ourselves staring at a moose.  A baby moose to be sure, but that only means mama is near by.  When hiking Denali in Alaska in 1995 (If I can’t shamelessly name drop with you, my friends and family, where can I?), Hannah and I spotted a big, big moose in our trail where the vegetation is only ten to twelve feet high because of the short Alaskan growing season.  We paused and stepped back and let the behemoth nibble the leaves of the bushes as long as she wanted.  Earlier we had seen the sign at the trailhead, Moose Calving, Bear Alert. 

Today we pause again until Teenage Moose ambles off towards the river.  And then we see a mountain biker who tells us about two small bears he’s just seen.  Great.   Again, putting two and two together since small bears mean mama bear is somewhere close by, we learn that being from the plains of Montana, he was a little spooked.  And then he says enjoy your hike.   You’re kidding!  You tell me, the boy from the Jersey suburbs, about bears and want me to enjoy my hike!   I do, but I am clearly more vigilant for the final three miles of the hike.  We soon see two big deer feeding just off the trail 50 feet ahead.  Then we are smelled, then spotted and these big boys scamper away.  My vigilance for deer-eating bears increases. 

With but a few drops of rain on this early June 50 degree day we feel like we “stole” this hike, when we certainly have could have been rained out.  It’s always a kick when the motel is just in town, not hours away from the trailhead.   A warm shower and naptime await.

Rattlesnake River hike – Excellent, easy on the feet, wilderness feel, and critters about.  As always when hiking, know thyself, thy limits, and the conditions.  Be prepared.