A Hiking We Will Go

Matt asks me about every time I mention going hiking, “Why do you like hiking?” I hate that question because I want to respond with the answer everyone hates: “Because.”

I’ve got my reasons why I like hiking. I like the exercise. I like being outside. I like the views. And they are all valid reasons but they never satisfy him.

It’s the same as me asking why he likes fishing. He has his reasons but I just don’t get it. After ten years, I appreciate his love for fishing. I don’t even mind casting a line if I’m out with him (though if we are out together I’m on child watching duty) but my attention is pretty much that of a ten-year-old. If I don’t get a bite within a few minutes I’m ready to move on to another activity.

Bozeman has so many hiking trails–too many to count. They are everywhere and range from simple, short walking trails to intense, long hikes. Some amazing ones are within the city limits or just outside which is super convenient. One of the most popular hikes around town is “The College M” or “The M”.

You can see a large M made of rocks on the side of the Bridger Mountains. It can be seen from all around town.

I have wanted to hike this trail since moving here. I’ve been on it twice but never made it to the top. It’s only a mile and a half (or half a mile if you want to take the steep way). The first time, I took Liam on a kid’s nature hike. Being that it was a kid’s hike, we did not go all the way to the top. The second time, I had him and two other children with me. Needless to say, we didn’t make it up that time either.

So when my dad (who was visiting this weekend) said he wanted to go on a hike, I saw my opportunity. The odds were in my favor. Liam was a year older. I didn’t have two other kids in tow. Well, technically I had Baby Boy but he was strapped to me and light as a feather. And then I had another adult to help encourage Liam to the top.

And it worked!

We not only made it to the top but we made it with only two water breaks and one “I’m tired. Let’s go back.”

In fact, I think he ran most of the way. My dad and I said “Be careful.” “Slow down.” “You could fall.” more times than we could possibly count.

Honestly, though, I was happy to see him run. It was better than the alternative: the whiny, slug who is miserable to hike with.

I am about the furthest thing from a botanist but I know more than a four-year-old. On our way up we discussed everything we were seeing and hearing. He pointed out moss. We saw trees that had been stuck by lightning. He learned what happens when a tree decomposes. He’d say, “Stop. I hear something!” and search for the sound.

Simply, he was enjoying the outdoors. Enjoying the flowers, plants, rocks, sounds and exercise.

When we got to what I thought was our final destination (the bottom of the M), we of course had to take pictures to document the moment. But as soon as we snapped a few he was off again, headed up a steep path that led beyond the M.

Proud that he still had energy left to burn, we headed up with him. Once we were above the M, we stopped for a snack, more pictures, some FaceTime calls (we had to show off our feat live to our east coast friends) and then we headed back down…with a hundred more “Be careful”s, “Don’t slip” and “wait up!”s.

I couldn’t have been more proud of him. And I believe he was truly proud of himself as well. He accomplished something many adults can’t or don’t want to do…and did it with smile (most of the time).

There are plenty of other hikes on my bucket list around here. We’ve done so many of the easy walks and I’m ready to get some harder ones accomplished! We’ll see how many we can do this summer!

What is a favorite hike of yours?