GO TAKE A HIKE

now, that was fun to say.

(before I start this post, some of you misunderstood the poem I had on my post below.  My cousin Did NOT die. That poem was written by my NIECE, (Matthew's cousin) when Matthew died, about Matthew)

NOW, about the Hike

on THIS mountain

you saw a photo of this mountain on my post below

Old Chief Mountain....I refer to it as MY mountain

If you look at it, the way it got it's name is because

it is the side FACE of a chief, laying down
 with his headdress behind him

the left end is his chin

can you see it

LOOK HARDER

pretty isn't it

(google)

Well my dearies, I CLIMBED THIS MOUNTAIN

Yup, this rickety old lady actually DID

Now, today anyway, I can barely climb the stairs as I have started my new exercise regime

and I am stiff...STIFF I TELL YOU

But back when I climbed this mountain, I was lithe, calves like steel, arms like rocks, and abs you could spin a nickel on

(I may have exaggerated here a little)

Back when I was 30'ish (can't even remember the exact time) 

 I was visiting my folks, who live quite close to this mountain.

My Uncle, challenged me and my sister to climb the mountain

Since I was living in the states at the time

He called me a YANKEE SISSY

HA.......I was certainly going to show him

So, this particular day, he and his wife and 2 of his boys

some of their friends

 MY 2 oldest boys

me and my sister

headed out

cause I had an IMAGE to maintain

First, indulge me just a moment to tell you a little bit about this mountain.

It has an elevation of 3000 feet.

THREE THOUSAND.....DO  YOU HEAR ME

It is actually in Montana. That's how close to the border

my folks live

It is in the Glacier National Park area

The Blackfoot Indian youth used to climb this mountain to fast, and to experience their vision quest.

(I was seeing visions myself by the time I got to the top)

Chief Mountain has been a sacred mountain to

Native Americans for 100's of years.

The  Blackfoot name is Ninastiko.

--------------now that reminds me of a little story to tell you------

I love Indian Names

and often times, in my family

we like to come up with unique Indian names to give ourselves

We try to fit it to the personality of that person

Like...my daughter was Falling Rain, because she used to cry a lot

My youngest son was Wild Turkey

cause he was rambunctious

Well, the summer that I was getting ready to move up here

and marry Mr. Gorgeous

my sweet DIL

said I should be called

"She who warms many buffalo robes"

(since this was going to be my third marriage..smarty pants)

sorry, back to the mountain

There is a legend about Old Chief...that goes like this

"the Blackfoot Indians believe that IF this mountain falls, that means the spirit of the mountain is not happy

with the white man

and therefore, The Indians will once again rage war

upon them.

Now, I don't even know if that is TRUE, or not

but I grew up with this story

And FYI, the face of this mountain is starting to slide. SO, they don't really even want people climbing it anymore.

SO LETS GO

put your hiking boots on and I'll take you there

(all these next photos are from google, all Old Chief ..from hikes)

This was the beginning. We all drove our vehicles 

 to the base of this mountain.  We went as far

as was possible in the car. 

Then we started our hike, going to the RIGHT

headed around to the backside

And then you see THIS

those mountains are in Glacier National Park

Ah...the fresh air, the magnificent sights

I felt good, being the FIT person I was then

It starts to get difficult

The backside is loose with softball sized rocks

and it is hard to get your footing. 

Uncle is feeling a bit cocky about now

I am trying not to grimace

We started at the BOTTOM folks

by now I am sucking wind

and seeing those visions I was talking about

the Uncle and young boys seem to be having no problem-o

 I started doing a lot of THIS

standing to ENJOY THE VIEW

(and rest.....holy mountain goat, I needed rest)

Then FINALLY

many hours later

We made it to the top

THE TOP IS NARROW !!!

only 8 feet wide in some places

and there is a BIG drop off

and it can be really WINDY

I sat my tush down, and didn't move

my uncles boys and MY boys

were walking back and forth, across that narrow top

I thought I was going to throw up

BUT I DID IT
This Yankee Sissy DID IT

(and I never did it again, I'm not stupid)

I was so happy though that I had that opportunity

met the challenge

lived to tell about it

"sometimes all you need is 20 seconds of insane courage

to change a lifetime.....anonymous"

This is a more recent photo

a grandaughter, last summer

I love this mountain

It has been a part of me my whole life

It's home

Chasing angels, or fleeing demons,

go to the mountains

Jeffrey Rasley