When fear becomes excitement, anything is possible.
Over the last few months, one of the most common questions I keep getting–”are you scared or nervous?” The answer, no. As a kid, my dad told me that fear was in my control. As an adult, I understand that, fear and excitement have the same bodily response, the only difference is how the brain interprets the situation.
Over the last few years my husband Garit and I have gone on numerous adventures, some big and some small. The dogs are always tagging along, it is their life too. The featured pictures are a trail in the beautiful state of Montana. Garit the dogs, and I faced a long trek. 14 miles out and back in the backcountry of Montana. It was the beginning of June, we had hoped it was late enough in the year for more welcoming weather. The ground was soft, wet from the recently melted snow and the previous night’s rain. At this time, we were not equipped for over night trips, so this had to be done in one day. The start of the hike was very much so early June weather, cloudy, a little chilly, with a high possibility of rain. The trail was long, winding through a valley taking us along side the mountains, through the valleys, and across rivers. Unfortunately we didn’t see much wildlife other than some deer. We saw signs wildlife activity, droppings, fur, and lots of tracks. We walked next to bear tracks for miles amongst berry bushes.
The rain begins, the trail ahead of us is still long. The mud becomes slick, and in some areas it’s red clay. Each step is exacerbated. The clay suctions us to the ground, causes feet to slide, and is severely caking up around our boots and pant legs. We were so close, we had to see it through. We do our best to stay on the high ground, stepping around troubling areas as much as possible and using all the small water run offs to keep as much clay off the bottom of our shoes.
As we near the end we come across an old and charming wood cabin. After taking a small moment to rest, it was time to get back on track before dark came. The only question was which path to take. The cabin sat before a fork in the road, one trail high and up the other low. The map made it look as if they were the same or possibly connected, with exhaustion we chose the lower of the two trails and we were wrong.
We walked the lower trail too long and the options were to turn back and waste an additional hour and a half or so, or climb up. We could see on the map that if we scaled the side of this mountain we would intersect with the tail that we were supposed to be on. It looked like small climb, it could not be too bad. It was an additional hour going straight up the side of a mountain. A little over halfway to the trail intersection, Garit and I are crawling on all fours to keep our balance and footing as the rain is coming down on us. Each foot and hand placement is premediated, using foliage around us to help the ascent. Finally, the trial is reached and with another mile to go we are almost there.
Reaching the top and gazing down into a canyon as water rushes and roars below. The view was breathtaking (as was the hike). The stomach flurries, palms sweating, heart racing, all of it a sign of fear, or is it excitement? This is when we have the ability to make the connection to fear or to excitement. I chose excitement. The excitement of a new experience, the thrill of chasing that adrenaline high. The question of the unknown, the soon to be discovered, and the gain of a new accomplishment.
Photo Credits: Jul Davis
Adventures Of Wind and Roam 