My Amazing Trip Through the Rocky Mountains - Part 3

By Dexter Yarbrough. At the end of Part 2, you may recall, I had laid down amongst all the night time nature noises to get some much needed rest. After falling down and being watched by deer earlier, the happenings that day really took a toll on me! I slept well after going to the, uh, bathroom!

I woke up early in the morning and went down to that stream I mentioned (in Part 2), washed, brushed my teeth and prepared to start on my trek. The morning air was crisp and the sun had a beautiful smile. As I packed up my things, I heard a very loud sound. It seems as if small sounds are amplified in a mountain forest! I heard the sound again, but the difference was, I FELT the sound as well. Then I suddenly realized - my stomach was growling! Those nuts and dried fruit just would not do!

When you decide to go camping, alone, in the mountains - you need a plan. My plan was not working very well. I found toilet paper at the camping area at Bellaire Lake - so I, uh, relieved that issue. In my opinion, I figured I handled the cow and deer problem well.

And it was at that moment that I started having thoughts of venison meat and Angus burgers. I don't eat red meat, but the thoughts were coming fast and furious and my stomach was growling loudly. Have you ever been hungry and started to panic? I was looking around for an apple tree. Yes. In the mountains. I thought about catching one of those deer. But heck, I don't have a rifle and even if I did, I wouldn't know how to skin it and what parts to eat! Plus, I think there is some federal law about killing deer in national parks.

The thought of buttermilk pancakes smothered in maple syrup, biscuits in country gravy and scrambled eggs danced in my head. But all I could see was dead wood and pine trees. OK, I told myself. Now is not the time to panic. Gather your belongings, stop thinking about your hunger and continue along the path.

'Man up,' I told myself. What did the brave people that headed west across the then United States territories to a new life do when they were hungry? Man up! What did the hungry slaves do when they headed north from brutal conditions in the south? Man up!

But just when I started to man up, I saw it moving out in the distance. Is it another deer? No. It wasn't as tall. Was it a raccoon? Nope. It was larger. Was it a lion??!!! I wanted to EAT, not be EATEN! After a few seconds, I settled down in my mind. Whatever it was, I could handle it. I AM A MAN!

Once, in elementary school, I was afraid of a bully. He was shorter than me, but had this mean look on his face all the time, you know, for an 11 year old. Things that are ugly to us quickly turn into fear if we don't face them. So one day he was being his threatening self. I don't know what got into me, but I walked up to him and threw him down in the snow. He didn't retaliate or fight back. He just got up, muttered a few words and walked off. I never had a problem with him again. Wouldn't it be great if we could face all of our fears this way?

Suddenly, it started a slow trot in my direction after coming out of the high grass. A COYOTE! And what did I do? Watch the clip to the right!

Hell yes, I ran and screamed! And you would have, too! Coyotes eat people, right? But after about 150 feet, I stopped running. Why? Because there was nothing chasing me. I looked back and that coyote was just watching me. It had this look as if it was saying, "I really wish these ignorant humans would stay in their smog-filled cities." I got the sense that it was laughing at me for my initial reaction. Then it had a look of pity. "God gave man dominion over the earth and animals yada, yada and this dude is running from me like he stole something. Dude, chill out. It ain't that serious. I would really rather have a rabbit!"

I made it my business to stay a good distance away. It turned into a great opportunity to take a few photos. That coyote posed as if it came natural. Finally, it scampered off in another direction, giggling at me. Once again, I conquered a fear. I was proud of myself. I continued along my journey, stopping to take photos of the beautiful surrounding areas. I am a man!

If you think about it, there is one good thing about fear (and a short run through the mountain forest). It can quickly make you forget about being hungry!

Stay tuned for the conclusion of my Amazing Trip Through the Rocky Mountains.

Copyright 2011 - Dexter Yarbrough