It’s early November and unseasonably warm even for here. That’s our new reality. Year after year of breaking records and warming trends. Being unpleasantly hot during the day, I dream of those clearly defined seasonal changes of my youth. However, this seemingly everlasting warming spell gives me an opportunity to make yet another backpack into the wilderness.

Back home a freshly stretched bison hide rests in a ten by ten foot wooden frame. Beside my small home a couple of deer hides soak in a large tote while two more dry deer hides rest up against an oak tree hanging in their own respective wooden frames. I’ve been busy. A good kind of busy, but busy nonetheless. I’ve been running non-stop but finally reached a point where I could take a short break and go on a two-day backpack without having to worry about any time sensitive projects back home.

I’m making a roughly 33 mile round trip to a clay source I discovered a couple months ago with nearby wilderness. I’m extremely heavy as I chose to take the most direct route which happens to be dry (mostly). A few years ago I did this route and was able to find small pools along the now dry creek. That was in the month of July where sometimes, remnants of the winter moisture hang on into early summer. But lately, even our winters are leaving us dry.

Despite carrying four and a half liters of water and feeling physically bogged down, each step is a breath of fresh air. This is my passion. It never fails me. No matter how hard a hike can be or how bad backcountry hardships can get, hiking always just feels right to me. My mind, heart and spirit feel free again. I needed this.

I am blessed by magical moments. Not long into the trek I spot fresh bobcat tracks. The forest is particularly quiet, revealing that despite the lingering warm days, most of nature’s beings abide by the seasonal rhythm of rest and renewal. Through the ponderosa stands I see the enchanting movement of bright yellow falling leaves of a spectacularly large oak. I watch the glistening display spellbound. I relish in the tiny pools of running water I do end up finding on my second day out which are surrounded by a hidden lushness of grasses and yarrow. The flame colored three-leaf sumacs catch my eye and my heart. On the trail I not only spot the bobcat tracks but am pleased to see coyote, fox, bear and cougar tracks as well as a gaggle of wild turkey. I counted eight. All wild reminders of why I so deeply love this wilderness.

I reach the clay’s source grateful and relaxed and decide to eat an early lunch beside the elk trodden mud. So many earthly blessings I can hardly fathom my fortune. The clay is not only perfect, it’s blessed by the hooves of elk who help make this mud special. I load up heavy, thankful. Thankful to this literal earth itself. To the wild beings who freely flourish in this space, that I can experience these moments and am allowed to come here. Grateful to my body, healthy enough to make this journey.

That night I am camped on a crest an above two drainages below. One to the north and one to the south eventually diverging to the East. I tend my campfire as the short day falls into an early night. Feeding the fire I notice a black bear in the drainage below. He scuttles away adorably. I am happy they are here. Again, feelings of blessedness swells within grateful for their presence.

Lying by my evening fire I snack on some food. Every time I venture like this I ponder how many more solo treks into the wilderness I have in my life as they have always been some of the most special moments in my life.

It’s hard to stay awake too long during such an early nightfall and eventually I say farewell to the stars and crawl into my tent for the night.

I awake around 5 am. After some restlessness I start an early morning fire and make some tea. Enjoying its warmth I lie down beside its memorizing flames until the landscape lightens.

For the remaining 10.6 miles I scan my previous tracks for any new roaming tracks of wildlife. Eventually I begin to follow fresh cougar tracks. Perfect impressions in the soft dirt, each print a treasure.

I eventually meet the trails end, and my car. The effects of carrying so much weight begins to settle in my body on the drive home.

I feel sore, at peace…blessed.