Thoughts of a Modern-Day Mountain Man:A Field Guide to Leadership in the Great Outdoors Chapter 11

This is the eleventh of a weekly blog series that will focus on leadership in the outdoors and how to get the most from the least. Even though the title is called, “Thoughts of a Modern-Day Mountain Man”, it will hopefully cover topics that are useful to everyone.

Chapter 11: Speak the language of the mountains.

“As long as I live, I'll hear waterfalls and birds and winds sing. I'll interpret the rocks, learn the language of flood, storm, and the avalanche. I'll acquaint myself with the glaciers and wild gardens, and get as near the heart of the world as I can.”

- an excerpt of John Muir’s personal journals by Linnie Marsh Wolfe, Son of the Wilderness: The Life of John Muir

Having as my literary heroes famed Naturalists Enos A. Mills and John Muir, being able to speak the language of the mountains has always been a focus of mine as I have spent time in this amazing wilderness creation of God. Being able to interpret what the mountains are telling you is not a skill that is learned by reading books, through illustrations, or hearing someone talk about it, but through experience and keen observation.

The ability to speak the language of the mountains can serve many purposes, from the utilitarian and practical to the necessary acts of life saving and preservation. Knowing the right place to camp to have access to water, knowing whether or not to pitch a tent in a location that is too cold or windy, or to not end up camping in an area that is heavily overutilized is one practical sense of being able to speak the language of the mountains. Knowing which dry flies a trout will rise to based on the observation and experience of knowing their designed food source and supply would be an example of being practical and utilitarian, but this skill could also provide much-needed sustenance on an unexpected extended trip into the wilds of the mountains. An example of a life preservation act and skill of speaking the language of the mountains could include being able to read and interpret the weather patterns as they come and go from day-to-day. Looking for tell-tale signs of an approaching afternoon thunderstorm while on the alpine tundra can help the modern-day mountain man keep himself and the other people in his party out of harm's way.

The Naturalist Guide Enos Mills tells a story about being on the summit of a mountain after he loses his eye protection on a snowfield and the extreme rays of the sun give him severe snow blindness. This leaves him with two options, stay put and possibly die as no help was going to come and provide assistance, or try to use his experience and knowledge from many years of speaking the language of the mountains to try to find his way home despite his disabled circumstances. Mr. Mills had spent so much time hiking and observing in the mountains that he knew which species of trees should grow on which slopes, the elevations at which the trees would be found, and the directions the trees would grow in their non-stop attempt to gain more sunlight. He was able to find his way back to a cabin to get help by walking along and feeling the needles and branches to identify the types of trees on his route. Mr. Mills was always taking mental pictures of the mountain as he hiked along on his many adventures into the wilderness, and using this information, as well as identifying the trees along his route he was able to ascertain the Cardinal directions, elevation and slope aspect to stay orientated even without eyesight. Trying something like this is certainly not something I would advocate, but it certainly does speak to some of the skills a highly observant modern-day mountain man should possess in his mental toolbox.

Language of God's love.

Another classic example of a Naturalist who paid attention to every single step he took and interpreted during his travels through the wilderness was John Muir. He was possibly the first person to realize and recognize the important role glaciers had played in shaping his beloved Sierra Nevada mountains. He noticed that many of the boulders in the Yosemite Valley looked like they had been rolled into a smooth ball shape, much like a kid playing with modeling clay. Mr. Muir also noticed marks on all of the exposed granite areas that looked as though something very heavy and large had slid over it. That was exactly the case as the glaciers, that had long since retreated and melted, left behind a perfect story to tell. The mountains and their creation story simply needed someone who would listen.

God’s wonderful creation is always telling a story of His greatness and design if we are simply able to interpret the language. The more time that we spend in the outdoors of God’s kingdom, the more adept we will become at speaking the language of the mountains. I have heard from language teachers that I have had or known that the only way to truly master a language and learn everything about it is to become immersed in it and have it as part of your everyday life. The modern-day mountain man can learn to speak the language of the mountains if we are willing to become immersed in the Message.