Thoughts of a Modern-Day Mountain Man:A Field Guide to Leadership in the Great Outdoors Chapter 31

This is the thirty-first 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 31: Storm clouds on the horizon.

“The Lord is slow to anger but great in power;

the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished.

His way is in the whirlwind and the storm,

and clouds are the dust of his feet.”

Nahum 1:3 New International Version (NIV)

To be a truly great outdoor leader, one must be an optimist by nature and a pessimist by profession. The competent and consummate guide needs to always see the water bottle as being half-full, while at the same time realizing half the water in the bottle has been used and will soon need to be replaced. The same sentiments hold true when a storm develops on the horizon. A modern-day mountain man can either see the approaching storm as a hindrance and an obstacle, or view it as a true gift from God and revere it for the blessings it provides.

Throughout the years of working at camps, outdoor education and conference centers I have had the privilege of living throughout the United States in many different ecosystems. I have experienced storms in all of their wondrous and various configurations. Everything from snowstorms that drop feet of snow in a very short time period, to witnessing the tremendous power of tornadoes, to being in the midst of rainfall deluges so intense that a person cannot see their hand in front of their face. Without any doubts, storms can provide a major hindrance to any planned program, and even pose real risk and threat to people and property, which would represent the water bottle being half-empty point-of-view. As professional outdoor leaders, we must be proactive in our assigned risk management roles. We need to be able to envision in our mind’s eye the worst possible scenario and be able to properly prepare for the worst that can happen so that we can take preemptive steps to keep it from coming to fruition. However, despite our best intentions, some storms both literal and figurative are so powerful and unavoidable that we are left with no choice but to batten down the proverbial hatches and weather the storm the best that we can.

On more than one occasion this modern-day mountain man has found himself, and sometimes the group I was leading, high up on the alpine tundra during a powerful and awesome thunderstorm or during white-out winter conditions. Being high on the stony lonesome during a potentially life-threatening storm is the last place you ever want to find yourself, let alone a group of others that are looking to you for guidance. If you spend enough time in the great outdoors, especially in the guiding profession, you will definitely find yourself in just such a scenario. It is unavoidable and will happen, so it is imperative that the modern-day mountain man prepares accordingly. During high mountain storms, there is no place to go and nowhere to hide, the storm must be weathered and experienced in place using the gear that the modern-day mountain has thoughtfully brought with him or her. I have rarely found myself so powerless and feeling so small in the world than being in a predicament such as this. In the moment and time, it is very difficult for an optimistic point-of-view to manifest itself. It is essential to maintain your PMA (positive mental attitude), and to take the time to slow down, you simply must keep your wits about you and remain the competent leader others need you to be.

Some of the most beautiful weather days I have experienced have been after storms that I wasn’t sure I would live through. The sky has never been so blue, the wildflowers and plants more vibrant and alive with color or the animals so active once again having the resources they desperately need to sustain life. It is important to remember God has a plan in everything, though at times it can be difficult to see the rainbow through the storm clouds.

It has always been a popular refrain to question God’s purpose and plan, to ask how it is possible for our Creator to allow storms in our life. More often than not, the point and plan of God is being overlooked for our own human desires and wishes. This is when God’s plan for freewill comes into play. When mankind fell into sin in the Garden utilizing free will and making our own choices in spite of God’s perfect plan, we have become quick to blame or question God. This doesn’t mean in any way, shape, or form that the original design was flawed. This fall from God’s perfect plan required the sacrifice of Christ to overcome death and the devil. Many times when storms go through an area and leave behind a path of death and destruction, our first question is to ask how God can allow this to happen? God does not work in mysterious ways. The natural systems and functions designed during the creation week have continued relatively unchanged since God wound and set the universal clock in motion. Storms of all facets; earthquakes, hurricanes, fires, and floods existed long before this modern-day mountain man and will never stop until the end of days. Choosing to build a house in Tornado Alley, placing a city on a fault line, or trying to make a living in the midst of a floodplain will always place humanity in harm’s way. There is no escape from this, there are storms and calamities over the entirety of the earth. Not only is this mankind’s choice to make such decisions on where to build and live, but it is also the choice of our outlook on how we view these storms. God is unchanging, as is His amazing creation; why would we expect this to change.

I have certainly found myself praying for a storm to pass as the buzz of electricity surrounded me and intensified, hail was pelting me and the crack of thunder became deafening as I found myself in the middle of a powerful mountain thunderstorm. I am sure that at the same time, someone down the mountain was praying for the storm to build and get stronger to hopefully stay intact long enough to make it to their drought-stricken land. This is where perspective is in order. First, we must acknowledge and realize storms of all shapes and sizes will develop and happen; not only is it part of God’s creation plan, but it is also possible that our own free will and decisions placed us in the storm's path. Second, after acknowledging storms will persist during the entirety of our lifetime, we must have a plan in place for when zero hour arrives and avoidance is no longer a feasible option. Third, our Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) needs to come to the forefront and see the silver linings that all storms can bring.

Thunderstorm on the Prairie.

Change is, and always will be constant. The modern-day mountain man may find himself or herself being the most solid, dependable asset for their camp, program, customers, and especially their family. As an outdoor leader, we should anticipate this and relish the opportunity to serve in the leader’s role. Wallowing in self-pity and despair will only serve the purpose of making the storm more severe than originally intended. Staying positive and being optimistic can be exceedingly difficult, and there have definitely been times where I have found myself questioning the very plan and intentions of God, but we must not waiver in our positive outlook. Having the solid foundation of a support system in place before these storms arrive can be the very difference between sinking and swimming during a Category Five hurricane of a life storm. This support system should include close friends, co-workers, reliable vendors, and family members, but first and foremost our foundation should be built upon our faith in God. No man is an island. Even in the mountain man’s time of yesteryear, the trapping and trading parties were reliant upon a support system of trading posts and yearly rendezvous. These were undoubtedly some of the most resilient and self-reliant men and women that have ever walked the earth, but they still needed their fellow mountain man to be successful.

In conclusion, be optimistic, see the best in all things, but have a plan for when the shinin’ times are at their dimmest levels. Storm clouds on the horizon does not have to represent imminent doom and gloom. The life-giving properties and experiences of all of life’s storms are part of the original plan our Creator designed, developed and gifted to mankind in the beginning of days.