I could hear the varied voices in the valley creating a chorus of camaraderie.
Just minutes prior, my cousin, Dawson, and I were sharing our collective joy about being in the forest, away from deadlines and demands, and breathing the fresh, crisp air. The week had been so busy, but the moment we stepped on the trail, we were absorbed into the landscape. The stress dissipated and we quickly forgot about the frenetic days.
I stopped for a brief moment as Dawson passed by, and standing there, I heard a sound that couldn’t help but make me smile. Ahead of me, 23 men strong, ages 16 to 57, were walking on the Tecumseh Trail, a couple of miles north of Yellowwood Lake. It had been a clear, sunny morning in the high 30’s as our group took off on the way to Charlie’s shelter about nine miles away. That night, we would enjoy our usual Saturday night feast, this time a sumptuous burrito bowl topped with sizzling flank steak and marinated chicken. As usual, the banter around the fire (and in the tents) would last late into the night as the owls moved in with the brilliant stars above.
Over the past 12 years, the Men’s Backpacking Weekend (MBW) has welcomed almost 80 men to at least one of the trips; 15 have joined at least five. Open to those of high school age or older, early November has brought about a time-honored tradition to arrive as many, and enter the forest as one, vowing to be better men when we return. Along the way, the stories and the memories have amassed just as the miles have grown. Most of the men join with little or no backpacking experience, but with one trip, many have a newfound source of peace and adventure that has spurred not only future MBW involvement, but also other treks of their own. Firemen, lawyers, teachers, appraisers, physicians, pastors, tradesmen, businessmen, journalists, military, accountants, students, foreman, technicians, psychologist, agronomist, actuary, fathers, sons…men.
On this particular moment, listening to these men that I loved reverberating through the hills, I was reminded that all the effort it had taken to get to this point was not just worth it, but part of what made this so sacred. Free to roam, free to share, free to laugh, we were free to be who we are called to be.
