Just Over the Rise

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Last week, I spent a few days hiking in the Tetons. My parents bravely went 10 miles into the back country up and down the ridges to see some of the most beautiful lakes I have ever seen. Along the way, we saw wild turkeys and pheasants and didn’t see a single bear. While all the other tourists lined up to see the shrinking Jackson Lake near the lodge, we looked from our vantage point astride a beautiful lake over the ridges to where everyone else saw a much drier view.

If they only realized how close they were to what we saw, they might feel foolish. The road through the park to Yellowstone runs parallel to the ridge that obscures Ema Matilda Lake from view except for those who will get out of their cars and into the back country. Add to that the fact that the trailhead is poorly marked and badly maintained, and you can understand why we saw only eight people all day, all of whom we encountered within two miles of the start of our day. For five hours, my family had the untouched wilderness all to ourselves.

So much of beauty and value in this world is like that lake in the Tetons. People pass by it all the time, unaware that it is there. Those who do know about it elect not to take the hike or give up because they can’t find the trailhead or are scared by the puddle-ridden saddleboard road that leads to it. As a consequence, they never even try to see this gem of a vista because they don’t get out of their cars. Sometimes, they may look at it as too difficult to ascend, when it wouldn’t take much for the National Park Service to cut a trail from the lodge across the meadow and up the rise so that more people could see the treasure that’s just over the adjacent rise.

Far too often in our lives we do not know what we’re missing or how close we are to wonderful things. We quit because it seems hard or do not even know what might be there. Fear overcomes our faith and fortitude, and we stick with what’s known, with what’s comfortable, rather than risking the blisters and tolerating the smell of sweat to go and see what apparently few ever get to experience. I heard once that many failures have no idea how close they were to success when they quit. It amazes me that I have been to the Tetons so many times and never knew how close I was to one of the prettiest sites I have ever seen. Pictures do not do it justice.

Our fears and our inadequacies and our ignorance hold us back from so much of value in life. We miss out on things we do not know and elect to pass on things we do not think we can achieve. Fear and uncertainty get the best of us, and so we stick to the comfort of the familiar. Even people who love us warn us about the “bears” in life, and so we stick to where there are many people and see the same old thing while never knowing just how close we were to something even better. No matter how good a thing may be, whatever stops us from a chance at better or best has something other than our well-being in mind. Most of these naysayers or concerned folks are selfish, holding us back from discovery for fear of what dangers might be.

My mother wasn’t sure she could make it, but I think if you ask her that she is glad she went. It is something you cannot take from her. She has seen something that very few visitors to the park even know they can see because she was willing to go where other people dare not. Was it difficult? Yes. Was it a lot of work? Yes. Was there reason to fear or worry? Sure. Was it worth it? Absolutely. I shall have to revisit the area again and attempt the longer loop including visiting the shore of this amazingly beautiful lake. I am willing to tell you because life is richer when you share it. When you go where others won’t tomorrow you’ll be able to do what others can’t. It was worth the effort.

Pictures coming when I get home from class.

 View from Lodge towards Emma Matilda Lake Ridge

 View of Emma Matilda Lake from Ridge Crest

 View of Emma Matilda with Tetons in Background

View of Tetons from Emma Matilda Ridge Crest

These images are proprietary.  I spent a lot of time hiking to get them, so I'll be after you like weevils on wheat if you steal them from me to use elsewhere.