Wilderness Camping

Almost every other year
We took our three sons
Camping in the wilderness
In New Mexico on the Gila
River in the Mogollon
Mountains parking at the
Ranger station then hiking
Up to 9,000 feet to see
The pines turn to aspen.
Lindy would take point and I
Would take drag to check no
One was left behind.
We broke camp at the hot springs
Headed for the meadows on
The central fork of the Gila,
Each day we crossed the river
Back and forth following the
Trail trying not to be swept
Downstream in the icy water.
We were all exhausted by days
End and I was alone as the last
In line when I saw the trail
Required me to reach up
And grasp a boulder to swing myself around it to continue,
My pack was heavy and I was
Tired from hiking but I swung
Around the drop into the river
And came face to face with
An angry rattlesnake glaring
At me from a rock ledge at
Eye-level and rattling furiously.
Luckily it had the tail end of a
Mouse in its’ jaws and could
Not strike me so I said good day
And goodbye and hiked
Up the trail and around the
Bend to join my family in
The broad green meadows
Where we camped for a few
Days and took day hikes to
Explore the woods and streams.
We all understood we were guests
In the wilderness and should harm
No creature and leave no trace
Of our having been there,
Pack it in,
Pack it out.
Except, of course, for our daily
Calling card buried in a trench
A few inches deep dug
With the back of the heal of
One’s boot in the soft earth
Then covered and tamped down.
Polite behavior in the wilderness.
The only weapon we ever took
Against the bears, cougars, wolves and other critters was one small
Gerber knife short, wide blade for
Fish gutting and defense,
No firearm which would
Have made us arrogant
And forget a guest
Must be respectful
And polite or
Not visit.