EXPERIENCE
myself slowly pulling these gloves up over my
fingers and then onto my wrists. Looking down at
them as they covered both hands, I wasn’t quite
sure how they fit.
“Now, about that bear spray,” he said after a long
moment of silence.
Lake Taggart
After a few recommendations from various
sources, I decided to hike the trail to Taggart Lake
first. I was informed the walk was under 5 miles
and boasted spectacular views of the park.
Once I arrived at the starting point, I laced up my
hiking boots, tightened the straps on my backpack
and wrapped a denim jacket around my waist. With
a can of bear spray also hanging from my belt strap,
I started my journey to the lake.
Even though it was May, there were still mounds
of snow covering parts of the path. Eventually, I
came upon a bridge that had an extraordinary
view of a small waterfall. I slowly walked onto the
narrow apparatus, and with water rushing over
rocks of all shapes and sizes below me, I sat on its
edge and dangled my feet over the side.
I thought about why I was there. I forced myself
into these woods in search of something that would
help me finally move forward and out of my current
mental state, but I still wasn’t quite sure what that
something was. I guess I was hoping it would meet
me somewhere on the trail.
After sitting for a few moments, I realized the
answers I searched for were not on that bridge,
so I got up and started walking again.
I hiked a mile before I reached a small clearing.
The trees were sparse in this area, and the snow
was deep. I had only come across a few hikers that
morning, but there was still a large path of footprints
showing me the way to a part of the woods where
the trail picked back up. The sun bounced off
the snow with such ferocity that I was forced to
shield my eyes with one hand as I walked. Once I
reached the next set of trees, the temperature took
a noticeable drop. I was getting close to the lake.
After a few minutes of walking through more
snow and trees, I came to another clearing and
stepped out onto a bed of pebbles. I then looked
up and before me was a frozen Taggart Lake and
an astonishing view of the Grand Tetons behind
it. I walked to a fallen tree at the edge of this frozen
body of water, and after a few minutes of stunned
silence, I sat down to journal.
20 EXTOL : JUNE/JULY 2018