Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
By Josh Heath
Published by
www.Odroerirjournal.com
Facebook.com/Odroerir
Follow us on Twitter
rrir 1
It was a nice warm early fall day and I was basking on top of Rattlesnake Mountain. Its one of the
easier climbs in the state, something you could do in a few hours and then still make it to the party you had
to go to later that day. Or something like that anyway.
I usually did this hike once a week, it was a good way to reenergize after a week of work, and I really
enjoyed the atmosphere and view from the small peak. It was one of those nice places to relax, maybe talk
to a few of the other hikers and let all the worries of the week pass by. Actually, I think the interactions
with other folk are one of the most interesting parts of the hike, especially when you get to meet the day
hikers that bring their girlfriends along on a short hike. You can tell the type, those that want to be more
outdoorsy and intrepid, but rarely make it past the stairs in the mall. I cant say Ive made a habit of it, but
Ive met my fair share of women that way. Usually good for short relationships, the kind you know wont
go too far, but go on long enough to enjoy the company.
I sat there in between the crook of two larger rocks and sipped slowly out of a pleasantly cool water
bottle. Id had the sense to throw a few ice cubes in before I left the house. It was a tad past mid-day and
clouds were floating by, you know the ones were kids are pointing at the different shapes and what not.
I heard the footsteps of someone coming up the path, but I wasnt worried. Id known someone would
come by before too long, it was guaranteed this time of year. An older gentleman, not too old but not
young either, made his way gracefully up the path. He was dressed in green slacks and a green button up
shirt. I figured he must be a forest ranger, but he didnt have the usual patches on. Maybe hed just retired.
He carried with him a cooler, quite a bit bigger than most hikers would have carried. It was one of those
big blue ones, white top and handle, the kind you see at a barbecue. He had worn tan boots on, and had
his distinguished gray hair tied back in a ponytail. He wore a long beard. It was trimmed and combed well
though, and like his long hair, just seemed to work.
Hello youngn, his crisp voice traveled over to where I sat.
His accent was odd to say the least. He could have been an old timer from around here, but the way his
hello came out, almost made him sound foreign. Familiar, but not quite what Id expect from one of the
people around here.
Hi, I called back respectfully raising my right hand in greeting.
Yuh mind if I join yah? again he sounded like he could be an old native, but just not quite right.
Mountains not mine. Youre welcome to, with a broad smile on my face I replied.
Yuh right bout that, mountain dont belong tah no one anymarh, he chuckled and left it at that.
He sat down near me on a rock that had been worn down with so many other folks doing just the same.
He set his cooler down and reached towards his feet, stretching his arms down towards them.
Arrrgghhh, if I could tell you not to get old and youd listen, Id do so, he chuckled.
If I could stop it I would, I smiled back again.
With a strangely serious face he said back, Ayuh, Id do the same
I looked him over one more time and sat up straight. I put forward my hand in introduction, My names
Alex.
He took it with a firm grip, I go by quite a few names, but you can call me Grim if you like.
Grim its a pleasure to meet you.
Ayuh.
Again, I got the sense that hed been here for a long time, long enough to pick up the colloquialisms but
not long enough to get rid of that foreign accent he seemed to have. We sat for a few minutes gazing at the
same view, taking in the mountain. I saw him breathe in deeply quite a few times, and I realized he was
doing something I tended to do when I first reached the summit: breathe in the clean air. Usually a silence
like that can drag on, but not this time, it was a pleasant day, and it was nice to see someone get the same
rrir 2
rrir 3
just too soon, give em a chance anyway. I figure. Well its been good talkin to yah Alex. At that point
he stood slowly, and placed his charge slowly back into the cooler. And without looking back he ambled
down the path.
Where you from? I called down to him as he left.
All ovah, but last place before I came heah were Iceland, he called over his shoulder.
I sat there for a little bit longer trying to get my head around what was going to happen to my little
mountain.
A few days after that I heard a story on the news, the Fish and Game department had officially decided
against the snake reintegration, however it looked like somehow a container of the snakes had gotten away
from an assistant Warden and had been let loose. Fish and Game had decided to allow those 6 to roam
and would keep an eye on how they were doing with the local population and the program would go from
there. No one could pin point exactly who the assistant warden was either.