SLEEPING GIANT FREEHIKE
(Ken Sunwalker’s Lost Key Adventure)
I’m sitting in my room at my computer, nude, looking across the Helena, MT valley to the partially cloud covered mountain called Sleeping Giant, reminded of the freehike I took last Friday.
The Sleeping Giant is a prominent Helena landmark, a tall mountain to the north that looks like a giant laying on its back, with craggy rocks to the right side that look like a face – nose, mouth, etc. Everyone in Helena recognizes the sleeping giant, but very few have ever visited it. I decided I would remedy that, at least for me.
Friday morning promised to have nice weather. I arose early and drove to the Gates of the Mountains recreation area, then took the first gravel road left towards the giant. I couldn’t find an entrance road to the giant (a good sign), so I parked at the side of the road as close to the giant as I could get. I dressed in my hiking kilt (into which I slipped the car keys), kept on my t-shirt, crawled under the fence, and headed across a wide field to the pine covered foothills where there looked to be a pass leading to the giant’s face.
Reaching the pines, I slipped off my kilt and t-shirt. Oh the relief and freedom - the sun and breeze caressing on my entire body - nude hiking is the best!
I worked my way through the trees and meadows towards the pass, crossing under another fence, continuing up, until I reached a dirt road, probably not used since last summer. I followed this road through the hills for a few miles.
Freehiking brings one so close to nature. The forest pines crowded close to the road on both sides. Deer and other animal tracks crossed occasionally. I spooked a mule deer. At mountain meadows the wild flowers were out in full array – yellow sweet pea, purple larkspur, two varieties of bluebell, yellow mules ear, light purple and white flox, tiny white daisies, red and yellow and white yarrow, a beautiful place and time to freehike in nature.
Suddenly, hiking around a bend in the road, the giant’s rocky face appeared – close – indescribably beautiful!
I walked up the dirt road to the gate of a family summer cabin called The Sleeping Giant Ranch, probably 300 yards from the base of the cliffs. The gate was posted with large “no trespassing” signs, so I decided it was time to turn back.
Freehiking back was just as wonderful as the hike up.
After 45 minutes or so I reached my locked rental car, felt my pocket, and . . . no keys! I’d dropped them – somewhere – oh no – what to do?
I retraced my steps, taking a second freehike all the way to the Sleeping Giant’s face, and back. (My feet were pretty sore by then.) Still no keys.
I’d noticed a ranch house over the hill in the distance, so dressed in my t-shirt and hiking kilt, I headed up the road. Just before reaching the ranch house, a truck stopped, and offered to deliver me to the airport in Helena (nearly 20 miles) where I’d rented the car.
At the airport I discovered that the extra key was in the truck of the locked rental car. So, I had no choice but to call a wrecker to help me retrieve the car.
After a long trip and $175, I returned the car to the airport and was dropped off at my place of employment. What a relief after an all-day-long adventure.
The freehike was wonderfully relaxing and highly recommended. The lost key adventure was nerve-wracking. So, what did I learn?
Always leave your car keys safely hidden near the car when freehiking.
But, keep on freehiking!
