Sometimes, when you’re out on the slopes of these mountains, you find yourself in the presence of the true locals, who own them and make their living here. If your mind drifts to Alta or Snowbird lifties or your favorite tram operator you’re off point.
Last week, while scrambling up the scree by Shreen run (think Road to Provo if you can’t place it) to police up a few errant ski patrol bamboo poles, Canyon Blog almost literally bumped into one of his favorite locals on the mountain. Porcupine of course. Always retiring, never in a rush, and usually enjoying themselves, they never cease to inspire your correspondent. It is his goal for reincarnation, should there be an option.
In this case though, the encounter was most clearly in this lifetime because the face to rear engagement sent Canyon Blog’s heartrate right over the top of Twin Peaks. No problem for the local, he gave the typical one eyed look, may have grunted once to show he wasn’t impressed, and turned the other cheek.
What impressed most was the elevation of the encounter, 10,700’. Well above the usual stomping grounds for our most prickly waddlers. No matter, as it happened, the two strangers shared some slope, sun, and quiet. The porcupine munching on ground cover and your correspondent opting for a granola bar.
The encounter made for a far more satisfying dispatch from the frontlines than what was planned for this month, Oktoberfest. When “porc” got bored of pointing his quills toward the human interloper he merely sauntered off, no doubt down slope because snow is not far off friend. It flew across Hidden Peak last week and will no doubt be falling in but a few more.
So till then, please do come visit and imbibe the festive spirit of Snowbird’s Oktoberfest, or seek your usual Albion Basin trail. But for what it’s worth, the lone encounter made this writer’s month complete and not a word was exchanged.