It’s December 21, 2009, just a few days before Christmas, and I need to get out of the house. I am smitten that the Pattee Canyon trailhead is only an 8 minute drive from my front door step. It’s a chilly 36 degrees but I know the trails will be here so grab my hiking boots and slip on my new slip on boots.

Pattee Canyon is located on the southern tip of Missoula Montana, about 10 miles from the University of Montana campus. It has three parking areas each at different elevations. It also has a picnic area, camping area and Folf field if you feel like it. The trails are open all year round and even on the coldest days you will find several die-hard hikers traversing the beautiful scenery.

I decide to start my journey at the lower trailhead labeled ‘Crazy Canyon’. Before taking off, I have to make it a point to let go of all the stress of the day and just “be” in nature. The trail takes me right up the side of the mountain with very little backing up action. It’s great here, but my anti-slip straps are proving to be a good investment, they don’t slip at all.

At the top of my hike I come across an old rotting tree stump with a single white egg on top of some of the dried up debris. At first I think it might have fallen out of a nest, but on closer inspection it’s an unbroken chicken egg…strange. I let it be. There must be a story behind this strange phenomenon, but I don’t want to spoil my walk with too much mental activity.

I take a different path on the decent. I realize that it’s easy to rush down, so I have to control myself. I do this by drawing attention to clean, fresh air and letting the stillness of nature permeate my being. I know it sounds a bit…mystical, but that’s what I expected from my hikes in Pattee Canyon.