Goosed by the fog

Reading Bruce Auchley’s “getting lost” story in last week’s Hungry Horse News, I was reminded of one of the many times I’ve been “turned around” in the woods.

Anyone who spends much time away from the kitchen sink will have their own stories.

Before telling my story I would like to relate a recent incident.  My wife and I were hiking in Yosemite National Park and, on the way back to the truck, Nan picked the wrong trail at a junction.

When we realized the mistake, Nan asked, “How did you know?”

Short answer.  Many years ago Nan and I hosted famed artist Maynard Reese on a day trip up the Flathead’s North Fork.

Reese’s work in Life Magazine had brought him to Montana several times, including a horse-pack trip into the Bob Marshall Wilderness, where the guide eventually admitted he was lost.

When Maynard correctly pointed out the right trail, the guide asked how an Iowan knew where to go in the Bob.

“I’m an artist,” replied Reese. “I don’t just look ahead of me, I’m constantly looking all around and I recognized the way out.”

The common denominator between Auchly’s and my story is fog.

It was also foggy the night I missed a corner and drove into the ditch a half-mile short of my high school girlfriend’s house.

Her dad pulled me out with a tractor.  Definitely not cool!  But I digress…

About 40 years ago I had permission from a rancher in eastern Washington to drive across his fields to access some scab rock cliffs for goose hunting.

One pre-dawn, I turned off a paved road, opened a gate, and drove onto a big grassy field.

The fog was thick and getting thicker by the minute.  Headlights were useless so, after closing the gate, I straightened my wheels, placed my hands at 9 and 3 o’clock on the steering wheel, and drove slowly across the field, aiming for another gate on the far side of the field.

I was elated when I saw the gate and no doubt felt a bit cocky about my plan to drive straight across the field.

I opened the gate and was shocked to find I’d driven a perfect circle!