Introduction to Adventure:

Life is full of exciting adventures, some of which are so wild and unexpected that one wonders if they could have possibly happened. In my case, the story I'm about to share is a prime example of such a tale. Growing up in North Idaho in 1995, I had many adventures that would make most people think I was making up stories, but I had a memorable one that was just too kooky to be believed.

The Setting:

The year was 1995, and I was just an adventurous 15-year-old enjoying the hiking trails near North Idaho. One sunny late spring afternoon, me and my buddy, also 15, joined in a hiking expedition near the East end of Fernan Lake in the mountains behind a shooting range. As the sun started to dip into the horizon, we realized we were lost and couldn't backtrack due to the rugged terrain. We decided to venture down into a tight valley with a creek flowing through it, despite the remaining snow that made it slippery and treacherous.

The Dilemma:

As we started our descent, the valley's narrowness and snow coverage proved to be a challenging puzzle to solve. The snow was too deep to climb back, so we agreed to cross over a fallen tree using it as a temporary bridge. However, the tree was rotted and half broken, perched precariously over thick thorny bushes below. Navigating the steep slope to the fallen log was risky, especially when black ice appeared on the incline. That's the moment my confidence took a dive, but determined to keep moving, I kept my balance and started to slide down.

Ice, Gravity, and Thrills:

Just a short distance down, I found myself on a sheet of black ice. I thought it looked wet, not frozen, so I pushed forward quickly, unaware of the danger ahead. Suddenly, my momentum caught me off guard, and I began to slide down rapidly. Unsure of how to stop, I flailed my arms out and grabbed onto the broken tree with its exposed roots as a last resort. But it was too late; the whole structure gave way, and together, the log and I became part of a storybook boat journey down the slope.

As we careened down the steep hill covered in snow and icy mud, I clung to my makeshift float to avoid being left behind. In a thrilling moment, the log and I slid off the edge of the hill and into a creek. The journey came to a smooth landing on both ends, each side resting on the snow-covered banks. As I finally stood up and raised my hands in victory, my friend could only yell for me as I had made it "IM OOOOOOKAY!!!"

The Bumpy Conclusion:

Unfortunately, the thrilling descent wasn't the end of the story. Just as I was about to bask in the relief of my survival, the broken log abruptly split in half, sending us both tumbling into the water. It wasn't the happiest way to end the day, but we still had to hike about a mile back to the road and walk another five miles to get back into town.

While the story may sound like a cartoon come to life, it was a real-life, thrill-seeking adventure that I often draw from when recounting my youthful escapades. This is me, in that time period, exploring the wildness and unpredictability of nature with a fearless and adventurous spirit.

Never underestimate the power of nature or your own teenage bravado. This story is a testament to both!