Nature’s Survival Game - Robin Gruginski

            Driving along, the car comes to a complete stop.  A flashing red light marks a four-way stop.  Which direction will we choose?  One road leads to the mountains while the other continues to the coast.  The lake road is short but winding.  The desert road is long and isolated.  The flashing red light is the first warning people see when traveling to nature.  The light speaks out warning, proceed with caution.  Most travelers pay attention but a few ignore the timeless message.

            When entering nature’s domain, you are an invited guest.  Nature plays no favorites.  From big bears to small ants, all creatures are equal in her eyes.  She doesn’t applaud good or evil.  Here in nature’s backyard, the name of the game is survival.  She sets rules and boundaries.  All who enter must follow and obey the regulations or pay the price.  Only clever, fast, or lucky creatures survive.  Make the wrong move or mistake and this game could end for you.  In nature, second chances are rare.

            After pondering, the group made a decision.  The group points the car north and journeys to the mountains.  They arrive ready for fun.  The steep mountains offer many recreational opportunities throughout the changing seasons.  In fall and winter, travelers can climb, ski, or snowmobile.  Travelers camp, backpack, or ride horses in the spring and summer.  Our group, which we will call mountaineers, choose to go on a day hike.  The mountains have many well worn trails.  Signs are posted along the familiar trails for our convenience and safety.  The eager mountaineers set out to experience and photograph this majestic setting.  The spectacular mountains rise high into the vast blue sky.  Their snow caps glisten under the sun.  Crystal blue waters trickle and pour across the rolling green meadows.  Christmas trees cascade down the mountain sides.  They find the nearest trail and begin the adventure.  Nature warmly beckons them with colorful wild flowers and fragrant crisp air.  She welcomes all who wish to stay and learn.

            Are they prepared?  Let’s check and see.  The mountaineers have cameras, one map and compass, one water bottle each, and cell phones.  A map and compass are very helpful if you remember to grab the items before leaving the car.  One idealistic mountaineer has a field guide which he thinks he knows extremely well.  I guess that’s why he left the book back at home.  Oops!  The group forgot extra water and snacks.  The bright sun is beating down hard.  Sunscreen or perhaps a change of clothes is a necessarity.  An emergency kit is useful in case of an accident.  Some people carry waterproof matches or flint to create fire.

            The five youthful mountaineers step lively along the trail.  They are completely blissful of the missing items.  Did I say five?  What ever happened to number six?  Our youngest mountaineer wandered away from the group.  No one has noticed he is missing.  The young mountaineer noticed two squirrels playing tag.  He wanted a picture and gave chase.  The mountaineer plunges deeper and deeper into the heart of the dark forest.  The youth hasn’t realized just how far away he is from the path or the group.  Finally, the youth snapped the well sought out picture.  He turns and looks around.   Everything looks the same.  He calls out but only silence answers back.  Panic grips him.  The light is disappearing.  Soon, night will claim the forest.  The youth is hopelessly lost and confused.  What will he do?

            The desperate youth runs madly through the forest.  His eyes strain to pierce the darkness.  He stumbles in the thick underbrush.  Unfortunately, he lands in a layer of poison ivy.  His arms and legs are scratched, his shorts are torn, and he lost his cell phone.  He is tired, hungry, and thirsty.  To make matters worse, the night air is heavy with mist.  Dark clouds surround the mountains.  A cold chill hangs over ahead.  A blustery wind nips at the tree tops.  We could see some snow.

            Heavy rain pours down.  The soaked youth catches his foot in a hole.  His body twists and slams to the ground.  Intense pain shoots up his leg.  Did he sprain his ankle or break his leg?  The hurt youth shakes uncontrollably.  His leg throbs and itches.  He sits and cries.  The adventure has turned into a horrible nightmare.  His whole body itches and aches.  The rain has stopped for the moment but the cold wind snaps at him.  His situation seems bleak.

            In the far off distance, a funny noise mingles in the air.  He stands and turns his head.  His ears focus on the noise.  A beam of light penetrates the darkness.  A helicopter bounces in the air.  A search party scans the forest.  The youth staggers towards the helicopter.  He frantically shouts and waves his arms.  The helicopter begins moving away.  The youth pushes pass the pain and soreness.  He leaps over a layer of vegetation and tumbles forward.  His body falls and slides down the steep slope.  His spinning body bangs towards the cliff.  He digs into the wet mud and rocks trying to slow down.  His attempt to get traction caused small rocks to loosen.  Rocks shutter and crash down over taking the youth.  Smashing and crushing rocks drive the youth over the cliff.

            Miraculously his left hand catches the tip of a branch.  His body dangles dangerously over the edge.  His hand barely grips the thin branch.  His legs can’t find holdings and his right arm is broke.  Beneath him, sharp and jagged rocks await him.  His hand starts sliding down the wet surface.  His weak fingers hardly cling to the branch.  The tree bends from the heavy strain.  His life saving branch begins to break.  Time is running out for the youth.  Will he fall to his certain death?  Will the nearby helicopter spot him in time?

            The survival game hangs in the balance.  The mountaineer made several mistakes.  He wasn’t prepared for the changing environment and he carried no emergency supplies.  He carelessly wandered off the trail and away from the group.  Once lost in unfamiliar terrain, he didn’t stay put in one place which would make finding him easier.  So far, this mountaineer isn’t clever, fast, or lucky.  Has nature’s mountains claimed another victim or will the mountaineer get a second chance?

            His finger tips and the branch both give way.  His frail body drops.  The youth falls feet after feet.  Lucky for him, he plops down on an old bald eagle’s nest situated on a ledge.  Moss covered sticks cushion better than jagged rocks.  The youth lays broken and bleeding but still alive.  Nature gave him a second chance.  The search spot light locates him.  At last, he is rescued. 

            He won the game of survival.  Other travelers weren’t so lucky.  If we quiet our minds and listen, we might hear the lost souls whispering.  Their faint cries echo over the mountains.  Pay attention to nature’s rules or join our company.  Hopefully, the youth embraces nature’s harsh lessons.  He and the other mountaineers need to pass the wisdom to future generations.  When we play nature’s survival game of life and death well, she embraces the travelers.  Unmasked nature reviles hidden knowledge and treasures throughout the ages.