It was one of those gorgeous blue, big sky Montana days and I was hoofing it at a good pace up a 5-mile trail to a favorite spot in the Beartooth range in south west Montana. Late spring, warm sun, cool winds and the occasional patch of snow; it was the perfect hiking weather. There would be a spectacular view that I would most likely have all to myself. Hungry, I was looking forward to a hearty lunch among the sun-warmed boulders. With about a mile to go, I saw ahead another lone hiker moving at a slower, but deliberate pace. From the form of the figure (okay, it was the golden sweat-glistening legs) I knew it was a woman.
She had a good size pack on and was obviously set to overnight on the trail. She was making steady pace up, and I only slowly gained to about 40 paces behind her. At that point the grade noticeably increased and the trail began a series of switchbacks. We began crossing paths, and as she made the second switchback, she was able to see me. I smiled, gave a polite wave and said "Hello," huffing a bit in my exertion. She smiled back, somewhat timidly, I thought, and kept on moving. Maybe she thought that I was speeding up the trail to catch her. All the same to me, as the view of her hiking ahead on the trail was very fine. She kept on steady at her pace. We traded smiles as we crisscrossed up the trail. Halfway up the switchbacks, I was just behind her. I would either have to slow down or pass her.
At the next switchback I was surprised when she turned, not to continue, but to look at me! She smiled again and complimented my pace. "You're going pretty good, there. People usually have a hard time keeping up with me, much less catching up." It was obvious that she was no stranger to exertion. She was sweating hard, but not huffing or puffing, in spite of a quick pace. That's quite an achievement for anyone doing anything at 6,000 feet.
"Thanks," I replied, "I spend a lot of time on the trails. I'm guessing you do too?"
With a bigger smile, she replied, "Yep, I love it up here. This is already my fourth hike on this trail this year. It's one of my favorite trails." I agreed and told her I liked it because it was a bit off the beaten path of other hikes in the area. It was difficult so not many folks bothered with it.
"This is the first time I've ever met another hiker up here, I think."
"Me, too," she replied, adding, "You'd better be nice!"
I laughed, "I will be sure to." I grinned for a moment, then continued, "My name is Lee, and I appreciate you sharing the trail with me." I offered my hand.
She took it and held it. "My name is Liv and it is my pleasure to share this trail today." We both laughed and our hands dropped.
"Onward!" I called, and we proceeded up the trail, now at the same pace.
In the Rockies you have to wear your layers because you never know what turn the weather will take, and the nights are always cool. She was wearing typical hiking gear and in the heat of the day had stripped down to her last layer, a close-fitting, white silk singlet, khaki shorts, with a flannel shirt and fleece shell tied around her waist. She wore state of the art hiking shoes and socks rolled to the boot-tops. Her chestnut brown hair was pulled back and fell across her shoulder then down her back. When we had spoken at the switchback, her beauty had stunned me. Her face was finely sculpted, her skin serene. Thin, rivulets of sweat trailed down her neck, onto her chest. Her only jewelry was a smooth orb of amber that hung in the dimple of her breastbone on a gold chain. It's translucence in the sun on her skin cast a gold aura there that dazzled with the texture of her sunned skin. She was delectable.
That thought had not left my head since she had turned from me and continued up the trail. The sight of her hiking ahead gave me no reason to think of anything else. While it was obvious that she was a seasoned outdoor person, I was beginning to think Liv was a hiking goddess. I took a deep breath and kept on behind her, keeping my distance to keep perfect perspective of her form.
As we reached the ridge, the world opened beyond us. Instead of the rocky scramble of the last few hundred yards of the trail, we now faced the expanse of the sky above a wilderness valley below. It is a moment that takes your breath away and can almost feel like it sweeps you off your feet. My instinct is often to grab something solid till I remain study. This time, Liv was there next to me and she is what I grasped. Without thinking, my hand clasped her bare arm just above her elbow. She turned her head to look at me, I guess to see if I was about to faint or something, but she saw that I was awestruck at the vista before us.
"It is awesome, isn't it?" she agreed in a reverent voice, "Nothing makes me feel more alive." I nodded in silence.
After a minute of taking in the beauty, I helped her remove her pack, admiring her arms as she bent them back to pull them through the straps. A sprinkle of freckles was cast across the top of her strong shoulders. She helped me off with mine, though it was only a daypack. We sat on a bench rock and pulled off our boots and socks and wiggled our toes in the warm sun. Sharing our foodstuffs, we managed to have a nice lunch of cheese, dried fruits, jerky and blueberry granola bar. The sun was hot, the air thin, our bellies full and we reclined to enjoy some time. We talked and shared more about our love for the outdoors. She looked a bit sly and said, "Do you know what else I like about this spot? I love to sunbath on these rocks. I love the feel of the sun beaming on me and at the same time thrill when a cool breeze blows across my skin..." she tapered of with a dreamy look in her eyes.
We watched clouds that began to move in over the valley. They were the sorts that easily give to games of finding figures at play among them. "There's a fox running, " Liv called out, pointing. I saw it.
"Hey, there's George Washington!" I said. She wasn't so sure. We were both quiet. I saw the face of a woman with flowing hair. "Look, there's the face of a women," I said softly, pointing up and to Liv's right so that my arm crossed over her body. "See her face looking toward us, her hair blowing back, and..." Then my eyes got larger, and I wasn't sure what to say, for there below the head the figure of her shoulders and two breasts unfolded, complete with wisps of nipples!
"What? What do you see now?" Liv asked.
"Oh, ahh, a woman," I said timidly. I didn't want to say "breasts" out loud. Maybe they weren't there. It was only the stirring I was feeling in Liv's presence revealing thoughts that were playing in the back of my mind.
"Oh, yes, I see her," Liv said, and then, "Ahh, and now I see what has got your tongue. You guys are all the same, aren't you!" Liv laughed, obviously seeing the endowments I thought I might have conjured. She leaned into me slightly, laughing. A scent of eucalyptus was in her hair