The Best Adventures Aren’t Always Somewhere New

For years, we measured adventure by how many new places we could discover. As each weekend drew near, we focused on finding a trail we hadn’t hiked, a lake we hadn’t camped beside, or a mountain we hadn’t stood on yet. Part of the excitement came from the unknown and Montana has no shortage of places to explore.

As we’ve spent more years wandering Montana’s mountain ranges, the list of nearby “new” places has gradually become shorter. The worry was that our adventures would inevitably become repetitive. Instead of constantly searching for new destinations, we started returning to familiar places with new objectives. Sometimes that meant trail running a route we’d backpacked before. Other times it meant climbing a nearby mountain or visiting in a different season.

Finding the New Objective

On a revisit to an alpine lake, we returned with new objectives. This time, the mountain behind the lake was on our list of activities. We had also heard rumors of golden trout which we were eager to catch. Lastly, we had yet to explore an old airplane wreckage that was under the snow in all of our previous visits. None of those goals required an entirely new destination, but they gave us a new way to experience one we had already enjoyed.

The Unexpected Discovery

After reaching the lake, we dropped our overnight gear and set off toward the mountain backdrop. There were scattered thunderstorms, but it looked like we had a decent weather window to make it to the summit. The climb led us to a meadow bursting with crimson Indian paintbrush before steepening toward the ridge.

About a quarter of the way up, we noticed dark clouds were headed our way. Before long, a brilliant lightning bolt cracked in the valley below. We ducked into the trees and tucked ourselves beneath a large boulder, hoping the storm would pass quickly.

As we waited, we kept hearing the unmistakable buzz of hummingbird wings overhead, followed by their tiny high-pitched chatter as they darted between the trees. One zipped toward us before suddenly noticing the two unexpected hikers hiding beneath a boulder. It hovered several feet away, tilting its head as if trying to decide what on earth we were doing there before settling onto a nearby branch.

Nearly an hour and a half later, the rain had mostly let up and we began gathering our gear for another attempt. As we stood, two hummingbirds flew out from the branches directly above our makeshift shelter.

More Than One Reason to Return

On the hike out, we replayed the unexpected moments the weekend had given us: the hummingbirds we’d only noticed because a storm forced us to stop, the neighboring peak that quickly earned a place on our list of future adventures, and experiencing the new perspective from a ridge we hadn’t thought to climb before.

For a long time, we thought revisiting a place meant repeating an experience. Lately, we’ve realized the opposite is true. Revisits reveal things we’d overlooked before. Sometimes it’s a new objective, sometimes it’s a different perspective, and sometimes it’s simply slowing down long enough to notice what was there all along.

It’s the realization that favorite places aren’t places you finish. They’re places you build a relationship with and each visit leaves you with another story, another unanswered question, or another reason to come back.

Sometimes they’re waiting in a place you thought you already knew.

Gear We Used

We only recommend gear we’ve personally used and trust in the backcountry. Some links below are affiliate links, which help support Backyard Montana at no additional cost to you.