Do you have good night vision? (2023)

During a recent snow event, I had outpatient surgery in Saginaw. Driving in the daylight with snow flurries is just the normal routine for living in snow country. However, by the time the surgery was completed, and I was given the approval to travel, the snow had increased in intensity along with the gusting wind.

Leaving Saginaw with all the street lights beaming brightly lulled my foggy mind into thinking all would be well. As the lights of Saginaw faded, only our headlights brought illumination to a small area of roadway. The roads weren’t plowed and only a few tire tracks were visible to follow. Still recovering from the anesthetic, my mind started coming fully awake. I realized we couldn’t see our surroundings well.

We slowly made our way. I wished I had the night vision of some of Mother Nature’s wonders. As we drove along the shoreline, no lights were shining from summer cottages. I stared out into the darkness of Lake Huron. My mind drifted back to a time when my life depended on an animal to have perfect night vision when I was in utter darkness.

Loving horses, westerns, and the cowboy or cowgirl way of life, when the opportunity to go on a trail ride in the mountains with a group of friends presented itself, I couldn’t wait to saddle up and ride. Being in my mid-20s, adventuresome, and idealistic, I looked only at the thrilling aspect of riding on a mountain trail, stopping for a real chuck wagon dinner, and singing songs around a campfire. The mountains in New Mexico are very inviting, and I just couldn’t wait for this great adventure of enjoying, at least for a short time, a disappearing way of life.

Finally the day arrived, and we met at the stables to pack our gear, meet our trail bosses, and to select the horse we wanted to ride. I looked over all the possibilities, speaking to each one, looking in their eyes, and giving a little snuggle to each. When I came upon Trusty, he snuggled back, looked straight in my eyes, and nodded his head up and down. I got the hint. Trusty was my steed.

We left at 3 in the afternoon with a bright blue sky, small puffy clouds, and a beaming sun. As our little band of 20 people and staff ascended upward on the mountain, I was soaking up all the wonderful pine aroma, the rays of sunshine scattered through the trees, and the joy of riding Trusty. We chatted to each other as we rode single file up the trail. As I was admiring the gorgeous view, my eyes and mind made a connection that hadn’t been made before — the trail was narrow and the mountain was steep. There were no guardrails. No wonder I had to sign waiver forms. As disquieting as that thought was, I brushed it aside and refused to let it fester in my mind.

We rode for three hours till we reached our destination at a lovely grassy area. The chuck wagon was a bustle of activity as the cooks prepared our meal. We tied our horses up on a string line. I tied Trusty up at the end of the line. We had a few more snuggles and fond gazes between us before I joined the rest of the group around the campfire. This moment seemed like heaven on earth to me. We ate, listened to stories, sang songs, toasted marshmallows, mades’mores, and relished this incredible adventure. None of us really noticed the darkness creeping in. As the dark covered the sky, so did a large cloud cover, which prevented us from seeing the stars and moon. The only light to be seen was our campfire, and we were about to put that out before saddling up to descend the mountain.

It had escaped my mind that we would be riding down the mountain at night when I signed onto this adventure. With the fire extinguished, the darkness was overwhelming. Thankfully, Trusty was easy to locate since I tied him up at the end of the line. Creating a single file line, we started down the mountain. I told Trusty he had to live up to his name because I was trusting in him and his night vision. I was in total darkness, not being able to see the edge of the trail. I knew there were critters about when I heard bushes rattle and tree limbs snap. They could see me, but I couldn’t see them. None of us spoke. We rode in silence. Finally, three hours later Trusty had delivered me to the stables where light shone in the ranch house. Those kerosene lights looked like crystal chandeliers to me. Trusty had used his night vision to keep us alive.

Many people and nations, including ours, are under a creeping darkness. Our vision seems to be obscured by this darkness. Many have gone through dark times, but there has always been people of great vision who have lead the way out of darkness such as Abraham Lincoln. Perhaps you are one of those with great vision who can lead the way out of darkness into the light, just like Trusty did for me. The path may seem dark, steep, and winding, but the light can be found. Step up and start leading before the darkness closes in forever.

Kim Fortune is a freelance reporter and columnist for the Huron Daily Tribune. She can be reached by emailing hdt_news@hearstnp.com.