By JEN SLAYDEN
Like many Missoulians, I escape to the various trails around our Garden City when I need to empty my brain and alleviate my stress.
Mount Sentinel and Mount Jumbo don’t seem to mind the extra weight I unload onto their heavy shoulders, and after a good communion with our mountains I seem to float back down the trail, my burdens a little less after each hike.
For several years on my jaunts up and down Jumbo, I have stopped at a single lone tree on the southeast side of the mountain.
From this vantage point, I have enjoyed a bird’s-eye view of the Clark Fork river and the buzz of the freeway and town below me, so close, yet so far away from my perch.
I have been welcomed by birds who sang on the tree’s branches in the spring and summer, gazed in wonder at the seasonal changes of the tree’s autumn leaves, and rested my weary self against her strong trunk to rehydrate on my way up or down the face of the mountain.
Visiting this tree, I was always impressed that this companionless tree seemed to weather being the only one in the area. It became symbolic for me, that this tree was able to live, and thrive, despite the harsh conditions where she grew up.
It had been a long while since I had visited, but a few weeks ago, it was time to take the path less traveled and go sojourn at my tree.
It was a typical Missoula day, where the weather was trying to make up it’s mind and there was stark blue sky before the clouds would announce themselves boldly from the Bitterroot. The winter snow was starting to concede to the spring sun, and I forged ahead enjoying the therapeutic sound of squishing mud mixed with heavy breath protesting to get back into shape after a sedentary winter hiatus.
As I approached the fork in the trail leading to my tree friend, I sensed a bit of urgency as I scanned the area. The sky usually hidden behind her was staring at me almost in shame of being seen, as if to say, “I don’t know!”
My tree was gone.
As I quickened my step as if to avoid a disaster that had already been had, I felt a sense of confusion, then anger.
The tree had been cut down. I don’t know when, or why, but the branches lay scattered around the base of the trunk, littering the vast grassy area nearby, and leaving the mountain looking barren to my eye just by the absence of one tree.
Now I know that everyone doesn’t have an affinity to trees, but this missing tree really saddened me. Who cut it down? And why? It seemed like a senseless, random act of rudeness!
I will always feel a little sad going up that trail now, but I guess now I have a new stump to sit on, and my little tree of life will continue to give even after she is gone.
Luckily, Mount Jumbo remains the strong and sturdy friend who I can climb any time to renew my spirit and feel on top of the world.
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Enjoy this post by Jen Slayden? You might like some of her other musings on life in Missoula: Missoula Moms Test Senator Tester, Missoula is Like Relaxed Fit Jeans, and MissouLOVE: Things That Make Missoula Home.
Visit The Other Side of the Mountain archive.
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Jen Slayden is a Missoulian who makes her home on the outskirts of town with three outdoorsy kids, a fly-fishing guide husband, and an outdoors-loving black lab named Cody. She juggles her time teaching music, life coaching, playing music in her family bluegrass band, and taking in all the great recreational and cultural activities that Missoula has to offer. Then, she writes about it all on her own website: Find Your Harmony.
Pray Joyce Kilmers’ poem and you will be consoled. At any rate, it’s a good one to memorize.
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I feel your sadness, I have a similar experience for 5 years I have enjoyed viewing and photographing a mature willow tree. It stood beside a local city nature pond, the tree was a home to numerous birds gave shade to deer and shelter to ducks and geese. The children of the area played in its limbs. This last fall it was cut down and hauled away, by a over zealous city forester!
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Jen this is a really beautiful essay, and I remember the tree. I hope people will take this opportunity to learn about management efforts related to native habitat restoration and impacts of non-native plants in our conservation areas. We do get used to seeing certain trees, or plants, or situations, but those are not necessarily the trees, plants or situations that are best for wildlife. Two good books on the topic “Gardening with a wild heart” by Judith Larner Lowry and “Tinkering with Eden” by Missoula writer Kim Todd.
Also: Parks and Rec is planting many native trees and shrubs at Bancroft Pond this spring.
The tree on Mt Jumbo deserves a beautiful elegy, but its absence makes room for more prairie plants. Instead of planting a replacement non-native tree, that would be out of place ecologically, maybe I can provide you with a few prairie starts to put in its place? Let me know- I know you have my contact info!
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Thank you everybody, for chiming in! I apparently am not the only one for fondness of this particular tree. And Marilyn, I really appreciate your explanation about why the tree probably was cut down. Of COURSE I would love to plant a few new starts. I will be in touch.
I know that it is important to keep our wildlife and conservation areas healthy. Thank you for the book suggestions.
But I will always miss that tree. I guess it must be the same as me still thinking dandelions are as pretty as flowers….:)
Jen Slayden
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Well dandelions do have pretty flowers! It’s all just perspective. Thanks for your note Jen.
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MYSTERY SOLVED! Here is the response I received regarding the tree. So glad we all know now why it was chopped down. Thank you to Marilyn Marler and Morgan Valiant for all the help and info!
Jen and Marilyn,
Marilyn’s assessment was correct. The lone tree was a Siberian elm. In total we remove around 50 off Mt. Jumbo last fall…..and over 200 off the N. hills.
That said, I agree with Jen’s assessment as well. This was a cool little tree and offered a nice shade island at the base of Jumbo. I have enjoyed numerous lunches below this tree over the past 12 years of working on Mt. Jumbo. Cutting it down was analogous to killing a friend for me as well. It was removed only after we had determined that Siberian elms were in fact actively invading multiple natural areas across the Missoula valley.
Interestingly, enough of the 250+ Siberian elms we removed last season this one was the only one we received citizens inquires about…..this tree will be missed by others as well.
Morgan
Morgan T. Valliant
Conservation Lands Manager
Missoula Parks and Recreation
100 Hickory st. Missoula Mt. 59801
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