Twas the Night Before Christmas and All Through the Camp Not a Creature Was Stirring Not

M. R. Hyker’s Christmas Poem

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the camp not a creature was stirring not even an ant.

All the food bags were hung from the bear line with care, in hope that the merry man soon would be there.

The campers all snuggled alone in their beds while dreams of new trails to blaze ran through their heads.

I, in my down bag, and the others in fleece had just settled in for a long night of peace,

When up on the ridgeline there rose such a clatter, I fumbled to get out of my bag to see what was the matter!

I slid out from under it, slipped on my boots, unzipped the rain fly and held back a “hoot”.

The moon was aglow as it rose o’r the mountain, creating a silhouette of the smallest of things.

And what to my wondering eyes did appear but a bow-legged old man and his friends of good cheer.

With backpack and trekking poles so firmly they gripped I knew it must be the hikers on their final trip!

In a long straight line they came down a grinning, sliding and skidding. Doing their best not to cause a collision.

There was Sixteen and Hardcore, Mad Hatter and Doughboy, Fast Eddy, Chardonnay, Gadget Girl, Rodney and Slow Boy.

Then came Gear Gal and Gear Gary, Mary and Pat, HikingUpwards, Sam the Wonder Dog and Cognac Jack.

Waterbug and Shutterbug, Indiana and Hungry, Nina, Debbie, Marathon Man, Wesi and Defee.

The Kid took the point and Clark had their backs and the old guy in the middle just kept them on track.

Negotiating each switchback as best they could, they all made it down and before me they stood. Unaware of my presence they set out with their tasks, depositing presents in each of our packs.

There was wine and cheese, gorp and pizza, little baskets of chocolate and tiny mint pieces.

Fresh ground coffee, in tiny little sacks, jerky, oatmeal and our favorite snacks.

They hurried and bustled, completing their chores, knowing that after this waypoint there would be at least one more.

No sooner they got there it was now time to leave so they lined up behind their leader with glee.

They chuckled and chortled, giggled and laughed, recalling the great hiking from this season past.

One by one, they hiked down the trail, singing and laughing, telling big tales.

As their images got smaller, disappearing from sight I could here the leader shout “Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!”