I packed up the mule with a pretty heavy load
Got it all tied down and securely stowed
It was all needed for my big ride
I was headed to the high country across the Great Divide

I took out of Everret, Colorado toward Twin Lakes without fail
Was looking for Independence Pass up to the Black Cloud Trail
Wanted to be on the mountain just so I could look down again
I was tired of the flat land and the people and hassles and sin

Buttermilk’s a big draft horse with plenty of heart
I knew she’d get me there right from the start
I started feeling better soon as I lost sight of a town
And if things went right, I might never come down
Build a cabin so I could stay closer to GOD, Almighty
Forget about my worries and the bickering and fighting

The first few thousand feet wasn’t much of an ascent
Just told the Lord where I was going, didn’t ask for His consent
I was headed up higher where we could get real close
And my heavenly father could get to know me the most

Wound through the foothills covered with forest
Bathed in dappled sunlight with Mount Massive before us
Undid the packs to get out my fishing gear
Caught some trout for dinner, I sure would like it here

Slept like a baby that night all tuckered from the day
In the womb of GOD’s creation was where I lay
Up at dawn and back up the side of that Savatch Range
I had the world and fourteen thousand foot Mount Elbert to gain

Emerged high up above the timberline
Where there weren’t no people and seemed like no time
Just me and GOD and he was smiling on me
I was singing the psalms and feeling good you see

La Plata to the south and Massive to the north
The weather turned bad and then it turned worse
Couldn’t see too well as I headed for the peaks
Buttermilk, the mule, great GOD and me


The mule began to struggle
and in his braying he’d plead
His burden was so heavy,
couldn’t we just slow down the speed
Found a little shelter
and lightened his load
Just jettisoned some of the gear
that I had stowed

Up about ten thousand feet night settled in on us fast
Still another four thousand feet to get up to the pass
Told myself that faith and determination would get us through
A man is a man and there were things he just had to do

Rain, then snow fell throughout the night
Sleep wouldn’t come and to get comfortable was a fight
Had to ask the good Lord why he brought me up here
Now the reasons for coming sure weren’t very clear

With sun up came the view of the peak just glistening
And I stood with hands held high praisin’ and listenin’
Just tell me what you want me to do
Tell me great GOD and I’ll do it for You

Well, seems like it was noon and no longer could I stand
So I made some coffee and started to revise the plan
Sorted through my gear, why did I bring so much junk
All I needed was enough to fill a pack not a big steamer trunk

Started back out just a little resentful
Why had GOD treated me this way
But then I got real repentful
When it seems like I heard Him say,
"Why not try doing it My way?"

The rest of the climb got to be real steep
And as it got harder  at times I  couldn’t keep
From falling and even crawling if I had too
If that’s what the Lord wanted me to do
Just short of the peak I felt my strength had all gone
Let the mule and Buttermilk pull me along
Just stumbling and gripping the reigns
We mounted the summit of that mountain range


There on the top with the air so thin
Thinking maybe I’d never get down again
But my heart flew free like the eagle above
Gliding on the winds of GOD’s precious love

Recalled what Paul said about His grace being sufficient for me
And the passage about being free, yes free indeed
Understood that in His will is the best way to begin
And it’s better not to plan if you plan without Him

Ron Secoy