Page 59 - Flathead Living Fall 2014

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Into the WIlderness
A photographer’s fresh perspective following her nine-day trip
On the first day Of her first
solo backcountry excursion, a nine-day hiking trip through the Bob Marshall Wilderness, Mandy Mohler encountered a large fallen tree blocking the trail. It was too tall for her packhorse, Ben, to step over, even after she removed its branches. She ducked off-trail to survey her options, which didn’t immediately look much better: eight-foot-tall root wads and seem- ingly impenetrable foliage. The trip wasn’t off to a good start.
But Mohler, a 29-year-old photographer from Kalispell, had prepared too long for this journey to turn around on her first day. So she squared her shoulders, took out a hatchet, and braced for jungle warfare. For the next hour-and-half, she fought the Bob’s abundance and bush-wacked around the clogged section of trail, leading reluctant Ben to surer ground.
“That was my first day and I was just defeated,” Mohler said.
If she was defeated, she quickly bounced back, hitting the trail the following morning with renewed enthusiasm and a fresh perspective. But then, as she was descending a steep switchback pass on that second day, carefully considering each foot step as well as Ben’s steps behind her, she got a funny feeling.
“I looked at Ben and he was making a weird face,” she said.
Suddenly, the 150-pound saddle and pack hurled over Ben’s head, tangling around him on the
Merrill Lynch financial advisors are committed to the individuals and
businesses in Flathead Valley.
Our new location gives us the opportunity to provide continuous service to the community. Our office will open Monday, August 25, 2014, at 142 Baker Avenue, Whitefish, MT 59937. We can help you build upon your success, prepare for the future and create a strategy that’s uniquely yours.
Daniel Short
Assistant Vice President Associate Resident Director Senior Financial Advisor
V. James Carbo
Vice President
Senior Financial Advisor
C. Richard Hughes
Senior Financial Advisor
Mark Johnson
Assistant Vice President Senior Financial Advisor
John Zaiss
First Vice President – Wealth Management Financial Advisor
Stephen Zaiss
Financial Advisor
Marolyn McLeod
Registered Senior Client Associate
Sue Meskimen
Registered Client Associate
Merrill Lynch
142 Baker Avenue Whitefish, MT 59937 406.863.1510
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FALL 2014 | FLATHEAD LIVING 57