One last look around the gear room. One last sip of coffee. A few final reminders. Then, just like that, they’re off. It’s quiet. I can get back to work, and occasionally a dog will bumble in for a quick scratch behind the ears.

As all of our guides head into the mountains, it’s always wild to see them go—knowing that I don’t even know what the day holds in store-then even better to see them return. The fun, the pictures, the stories, the rehash of the day’s questions.

“I’m pretty sure this is elk scat, but it could also be moose. What do you think?”

“I don’t know,” I reply. “Ask Joe and text the client back to make sure they’re properly informed.”

What I do know is that the other picture is definitely bear scat. “Did you remember to bring back the bear spray and charge the SPOT transceiver?”

Then there’s the debate over whether a plant is, in fact, gentian and not mullen, as Josh suggested. “Of course it’s gentian, Christiana. You’re nearly always right about that sort of thing.”

“Yeah, but I wasn’t sure this time. Thank goodness for Courtney. She and I, we are like, sisters from another mother. Anyway, she settled the debate by identifying the plant on her phone…”