Page 1 of Trusting the Grumpy Mountain Man
CHAPTER ONE
JAX
"Listen up!" My voice carries across the clearing, silencing the nervous chatter of the six teenagers gathered in front of me. "Today you're learning how to survive if you're lost in these mountains with nothing but your wits."
I scan their faces to find a mix of fear, defiance, and boredom, the standard cocktail for first-timers at Peak Survival. Five boys, one girl, all with records and attitudes bigger than their prospects.
"In the real world, making the wrong choice means you don't eat." I step forward, towering over even the tallest kid. "Or worse."
The girl, Mia, rolls her eyes. "This is bullshit. I could be getting high in Sacramento right now."
Her friend, a gangly kid named Tyler, snickers beside her.
I don't react. I've heard worse. These kids think they're tough because they've survived broken homes, juvie, or the streets. They haven't faced the mountain in November with night approaching and no shelter.
"You'll each build a survival shelter using only what nature provides and the knife I give you." I hold up one of the fixed-blade survival knives. "By sunset, you either have a place to sleep or you get real familiar with hypothermia."
"What if we refuse?" This from Darius, the self-appointed leader who's spent the whole morning testing boundaries.
I smile, but there's nothing friendly about it. "Then you sleep on bare ground while the temperature drops to forty degrees. Your choice."
Mia crosses her arms. "Pretty sure this violates like seventeen childcare regulations."
"I'm not childcare," I tell her. "I'm your last chance before juvie becomes prison."
That shuts her up. Judge Martinez doesn't send me kids who have other options. The teens standing before me are one step away from ruining their lives for good. My program isn't certified, approved, or regulated. It works because it has to.
I divide them into pairs and lead them deeper into the pine forest surrounding my property. Whisper Vale sits nestled in the mountains of Nevada, far enough from civilization that the kids can't simply walk away when things get tough. The nearest town is twelve miles of rough terrain away.
"Mr. Reeves." Tyler raises his hand, already shivering despite the mild afternoon. "What happens if it rains?"
"Then you'd better build your shelter right." I point to the darkening clouds gathering on the horizon. "Weather report says we might get some tonight."
Panic flickers across a few faces.Good.Fear is the first step toward respect for both the wilderness and for what I'm trying to teach them.
For the next hour, I demonstrate basic lean-to construction, showing them how to brace branches against a fallen log and layer pine boughs for waterproofing. I don't help beyondinstruction. They need to learn by doing, by failing, by fixing their mistakes before they suffer the consequences.
Darius and his partner, Kevin. create something that resembles a pile of sticks more than shelter. Mia and Tyler actually listen, their structure taking shape with surprising competence. The remaining pair, brothers Caleb and Jesse, work silently and efficiently. They've been homeless before. It shows.
"How'd a guy like you end up babysitting juvenile delinquents anyway?" Darius asks while struggling to secure a ridge pole.
I don't answer personal questions. These kids need to see me as an authority, not a friend. But sometimes a strategic piece of information builds the right kind of respect.
"Fought wildfires for fifteen years." I adjust the angle of his support stick. "Saw enough destruction to know there are better ways to burn."
His eyes widen slightly. Even tough kids are impressed by firefighters.
"You ran into burning buildings and shit?"
"Wildland firefighter. Different skill set, same danger." I step back from his shelter. "That branch won't hold if it rains. Find a stronger one."
By late afternoon, I'm almost impressed. Four of the kids have workable shelters. Darius and Kevin are still struggling, their third attempt threatening to collapse as they argue over technique.
"Times up," I announce. "Get your gear inside and prepare for night inspection."
"This is impossible!" Kevin kicks at their failed structure. "You're setting us up to fail, man!"
"You're the one who refused help three times." I check my watch. "Now you've got fifteen minutes to figure it out or sleep in the rain."
