“This isn’t much of a peak,” is what I thought as I surveyed the area around Government peak. According to the sign we were at 1850 feet, but unfortunately trees blocked all views. It was 9/11 and we had just finished our first 5 miles of our 20 mile backpacking trip in the Porcupine Mountains.
The peak was our set camp spot for the night so after grabbing a picture by the sign we began to set up camp. While pulling items out of my bag I noticed something next to the Government peak sign. It looked like a scroll. As I got closer, it in fact was a scroll, with a tiny piece of string holding it together.
I thought it was maybe a clue to some treasure hunt or state park search, but when I picked it up, something hard slipped right out of it. My first thought was “a fire starter?!!” That would have been too convenient because we left our secondary flint fire starter on the kitchen counter. It was not a fire starter. I flipped it over. It was a police challenge coin.
I opened up the scroll to find a heart felt note of lyrics from Chris Stapleton’s Broken Halos. The letter was to a man I assumed had passed, Thomas Kline, from an Elizabeth.
So many questions ran through my mind. How did he die? Was there significance to this place?
Oddly enough we had cell service on Government peak, something we hadn’t had our entire trip.
According to Google Officer Thomas Kline took his own life on September 1, 2020. His funeral then took place on September 14, 2020.
My answer from Google left me feeling sad and I had so many more questions. Who was Elizabeth? Had they hiked here? Was this a favorite spot of his? Why did he kill himself? Once I got home I dug a bit more into this story and found that Officer Kline actually had contacted a news station right before he took his life. It’s a heartbreaking story, but also a story that I think is heard too often.
The “real world,” has been anything but forgiving the past few years with everything going on, but its horribly sad to realize someone thought their life didn’t belong here anymore.
I think of nature as a place to find peace, calm and “good.” I have yet to meet a crabby hiker. I wonder if Officer Kline ever used nature as an escape. But it goes to show that even out hiking and backpacking, there are still heavy struggles going on for some people.
I hope anyone reading this takes their mental heath seriously and gets help if needed. (National Suicide Hotline: 800-273-8255) I also want to share this message for anyone who might need it. No matter who you are, what you look like, or what you do for work, your life matters. Maybe nature is a great escape for you, but don’t let it be your only life line. Please take care of yourself and get help.
We have a backpacking tradition in we take a shooter before bed (usually it’s Rum Chata). That night our toast was to Officer Kline and all those lost to suicide. May they rest in peace.
TheReyOutdoors - Exercise cures the body. Nature cures the soul. 