Last Tuesday, while ascending the M Trail, I was treated to a high-fidelity rendition of a popular synth-pop anthem emanating from the backpack of a hiker thirty yards ahead. I am sure the gentleman, who was wearing very expensive-looking trail runners, simply wanted to share his musical journey with the rest of the Gallatin Valley.

However, I believe the mountain silence is a shared public utility. Much like the water in Hyalite or the parking spaces at the Co-op, it belongs to everyone and should be preserved in its natural state. When we introduce heavy bass lines to an incline, we aren’t just hiking; we are engaging in a form of auditory landscaping that none of us requested.

“I just like to keep the energy up when the switchbacks get steep,” remarked a hiker named Brent, who was adjusting his hydration pack as I passed him. I offered a polite, strained smile. I understand that the climb is difficult, but if one requires a personal soundtrack to endure a two-mile walk, perhaps the treadmill at the gym would be a more rhythmic environment for such an endeavor.

Nature is the one place in Bozeman where we aren’t constantly bombarded by the need to curate our personal experience. We moved here for the rugged landscape, yet we seem terrified of the quiet reflection that comes with it. If we cannot manage to hike without a speaker, how will we ever manage to sit with our own thoughts?

Next time you head up to the M, I kindly ask that you leave the playlist at home. The wind through the pines has been providing the soundtrack for this valley for quite some time, and frankly, I think it has better taste.

Tammy Switchback moved to Bozeman in 2019, which she considers early enough to have opinions. She hikes recreationally and judges others for how they do it.