I met my spirit animal in the alps.
For as long as I can remember I have loved wildlife dearly. Growing up along the southwest Gulf Coast of Florida, I was fortunate to have endless wildlife encounters throughout my childhood. From common sightings to extremely rare once in a lifetime moments - each one always felt as special and spectacular as the last. I carried on this love for wildlife to my life in Montana where spotting moose, elk, and golden eagles became a regular occurrence. As the list grew longer of species I have spotted, I began to wonder to myself - what is my spirit animal? When prompting this question to friends they generally had an answer right away. But when asked, I found myself hemming and hawing for several moments before mustering up an answer that just didn’t really feel right. Sure, there were plenty of animals that I really loved - the majestic white fuzzy mountain goat perched atop granite cliffs, or the gentle manatee sunning its back in the mangrove lagoon, the tarpon, the wolverine, the ancient sandhill crane, or the stoic great blue heron. But when it came to choosing a spirit animal, I believed I just hadn't met mine yet.
It was the first week of June in 2024 and we had just arrived into the Chamonix Valley. The deep cut valley sat below a thick cloud layer blocking out the mountains from view as a seemingly never-ending drizzle turned the glacial-fed rivers from turquoise blue to a deep silty gray. The next morning we planned to ascend the Aiguille du Midi, the forecast hinted at a weather window and we were hoping for mind-blowing mountain views and a break from the dreary late spring weather. That morning we awoke to birds singing and clear skies - this was indeed our window. As the cable car rolled steeply upward, paraglider’s danced across the blue sky around us. The Alps are so undeniably magnificent. Upon reaching the top, we exited through the tram station and into the cold and crisp high alpine air. As I inhaled deeply, attempting to gain my bearings on the elevation I was now perched at, I immediately noticed these interesting little black crows.
The alpine cough with its bright yellow beak and red feet landed on the guardrail and titled its head up at me with trusting eyes. How cute are you I thought. And not but a moment later the little bird lifted its wings and effortlessly found itself soaring acrobatically through the mountain thermals with ease. It became apparent in that very moment that this bird had some real personality. Playful and spunky its outward demeanor, very curious, but surprisingly intelligent - the black crow of the Alps are known as the eyes of the valley. Living almost exclusively at the highest elevations, it is no wonder the iconic ski manufacturer ‘Black Crows’ found their inspiration in this peculiar and unassuming little bird. Upon a quick Google search you’d find this bird signifies many things. In Chamonix, it is believed that they represent the spirits of the mountaineers, skiers and alpinists that have passed away. A fact I do not doubt - knowing the extensive history of adventurous lives lost to these prolific mountains. In English the name of the alpine chough translates to soothsayer: fortune teller. Black crows have historically played significant roles in symbolism and spiritualization since seemingly the beginning of time.
Throughout the next several days spent exploring the alpine environment of the Alps, the personality of the little black crows continued to surprise me as I grew more and more infatuated with them. Their bravery was admirable as they navigated daily life in a wildly rugged environment with extreme confidence and nonchalance. By the conclusion of my trip to Chamonix I found that the birds had even influenced my own confidence. Despite their smaller size they were never deterred by the hostile environment, turning their head and wings into the wind with no hesitation. They set the ultimate example of believing in yourself. And now I too wanted to live life like the black crows of the Alps. Free, fearless, and full of spirit.
