Bear Hunting

This spring Gabe went out hunting for bear.  To be honest, many of us joined him on his hikes through the woods around the valley in a search of a bear.  One afternoon, I was informed that Gabe got his bear while I was working here at camp.  So I quickly found a ride to where he was help him clean the bear. 

Bison Roundup

Okay...so you need to read this post with bluegrass music playing in the background (I promise, it adds a good touch).

Last week a small group of us from camp attended a very Montana-ish event.  We went to a bison roundup at the National Bison Range that is just northeast of here.  We got the start time wrong and arrived almost two hours early, which meant we were able to watch the sunrise over the Mission mountains.  It was a chilly and cold morning, but I am glad we arrived early to get a good viewing spot of the bison for soon after arriving multiple school buses of children arrived and the place became chaotic. 

Three years ago, they decided to no longer round up the bison with cowboys on horses, but instead to use jeeps to bring them in slower.  When a small group of bison are brought into the gates they channel them until they have one buffalo.  The buffalo is then ushered into a scale, where it is weighed and its chip checked for age.  Then the buffalo is tagged and sent to get its medical check.  From there, they are either set back out to the range or put a pen to be sold. 

The sun coming over the Missions

These mountains are amazingly beautiful!

Early morning smiles...

Watching elk on the range

Everyone drinking coffee before the roundup

Gabe's beard

Look at this cowboy's mustache...this is one thing I enjoy about Montana!

Watching the buffalo

Here they come running around the corner

If you look closely, this tag tells that this is a 3 year old male

weighing 1245 pds...who is third buffalo through the gates

 

 

 

This guy wants out...

and there he goes.

Rounding up the buffalo with jeeps

The penned buffalo waiting to be rounded up.

A Visit to the land of Glaciers :One

Following a very busy summer, we were given a week's reprieve from our work.  During that week Gabe and I headed out with two other friends to Glacier National Park for a few days.  On the first day, we made several stops at fly shops, so that Josh and Gabe would be prepared for fishing.  Then we stopped at the Ranger Station to pick up back country permits.  From there, we took the shuttle up Going-to-the-Sun Road.  I was in utter amazement...there were sharp peaks...and huge expanses.  We got off at Logan's Pass and hiked to the overlook of Lost Lake.  The short hike is on a boardwalk through alpine meadows full of small blooming flower.  Snow and ice water dotted the path as we hiked, and hoary marmots scurried around and sunbathed.

From Logan's Pass, we headed back down to the truck with the canoe trailer on it.  Oh, by the way, did I mention this was going to be a back country canoe trip?  We took the looooonnngg drive up to Kintla lake...most of the drive being on dirt roads in bad need of grading.  At sunset we reached the front country campground.  When we arrived, the sun was casting pink and purple tones on the hills and the fish were jumping.  Before setting anything up (or even talking with the campground host), we unloaded the canoes and paddled out onto the lake.

Gabe at Avalanche Creek

Avalanche Creek

Huge beetle on the boardwalk

Riding on the shuttle, you can see the road we drove up cutting down the hill of the right

Logan's Pass

Small marmot trying to steal food

Gabe and I at the overlook of Lost Lake

Josh and Gabe talking

The sunset over Kintla Lake front country campground

Lumberjacks (and Janes) for a Day

Early in August, the operations crew headed into the mountains to log trees for firewood here at camp.  We spent the majority of the day collecting and cutting wood.  At the end of the day we brought home about two cords of wood.

Gabe sharpening the chainsaw

James explaining the operation to to the crew

Gabe and James determining which trees to take

CJ and Kaylin

James cutting wood

Sarah and Kaylin

Point then Shoot

Here at camp, we are split into family groups during the summer.  With so many staff, this allows the opportunity to have a specific group of people to connect with throughout the summer.  Once a week, we get together and have "family time" together with this crew.  One afternoon our family group decided they wanted to go out driving mountain roads and shoot some guns for "family time".  Gabe and I loaded up the truck with guns, ammo, and our family and headed up the mountains around here.  Near the top we stopped, set up a range with cans and plastic bottles, then Gabe reviewed the finer points of gun safety with everyone.  A few of the people had never shot guns, so Gabe spent extra time with them working to make it an enjoyable experience.  It was a fun afternoon and a beautiful drive in the mountains!

The girls with guns

Gabe and Faith shooting

Gabe explaining how to load the shotgun to Mindy

Reese laughing

The shotgun casing exiting as Mindy shoots

Taking aim

Percila

Cleaning up the cans and bottles