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

Crawdad Fishing

Several weeks back, when we still had summer staff here for camp, Gabe and I went crawdad fishing.  We had half of an afternoon off, so we went up river and collected crawdads that were hiding in the rocks.  The trick to crawdad fishing is to go where there are shallow rocky places in the creek or river, start down river and move rocks and 'feel' for the crawdads.  We caught over 80 crawdads in two hours from the spot we went fishing.  When we got back to camp, Gabe cooked them up and we shared them with the summer staffers on the lawn. 

Makalie and Taylor

Beth with her new friend, Mr. Crawdad

One excited CJ

Jemimah...not happy about eating crawdads

Sarah

That's all folks!

Julie with her new crawdad earrings

Blackfoot River: Canoe Scouting Trip

On Monday and Tuesday of this week I got an amazing opportunity to go on a canoe scouting trip on the upper portion of the Blackfoot River, which is just east of Missoula.  My friend Becky was scouting the river for possible future use by the Explore college program and needed a paddling partner.  I offered myself because I remembered paddling as a kid and I am interested in getting more involved in whitewater canoe ventures.  We paddled twenty-four miles in two days.  It was relaxing and quiet after a long summer of working with and alongside multitudes of people.  The section we did was from Cedar Grove to Russell Gates.  We spent Monday night camped at River Junction.  It was a fairly calm area with mostly ripple sections and several areas with quite a few strainers.  There was only one rapid section that followed the box canyon that we paddled through.  It was a good opportunity for me to practice paddling strokes and learn to steer.

The view from the back of the canoe

Our campsite at River Junction

A cozy night's stay

Our tent is on the far right

Slinging Mud

A few weeks ago on Operations we were asked to prepare a mud pit for the junior campers.  We spent a good part of a day turning up the soil and watering down a spot next to Lone Ram Ranch.  We even created a slide on the far end.  As a result of being up to my elbows in mud, I don't have any pictures of the pit being prepared.  But, that evening I went over with the campers, took pictures, and enjoyed the crazy sight of mud covering nearly everything and everyone.

Girls playing tug of war

Guys playing tug of war

Jesse enjoying the pit

Beth and Corinne comparing mud stains

I liked the contrast of this girl in front of all the muddy people

Erick flying into the mud pit...

and landing with a splash

Mike

Sarah