Sooo... Some Days are Like This

I know I've been painting a picture of perfect days, relaxing hours on horseback & lounging around a campfire, but not all days are like that in Montana.....

Recently, Jeff & I needed to ride into a camp and pack out the wall tent & other miscellaneous gear as we were done using that camp for the summer.  The boss said that Tuesday appeared to be the best for weather conditions & so we headed out that morning.  After running in horses, saddling & making lunches, we loaded up & drove out at 7:30 a.m.  Upon reaching the Beaver Creek Trail Head, it was the work of only a few minutes to unload & head down the trail.  By 9:15 we were on our way.

The morning was very pretty, if a little cool and we enjoyed visiting as we rode along

 The dogs came along & Sage was busy up & down the trail sniffing out the myriad of scents, while Josie scouted trail & kept us in line.

 By 11a.m., we were getting up close to the  timber line where the view was getting really fantastic.  We passed several groups of hikers on their way up, as well as a couple on horseback on their way out to grab another load.

 About noon, we reached the top of the basin, where we would cross over into the alpine lakes area where our camp was located.

Upon cresting, we got a view of the basin in which our camp sits.











From here on out, I know you'll think I'm making things up as I don't have pictures to support me, but my camera died right after the above picture was taken.... AND... I was too miserable to have fished it out of my saddle bags anyway!

We made it to the camp location about 45 minutes later.  Almost the minute we arrived, it started blowing & a light rain began.  We decided to wait on eating lunch & try to get the wall tent down before it got too wet, so quickly ran around pulling pegs & stakes.  In the 5 minutes that took, the hail started... BIG hail and lots of it, so we ducked into the tent to wait it out....

.... and waited.....
"It'll pass..."
... and waitied....
"How long can it last? This is August!"
... and waited....
after the 1st hour, during which we ate our lunch, we decided we might as well drag all the stuff back inside the tent (now that it was drenched) and make up loads in there.  So, we dismantled tables & the wood stove, etc., and made up those pack loads - in the 4" of water that were now standing inside the tent.  Then we looked out again to see if it was clearing...
"I think it's getting brighter"
"No, now it's snowing...."
"It's gotta quit pretty soon.. don't you think?"
"Oh, now it's ginormous hail again"
After which another 45 minutes passed & we decided we might have to leave the tent.  But, we figured we'd try to get the 1st two loads on the mules & then see what it was like.  So, we braved the weather to get stuff loaded. 
It's now been 3 hours since we pulled in, & is well past the time we wanted to be leaving.  But, just as we get the 2nd mule loaded, the weather finally slows down a little and we decide to go for it & see if we can get the tent down & loaded.  By this time, we're soaked & freezing & the tent is as well.  So, it probably weighed an extra 50 to 75 pounds.  We knocked some of the ice/hail off of it & then started taking the internal frame apart, but lifting the sides from inside & pulling off the legs.  Then, we went outside to pull the tent off... Ugh.  We got it off, along with it's coating of white, muscled it around to try & get the worst of the weight off & finally got it rolled up - very dirty and wet though since we had to work in the mud & slop.  Next, it was time to finish pulling the frame apart, which had bent & even broke in places from the weight.  Eventually, we were ready to load the 3rd mule.  We crammed the frame into pannier bags & loaded them which should have been easy, but Sage jumping up over the edge of the hill, under the mule's nose didn't help & the mule spooked, knocking me into the rocks, but no real damage.  Then, it was time to try & get the tent up & on top.  It probably only weighed 200 to 250 pounds, and gee... Jeff had me to help, so no problem, right?  HA... poor guy.  He pretty much had to muscle it up on top of that mules all himself.  He said it better stay because he wasn't going to be able to lift it up there 2x.  And we did it!!  Got everything loaded, our horses ready & off down the trail, praying for dry weather.

We made it to the top of the crest (about 45 minutes) with no moisture, but from there on out, it got wetter.  Starting with a mist & then a mild rain until it was raining pretty hard by the time we were about an hour from the trail head.  But, we were VERY happy to finally make it to the truck at 8:30 p.m.

What lessons can be learned here?
1. I've noticed this phenomenon in the past, and I think we have now proven that the length of trail is directly proportionate to the temperature, moisture and darkness content of the day.  The colder, wetter and darker it is, the more the trail expands, and so a trail that was 8 miles in the good weather, is now 12 miles in the bad (I was starting to think they'd moved the trail head!)

2. It does no good to complain unless you or someone else can do something about it.  Don't complain that you're wet & cold when you already have everything you own on, and are riding down the trail... because really, what can anyone do?

3.  Ok, there is ONE thing that you can do.. walk.  Riding in the wet & cold can be miserable.  Sitting up there, getting stiff & sore & colder, the last thing you want to do is move at all.  But, getting off & walking will loosen stiff muscles and generate some heat. 

4.  Then get back on... walking down the trail in wet boots might generate heat, but slogging through the mud & puddles in those wet boots also generates very sore feet...

5.  Watch for opportunities to find the pleasure in the situation:  "Boy, I'm glad I'm not staying in one of those little dome tents tonight!"
   "Doesn't it smell awesome out here?" (Btw.. those pine scented candles are just nasty compared to actual wet pine smell in or after a rain storm... )
   "Ha!  Did you see that squirrel posing on that stump? "
   "Poor Sage... she thinks this is some sort of sick joke.. take her to camp & then have it be wet & cold & no fire, & then make her go all the way back out!"
   "The mist is sure beautiful rising off the wet vegetation"

6.  Even though you've learned the lesson a dozen times, remember again to ALWAYS TAKE WARM CLOTHES... some days I just feel stupid.  My short sleeve shirt & vest were NOT sufficient for this August day.  Jeff gave me his slicker & made do with his wool coat.  How wonderful is he?
  
So, while most of our summer days are pretty awesome... some are like that.

Our 20th Anniversary Week

Well, quite a week ... Jeff & I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary this week, but not necessarily together.  It was very busy and we covered a lot of ground.  I'll try to give an overview along with some short anecdotes from the week.

Sunday, Jeff returned from two back-to-back overnighters for Moonlight Basin.  The 2nd night was 12 people so a big trip!  Monday, he headed right back out on a two-night Cedar Camp for Yellowstone Club... and it ended up being, in his opinion, one of the worst group of guests he's ever had.  I'll follow up later with THAT story.

In the meantime, I was cooking & wrapping & preparing food for 3 pack trips.  I packed two sets of food boxes on Tuesday afternoon for the trips leaving on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, Jeff came out of his two-nighter and we (He, Bendigo and I) spent the day shuffling horses & vehicles where they needed to go, then getting home relatively late (7:30pm) and working on getting our gear / food together for the overnight pack trip we left on the next day (Thursday).

Thursday, we got up early and got going.  We had to catch & saddle 13 horses & mules, pack & load all the gear & food, go get diesel in the two rigs & meet the guests in town by 8:15... we were late.  So, got to the trailhead at around 10a.m., & hurried up & got stuff loaded & down the trail.  Very nice family (grandad "Bob", but his name was Don.. go figure; Dad Mark, Mom Courtney, and two boys Brooks & Bennett).

We rode about 4 hours into camp, set up & had dinner.

What?  What firepit?  This is a firepit?

Looks like a nice cool dirt doggy bed to me

Went to bed, got up & had breakfast, packed up camp & rode 4 hours out... Ugh.

It was interesting that there were some MASSIVE grizzly bear tracks on the trail through camp, up to where the horses range at night.  It walked up to the log where the saddles where all stacked & wandered along & pushed each saddle off the log to the left, but otherwise didn't bother anything.  Silly bear.












Lot of work for an overnight, but still enjoyed it and the guests.

Sage went with us also on the trip... we have not really been letting her do trips as she gets so tired, but with no one around to watch her & it being only a one-nighter, we decided to let her go.  She was her normal super-dog self on the way in, sniffing her way up & down the mountain.  But, by dinner was just looking for food & bed.  After eating a massive amount of dinner, she crawled into my lap & fell asleep.  We took her to the tent when we walked over & she crawled into her sleeping bag in Ben's tent.  The next day she was up in good time, but definitely slower... she pretty much just went straight down the trail out to the truck, where she made a beeline underneath it and fell over.  We lifted her into the truck when we left, and when we got home, she went straight in the cabin to her bed & crashed.  She slept through until almost noon today and is finally up & moving - slowly.  Poor thing just doesn't recover like she used to... I sure can relate to that!!

Jeff finally got to sleep in today, so he got up at 5:30 a.m.... weirdo.  Habits, you know.  Once we had coffee & got moving, we worked on putting away gear & food & cleaning up from the two pack trips that have come back (ours & another one), ranch chores, doctoring the injured horse etc.  Now, headed to Bozeman to meet the boss when he gets out of the Park with a THIRD trip so we can help drive one of the trucks & trailers back here as his two helpers both live there.

So, no big celebrations this week, I'm afraid.  The memorable words from Jeff came as follows...

On Friday, as we were riding out of camp with the guests, we stopped at Manly Camp to have lunch.  As we were finishing up our lunch and the guests were off to see a wolf-killed, grizzly-eaten elk carcass (Yes, yes we do provide high entertainment on our trips), Jeff said to me "I'm kind of liking this look you have going these days."
I responded ... "Um... what look?"
"This look" he said as he waved his hand up & down in my direction. "The whole thing... chinks, jeans, boots, even your crushed hat".
I looked down & pondered my stupid, cheap, too large chinks, my baggy jeans (I've lost some weight), my dirty vest & my poor beat up Palm Leaf hat that Sonny (a very young, stupid, & irritating pack horse) ate on my last overnight trip and that Sage then sat on in the truck on the way to the trailhead.
"Really?  This outfit? Why?" I asked as I was very confused.
"I like it.  It's..... it's endearing." he responded.
Great I thought to myself... "Endearing" is what you call your maiden Aunt who wears purple polka dots and neon green stripes, or that old ancient mule that is uglier than sin but sweet, or the big stupid dog that can't learn anything but is just a buddy.  Great... I'm endearing... NOT the compliment I was expecting - but I guess it'll do.

Big Sky Country = Big Sunsets

 

Thank-you for bearing with me on my last post. :)  Now, let's look at something we can ALL gush over!  How fortunate are we to be living in "The Last Best Place", the "Big Sky Country"... in "Montana - High, Wide & Handsome"!?  I LOVE our sunsets, and we've gotten some great ones this summer.  So, rather than a bunch of rambling this time, I'm just going to post these photos and let you revel in the beauty... drink up!  We are so blessed!!

 

(Ok, one more comment... I love this one because it reminds me of all the 50's westerns & "riding off into the sunset)

 

 

And, last but not least... a rainy, stormy sunset across the valley