XC Skiing Bear Creek (Jan 31, 2010)

The next weekend we went out to Ennis Lake to visit our neighbors Cindy and Terry who have a lake house out there. The plan was to play some quality Yahtzee on Sat night and then go for a cross-country skiventure on Sunday.

Before we left, we did a test to see if maybe there was a way that Poochie could go on a lengthy ski trip and we could carry him when he got cold:

But it was not to be - his short coat and lack of body fat make it tough for him (and us) if he is out in the snow for more than an hour, and this was going to be an all-day trip.

Terry came up with an excellent plan, courtesy of the neighbor, to try skiing up Bear Creek up towards the base of The Sphinx. This was very cool because I had not yet been into the Taylor-Hilgard unit of the Lee Metcalf Wilderness so new scenery was guaranteed. We got a couple inches of new snow overnight so the ski counditions were great, and the trail was just enough of a challenge.

Here I am entering the wilderness on the foot (ski) bridge. Don't fall!:

The trail crossed the crick several times, which meant there was alot of taking the skis off and then putting them back on:

This made for some equipment problems with ice getting into the bindings and then the binding wouldn't close (ie, ski won't stay on). Fortunately I had a pocket knife with me and could pick the ice out each time it happened.

The trail itself was very scenic and followed the crick up a small canyon:

And then through some forest:

Ultimately we came across a great place for lunch, in a big meadow at what would be almost the base of the Sphinx. Unfortunately, it's lost in the clouds:

After that we went a little farther, and then turned back for a great downhill the several miles all the way back to the trailhead. A few spills were had, but nothing serious! A great time was had by all.

XC Skiing Bacon Rind Creek (Jan 23,2010)

Better late than never, here is an account of our excellent cross-country skiing adventure along Bacon Rind Creek in Yellowstone Natl Park.

Chris finally got a Saturday off so he, my beautiful wife, and I decided to head down to XC ski Bacon Rind Creek in YNP, something we had been meaning to do for a long time. After the almost hour long drive, Chris is ready to get going:

With fresh snowfall the night before, the trail immediately was greeted with some beautiful scenery. The forest was full of whiteness:

That fresh snow and scenery came with a price, however. The most extensive avalanche cycle in years was plaguing the southern Madison Range due to the cold temps from late October and early December producing weak layers of sugary facets near the base of the snowpack. As we skiied we heard lots of whumphing and collapsing sounds. We kept to the flat terrain in the middle of the valley where things were safe. Being prepared for the conditions with the new shovel my bro got me for Christmas also meant I was prepared to shovel out a nice seating area for lunch, a cold beer, and some hot chocolate. Mmmm what a combo!:

Our lonely tracks show just how quiet and full of solitude it was out there:

Finally we headed back to towards the car, passing through more beautiful forest:

It was a great time and most importantly, we stayed safe. Mad props go to the folks from the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center whose daily updates on the condition of the snowpack keep everyone aware of what's going on. This beer's for you!

Snow Pooching

Another day, another excellent poochventure. Today I took Poochie on a short hike up Cottonwood in the snow. The temps were warm (30F) but there was still lots of snow clinging to the trees from Tuesday's dump. Poochie sniffs for critter:

After a short hike, Poochie makes his way down to the gate that marks the first creek crossing coming up:

Almost to the creek, Poochie senses critter:

But they were just some other dogs. Here is Cottonwood Creek at the first bridge crossing:

It was a good time. Cottonwood Road is always a great way to get anywhere, and on the way back I got a nice pic that shows where we live. The heavy clouds above the Bridgers mean maybe tomorrow would be a good day to go snowboarding:


And I think I will.

New Year's Skiing With Otie and Ted

Yay, we finally got a new camera! A Nikon P90 CoolPix with a 25x optical zoom. It will be great for taking pics of critters in the Park, once we figure out how to use all the cool features. On New Year's Eve we decided it would be a great time to get out there and test it out. Poochie's brother Otis was staying with us for the holidays since his owner went off to California to visit her family. So, we decided to take them both up to Hyalite for some cross country skiing!

Here are Marilyn and Poochie on the Lakeshore Trail:

After a while the skinny and hilly trail started to get a little over our cross-country skiing ability, so we struck off across the frozen lake. Here I am skiing with Poochie and Otie:

The dogs had a great time running around on the lake. Otie found an old ice fishing hole by which someone had left one of their catch. He and Poochie proceeded to feast on fresh frozen rainbow trout:

After a while the dogs were getting cold so we returned to the car and had some tasty hot chocolate and then drove back to the house.

The next day, New Years Day 2010, we decided to go for another cross-country ski without the dogs. We went up Spanish Creek into the wilderness, up behind media mogul and VietCong sympathizer Ted Turner's ranch. Along the road to the trailhead there is an old homestead type building, with some of the Spanish Peaks in the background:

Pretty much all of the land in the foreground belongs to Ted and is part of his vast 10K+ acre buffalo ranch. You must stay on the road! Fortunately at the trailhead, the road is no longer plowed and becomes a fine cross-country ski route all the way up to the Spanish Creek Forest Service cabin at the summer trailhead, about 4 miles.

Eff you, Ted, and the commies you rode in with!:

Just kidding. Actually the road is quite a delightful ski route and there's really nothing to be missed by staying on it. Except maybe getting shot. At least El Ted is kind enough to leave the road open to the public to access the National Forest beyond. Maybe that's the commie in him.

We went almost halfway to the Nat'l Forest boundary, almost 2 miles, and then stopped and had some snacks and hot chocolate and practiced taking more pics with the camera. Here is my beautful wife in the Montana winter:

After the snacks we headed back to the car, which was a gentle downhill most of the way so it took half the time it did to get out there. Back near the car there were some drifts along the side of the road allowing for some extreme cross-country skiing!

Extreme for me anyway. I managed to not bust my arse.

At last our excellent day had to come to an end:

But it was a good time and a great start to another great year in Montana, the Last Best Place!

Summer in Montana

Long time, no post, but our camera died on the first of the trips below and we have just been taking other trips. I finally got around to getting some of the backpacking pics from Chris, and its now early October and the yard is under a foot of snow, so seems like the time to recount the adventures of summer. Enjoy!

Canoe Trip to Shoshone Lake Backcountry, Yellowstone NP
July 25 - 30, 2009

In late July Marilyn and I took a great 5-day canoeing and camping trip with some friends in Yellowstone NP to the backcountry of Shoshone Lake. We were joined by Nick and Jen, and Chris. It was a great time except for, as our Kiwi mate Nick would say, the mozzies (mosquitoes). They were thick!

Here I am in the back of the canoe as we set out from one of our campsites to go across the lake to the Shoshone Geyseer Basin. The basin is out in the middle of nowhere, miles from any road and with no boardwalks and guardrails. No pics either, since the camera wasn't working at that moment. In the background you can see our campsite, which we called Camp Mozzie Point. If you enlarge the pic you can see our food bags hanging from the bear pole:

We didn't see a whole lot in the way of critters, but did paddle by this awesome looking bald eagle, symbol of American might and power, on one of the shores of the lake:

We had lots of good times and mosquito bites. I even caught a 17" lake trout from the canoe on my fly rod. Nick brought a full bar with beer, margaritas, and wine. Cheers, mate!

Chris was in a kayak and Nick and Jen were piloting the awesome 1970's style Core Craft canoe. Core! Here they are at the head of Shoshone Lake heading back towards the opening of the Lewis Channel. The channel is kind of like a small river between Lewis and Shoshone Lakes we got to drift through on the way back out (had to pull the canoes on the way in):

Here Marilyn is paddling us back through the Lewis Channel to Lewis Lake on our way back to the trailhead (last day). Nick and Jen, and Chris, are way up ahead:

About to emerge from the channel back into Lewis Lake:

Team Mozzie on Lewis Lake:

After 5 days of fun and adventure we made it back to the trailhead and a good drive home. A great, mosquito-filled time was had by all!

Crazy Mountains Backpack

August 28-30, 2009

In late August Chris and I decided to do a double-backpack trip: one weekend in the delightfully named Crazy Mountains, and the next weekend another into the Beartooths.

Homie Chris is ready to go, the Canyonero is loaded:

The delightfully named Crazy Mountains are an island mountain range east of Livingston characterized by jagged peaks and sheer drops. Fortunately they also harbor some beautiful lakes with nice trout. The approach to the trailhead goes through rolling ranchlands. We are heading up that valley in the middle:

Our destination, Blue Lake, is about 4 miles up the valley after a steep climb:

But first we have to pass through the ranch. Here is Chris opening the legenday gate for the Canyonero to pass through:

After a tough slog of about 3 or 4 hours we made it up to the lakes. Blue Lake and Granite Lake sit next to each other and are joined by a small crick. All of them have nice rainbow trout. Here is the crick, looking up towards Blue Lake. We set up camp on a point up on the right near where the crick empties into the lake. I caught a nice 12" rainbow there:

We made the short trek over to Granite Lake, which is very scenic but short on campsites:

We fished it and caught several decent trout, one of which I got off the end of this log:

Our campsite was pretty sweet, and featured single-malt scotch in the evenings and fresh espresso in the mornings. Granted my pack was a few pounds heavier than it needed to be but it was worth it:

To get out of camp it was necessary to cross a giant log over the width of the creek, about 75':


And the log slog back down the side of the mountain. It wasn't the longest trip by any means but it was a workout. At least going down was easier:

Chris crosses the bridge at the lower end of Big Timber creek:


We made it back to the Canyonero where a couple of cold Guiness were waiting. Perfect end to a great trip!



Beartooth Mountains Backpack
Sept 4-7, 2009

The following weekend was Labor Day, and the perfect opportunity to take a long 4-day weekend backpack trip up into the Beartooths to flyfish for cutthroat trout.

Our plan was to hike up to Becker Lake and then head off-trail over a couple easy passes up to Albino, Golden and Jasper, and the Cloverleaf lakes. All are populated by nice cutthroat trout (although Becker is also full of brook trout).

We never made it as far as the Cloverleaf Lakes, but our route did take us to Golden and Jasper lakes which are just beyond the rounded peak way in the distance - about 7 or 8 miles. This me at the trailhead at Island Lake:

The scenery on the way up to Becker Lake is fantastic as you pass by many other lakes and get great views out into the distance:

Becker Lake itself is very beautiful, about 4 miles in. We decided to stop here for the first night as Chris had been out late the night before and was feeling it:

We fished the lake and caught tons of brookies and a few cutts. The next day we headed up towards Albino Lake. This is the inlet to Becker from Albino, we are headed up over the small pass in the distance. There was a pretty good footpath and it was not very hard at all:

Me heading up to the pass, Becker Lake in the background:

Just over the pass is Albino Lake, which is above treeline and very scenic. It had cool islands in it and stuff, and on the way back in a few days we fished it and caught some nice 15" cutthroat trout on dry flies:

We headed up over another, steeper pass to get to Golden and Jasper lakes. Here I am going up the pass, Albino Lake behind:

Golden and Jasper Lakes are also above treeline, and also scenic. The fishing was slow as some nasty weather was coming in and it was getting colder. Chris did manage an 18" cutt out of Golden Lake on a spinning rod (gasp!). Here's our camp in the draw between the two lakes. Chris' tent in front, and if you look close you will see my tent (yellow) up in the rocks at about 1-o'clock:

The next day we huffed back down to Becker Lake and found a different campsite than the first night. A few more brookies were caught and then the weather turned most foul. In the rush to hang the bear bags off the cliff here and over the lake, I left a pocket open and realized the next morning that my $100 fly reel had fallen out and into the lake. Fortunately it was visible in about 4' of water on a ledge along the rock face. Another 2 feet out and it would have sank to the bottom in 0ver 30 feet of water! I had to go Bear Grylls and strip to my skivvies to inch out along the ledge in the water to retrieve the reel. I did but boy was the water cold! On top of this it had rained all night as a cold front came through, and now the daytime temps were almost 20 degrees colder, in the 50's. The point you see is where our camp was and were I had my salvage operation:

After that we packed up and hiked back to the trailhead. It was a great trip and a great time. Lots of nice fish were caught and there was some great scotch and campfire time, plus a real adventure!