Sunday, June 12, 2011

Surprise!... It's Raining in Montana!

Ya didn't expect that... did ya!

I warned 'em... Told 'em I was on the way... "Expect a wet and cold summer in Idaho and Montana"... :)

The weather was threatening a little as we approached 7014' Lost Trail pass from the south, yesterday afternoon...


But up on top? Oh Yeah... Fine summer weather up there...

*U.S. 93 Visitor Center atop Lost Trail Pass*
... even the "Wingers" agreed...

*Nuthin' Like it... Motorcycles in the Snow... Yeah Baby! :) *

Heard a couple of 'em talkin' 'bout how their Trikes (parked just behind the building) hydro planed coming up the pass... Fun! :) ... buuuut, They got weary of ridin' in my backsplash and passed on the down side... hmmmm.... I didn't see no one grinnin' :) ... go figure!

I had a couple of areas penciled in to check for possible camps... and settled into the first one comin' down the Mountain... It's a National Forest Camp called, "Indian Trees"... ... up on the Mountain a little ways above the East fork of the Bitterroot and South of Sula...

The key here is... above! This is the season for High Ground.

There are some camps below here that they can't get open... 'cause... in true Montana Tradition... "A River Runs Through It!" :)

Heidi really wants to get boondocked... me? .. aw, I'm able to sit here, semi-boondocked :) (no power, no water, no hookups) at $5 bucks a night juuuuust fine... Draggin' back into some narrow canyon, on some muddy forest road... to sink to the belly pan trying to turn around in some meadow...just doesn't tease my tushy...

*Safe in the Rain at Indian Trees*

Just now? I can do juuuuust fine with that lil' bit of pavement under my wheels! ... and five bucks is under budget too!

Cleared off for a short bit, or at least stopped raining. Long enough for us to make a run to check a few things out and even get the best Pizza I've ever had, all the way in to Hamilton, at Kodiak Jax!

... but then it started up again early last night... and it's not quit yet... pretty much 12 hours later... It's not looking real promising neither... kinda glad I'm a few hundred feet or so, up above that river!

*Some sort of flower in camp... I've never seen before*

Been seein' all sorts of critters the past few days... but mostly slow on the shutter finger... Had a weasel wander through yesterday morning, before we left Mackay... and yesterday evening the first fawn of the season just as we were getting back to camp... but like I said, by the time I unslung the picture machine... pfffftttt! They was gone!

Supposed to be a heavy load of wolves now-a-days, right in this area...

And, folks around don't seem real happy about it from what I can tell... been losing horses and livestock... and of course... they're not allowed to defend against 'em, for the most part... The Elk Herd is down nigh on to 2/3 in this area, since the four legged meat grinders were brought back, not to mention the livestock losses... there's even been a case or two of dogs that were being walked getting taken... and one of a group of hunters getting stalked... Wild West in Montana! :)

...there's so much that some folks... don't think about... before they... who usually don't even live in a place... impose their values... from far away... on the folks Who DO live there...

Seems kinda wrong that folks should be able to impose the rules... where they... Don't even live... don't it? Just because, down in the cities they've got enough population to bury the opinions, and values, of the folks who do live... where those "rules" are being imposed?

... and where, the greatest majority of those folks, who are imposing the rules... Never, or Rarely Go?

So, in the interest of Fairness... how about if the folks up in Idaho and Montana get to say, (Impose); "I think since they were reintroduced in MY back yard, and against my wishes... I think... they should put Grizzlies and Wolves back into... The Parks In Denver!... and maybe even... Sioux City!... I mean... after all... Much of their Natural Habitat... Was the Plains country! and oh yeah... You can't interfere with those Coyotes munching on "Tabby" behind your garage either...shame on you!... it's the Natural Way!"

... NIMBY... right? :)

... oooh ... Bad Cowboy!!!! ... I just love, stirrin' the pot...

... Guess they'll have to put Elk on the endangered list pretty soon. I wonder how low their population will have to get... before the Feds get out of the way... Maybe it'll be like the Pine Bark Beetle... with entire forests wiped out as the direct result of their conservation... oops... better watch that... or I'll stir up another storm! :) Oh well... Life in the West...

Saw this gal on our way in to town... almost looks like she's got something to say about it all, don't it?

*Big Horn with an Opinion*

Sittin' in the Rain... and Stirrin' the Pot! :)
Brian

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7 comments:

Gaelyn said...

Looks like you're in a fine place on hard surface for a great price. And much better than snow or flood.

I'm all for reintroduction everywhere.

Anonymous said...

Hey, I was in the campsite downhill from you on the road out. This was last summer...when we had a "REAL" summer...Did you chew on any bark? The hotsprings there are only warm, not worth the $$$
UPRIVERDAVID

1 More Mile! said...

Reintroduction without protection makes for some fine hunting of new game.

Wolf tags? Sign me up!

1 More Mile! said...

If no Tags are available the "Three S's " prevail.

Shoot, Shovel and Shut up.

Brian said...

sounds like we all agree... sort of :) ... reintroduction... with reasonable protections...

naw... haven't chewed on any Indian Trees... I prefer lettuce to tree bark :)

and I've never been much on "Public Hotsprings"... folks have to pay ME to see ME in a bathing suit!!! :)

Mark Dixon said...

I think I should stir the pot a bit too. About the Elk, Don't you think it odd that the wolves and elk existed here in balance for as long as there have been such critters? Now all of the sudden a few wolves are going to eat them all? Yea right...

I heard this rediculous logic in Seattle. They were saying a few sea lions in the locks were eating all the salmon. Why are there so few salmon that a few sea lions could make a difference? Just look in he mirror.

Brian said...

exactly Mark; People and their population are THE problem... and why I and my wife... replaced ourselves with ONE... one daughter... our contribution to a negative population growth.

But the bottom line is the continent stopped being natural a long time ago, and we picked up responsibility for 'caretaking' it. The natural processes are disrupted by heavy human population. Which leaves the management responsibilities to PEOPLE... Unrestrained wolf population, like unrestrained human population consumes all...

and... the only thing more obscene then unrestrained wolf population is telling a man that he is Not Permitted to defend the livestock that supports his family... That is a perverted and sick imposition of a Non-Resident, Society with serious "issues"

Though, judging by the number of wolves being "disciplined with extreme prejudice" now in Montana... The folks around here have adopted the "Civil Disobedience" of Thoreau...