Gary and Dona's Trip into the Bob Marshall Wilderness

with

Steve, Andrea, Adin and Zia

August, 2012

(Part 2)

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After our somewhat hectic start on this trip, we had had a fun day hiking and riding over Limestone Pass and then down to Young's Creek to camp for the night.

We awoke the next morning to another crummy day in paradise. Howie and Peggy Fly at the Blackfoot Commercial Co. (a.k.a. the Ovando store) had told Andrea about these great light weight dried hash-browns they carried, so she had brought some. We were all a bit dubious -- you add water, let them sit for a bit, then fry them up. But wow! They were great. The Flys also run a great bed and breakfast. It's reasonably priced, centrally located, and they are great hosts.

Sunrise, Young's Creek Camp Sunrise, Young's Creek Camp
Sunrise, Young's Creek Camp Sunrise, Young's Creek Camp
Andrea Cooking Hash Browns Steve and Andrea, Hash Browns for Breakfast Hash Brown Box
Andrea Cooking Hash Browns Steve and Andrea, Hash Browns for Breakfast The Hash Brown Box

We gathered up the horses, fed them a snack of grain, and packed up. Scheba has a really long, full forelock, and it's kind of like walking with a broom in front of your eyes. So Zia braided it and put some flowers in it to boot, so she could go down the trail in style.

Sheba has a crazy habit of sticking her tongue out the side of her mouth, (look at the third photo below). It makes her look really dumb. I never have figured out why she does it.

Zia braiding Scheba's forelock Zia braiding Scheba's forelock Scheba's forelock Scheba's forelock
Zia Braiding Scheba's Forelock
Photo by Dona
Zia Braiding Scheba's Forelock
Photo by Dona
Scheba's Fancy Forelock
Photo by Dona
Scheba's Fancy Forelock
Photo by Dona

Adin was wearing a new to him pair of boots which he had rescued from his grandfather's attic. The soles had been falling off, and he had shoe-gooed them back on. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough, and they basically disintegrated after the first days' hiking. So we combined Lacy's and Poppie's loads on Poppie, and he rode Lacy. Our lunch stop was at a nice spot along the creek in a place where there were still a few unburned trees and some welcome shade.

Lunch, Young's Creek Zia and horses at Young's Creek
Lunch, Young's Cr. Zia, Young's Cr.
Zia, Young's Creek Zia, Young's Creek
Zia, Young's Cr. Zia, Young's Cr.
Adin, Andrea, Steve and Dona; Lunch Zia and Andrea Zia and Andrea
Adin, Andrea, Steve and Dona Zia and Andrea Zia and Andrea

We had Max carry all his own food on this trip. He didn't like that too much, but it worked out pretty well. We packaged up his daily rations in separate plastic bags, then split them up in his panniers. It stayed pretty dry in spite of all our stream crossings.

Tired Max
Tired Max

After lunch, we headed on down the trail, past the hole-in-the-wall.

Adin on the trail Adin, Steve and Andrea on the trail Steve and Andrea on the trail
On the Trail
Adin
On the Trail
Adin, Steve and Andrea
On the Trail
Steve and Andrea
Young's Creek Country, Andrea, Steve and Adin Young's Creek Country, Andrea and Steve Hole in the Wall
Young's Creek Country
Andrea, Steve and Adin
Young's Creek Country
Andrea and Steve
Hole in the Wall

The day was hot, particularly for those hiking. So we stopped for a second break before leaving Young's Creek -- a proper break, with swimming and lazing around.

Young's Creek Young's Creek, Steve Young's Creek, Adin, Steve, Andrea, Zia
Young's Creek
Photo by Dona
Young's Creek Country
Steve
Young's Creek Country
Adin, Steve, Andrea, Zia
Young's Creek, Steve Young's Creek, Adin
Steve, Young's Creek Adin, Young's Creek

I did a little fishing, and managed to lose quite a few because my hooks kept breaking off. My fly box got soaked at some point last year, and I hadn't totally dried it out. A lot of the hooks had rusted. Duh. They aren't stainless...

Gary Fishing Gary Changing Flies
Gary Fishing in Young's Creek
Photo by Dona
Changing Flies... again
Photo by Dona

Zia was a little apprehensive at first about swimming across the current, so I explained to her (or tried to explain to her) about the different currents and how she would be carried downstream while she was swimming, and that that was ok. I showed her how to start higher up so she would have a little more room. "Swim towards the side of the river, not the people you want to reach; just keep heading for the side, and you'll make it." When she first started across I thought she would be too timid about it, but with everyone cheering encouragement she went for it and did fine.

Gary coaching Zia about crossing the creek
Gary Coaching Zia about
Crossing the Creek
Photo by Dona
Zia crossing the creek Zia crossing the creek Zia crossing the creek, Adin looking on

Photo by Dona
Zia Crossing the Creek
Photo by Dona

Photo by Dona
Zia and Andrea
Zia and Andrea
Photo by Dona
Young's Creek, Zia Young's Creek, Zia Young's Creek, Zia Young's Creek, Zia
All's well just standing there... Hmmm, crossing looks a bit dicey Whooey, it's COLD!! Ah... this is fun!
Young's Creek, Zia Young's Creek, Zia
Zia, Young's Creek Zia, Young's Creek
Adin Cooling Off The Kloetzel / Morgan Clan
Adin Cooling Off
Photo by Dona
The Kloetzel / Morgan Clan
Photo by Dona
Adin, Steve and Andrea Adin and Andrea
Adin and Andrea
Photo by Dona
Young's Creek, Dona and Max Young's Creek, Dona and Max
Dona and Max, Young's Creek Dona and Max, Young's Creek
Young's Creek, Dona and Max Young's Creek, Dona and Max
Dona and Max, Young's Creek Dona and Max, Young's Creek

Then we headed down to the confluence of Young's Creek and Danaher Creek, the official start of the South Fork of the Flathead River. We crossed the river and followed the trail down its east bank. Adin and Zia led the way on Lacy and Ashe, while Sambo and Poppie and Scheba and I kicked up dust behind. Dona rode in back and kept an eye on the packs.

Zia and Adin Zia and Adin
Zia and Adin
Zia and Adin South Fork of the Flathead Country, Dona
Zia and Adin S Fk Flathead Country,
Dona
South Fork of the Flathead Country, Adin and Zia South Fork of the Flathead Country, Adin and Zia South Fork of the Flathead Country, Adin and Zia
South Fork of the Flathead Country,
Adin and Zia
South Fork of the Flathead
South Fork of the Flathead

It was getting late in the day by the time we hit the confluence, so we were looking for a place to camp. This would be our camp for a couple of days, so we wanted enough grass to keep the horses happy as well as a nice camp for us. Unfortunately, there weren't many possibilities, so we worked our way on down the river for a few miles until we came to some nice meadows; hints of things to come further downstream towards Big Prairie. We found a nice patch of grass with a few cottonwoods for shade and decided to call it home.

We had barely gotten started unloading when about a quarter of a mile downstream some bozo decided to pretend he was Rambo. Inconsiderate people shouldn't go into the back country. He went through a whole boatload of hi-caliber ammo in some kind of semi-automatic weapon for his "target practice," or whatever you choose to call it. He must have needed a whole extra pack animal to carry all that ammo in. Fortunately his gun jammed or he finally ran out after a half hour or so, and peace and quiet reigned again.

We hit the sack looking forward to not having to pack up camp and just enjoying the scenery in the morning. (Next)