Trip into the Bob with Steve, Andrea, Adin and Zia

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


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 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 Cr.	Zia, Young's Cr.


Zia, Young's Cr.	Zia, Young's Cr.


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

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


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

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


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 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 Photo by Dona

Photo by Dona	Zia Crossing the Creek Photo by Dona	Photo by Dona

Zia and Andrea
Photo by Dona


All's well just standing there...	Hmmm, crossing looks a bit dicey	Whooey, it's COLD!!	Ah... this is fun!

Zia, Young's Creek	Zia, Young's Creek


Adin Cooling Off Photo by Dona	The Kloetzel / Morgan Clan Photo by Dona

Adin and Andrea Photo by Dona


Dona and Max, Young's Creek	Dona and Max, Young's Creek

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	S Fk Flathead Country, Dona


	South Fork of the Flathead Country, Adin and Zia

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)