A day in Montana (home, eat, pools)

[elkslayin]

We pulled out packs out of the back of my Ranger, mine weighed in at a round 55lbs, Bret, my hunting partners rang in at around 38. I couldn't understand why my pack was so much heavier, but I was sure he would be asking to borrow something later, so long as it wasn't my TP, we would be find. Toilet paper is forest money in the back country of Montana. We walk about 1 1/2 miles to the top of a ridge and then cut down through the blow downs, one painful step at a time. Once at the bottom we paused by the creek and could see some lazy rainbow trout eying the surface for their next meal while the thick pines danced off the pools surface. Packs back on we left the creek bottom in a sure walk. Four hours and 3 1/2 miles later we arrived at the base of another steep slope, another hour humping to the top, then heaven. From here a small clearing where we set up camp. By dusk we had a fire crackling in our fire pit and coffee from the Jet-boil stove was brewing. The sun was twinkling out and the vast array of slopes and valleys glimmered with the last drop of light. As if on cue, the comforting sounds of a bulls bugle echoed down the very mountain we were on, and then another. Soon we could here the elk bugling back and forth well into the night air. Eventually, as elk do, they drifted away into the dark. We were surrounded by sudden silence. It dawned us us both that we had sat there silent and listening to the sounds of nature for over a half an hour, without a word spoken. We laughed at our good furtune and told absurd stories around the fire, invigorated by the back country. The real backcounty, the wilds of the Rocky Mountains. This is the Montana I love.

[seven of nine]

Originally Posted by elkslayin

We pulled out packs out of the back of my Ranger, mine weighed in at a round 55lbs, Bret, my hunting partners rang in at around 38. I couldn't understand why my pack was so much heavier, but I was sure he would be asking to borrow something later, so long as it wasn't my TP, we would be find. Toilet paper is forest money in the back country of Montana. We walk about 1 1/2 miles to the top of a ridge and then cut down through the blow downs, one painful step at a time. Once at the bottom we paused by the creek and could see some lazy rainbow trout eying the surface for their next meal while the thick pines danced off the pools surface. Packs back on we left the creek bottom in a sure walk. Four hours and 3 1/2 miles later we arrived at the base of another steep slope, another hour humping to the top, then heaven. From here a small clearing where we set up camp. By dusk we had a fire crackling in our fire pit and coffee from the Jet-boil stove was brewing. The sun was twinkling out and the vast array of slopes and valleys glimmered with the last drop of light. As if on cue, the comforting sounds of a bulls bugle echoed down the very mountain we were on, and then another. Soon we could here the elk bugling back and forth well into the night air. Eventually, as elk do, they drifted away into the dark. We were surrounded by sudden silence. It dawned us us both that we had sat there silent and listening to the sounds of nature for over a half an hour, without a word spoken. We laughed at our good furtune and told absurd stories around the fire, invigorated by the back country. The real backcounty, the wilds of the Rocky Mountains. This is the Montana I love.

Wonderful post.

[longing 4home]

Wow, Elkslayin, are you a professional writer or just in love with Montana?? Thanks for that beautiful vision. My baby bro has been in Montana around 10 years and has told me similar stories. He's not as poetic as you, but "unbelievable, awesome, blessed, truly stunning" are a few of the words he uses. Hubby and I hope to make our first trip to Montana this summer. I've looked at the threads from several states and Montana and Alaska are indeed my favorites. Honest, earthy people!!

[DesertMountainsDesert]

So...you love Montana and you shoot it up? Cognitive dissonance...

[seven of nine]

Not a very polite post. You can agree to disagree in a more courtly manner.

[jimj]

Originally Posted by DesertMountainsDesert

So...you love Montana and you shoot it up? Cognitive dissonance...

In a prior post you asked if having Colorado plates would cause a problem (bashed I think was your term) if you moved to Montana right?
The plates won't be as much of a problem as the attitude you're showing will be. Hunting is deeply ingrained in MT culture and during hard times many use it to survive instead of being on the public dole. In order to get along here you'll either have to accept this or if that can't be done at least tone down or keep to yourself your pretty obvious dislike.

[elkslayin]

Originally Posted by DesertMountainsDesert

So...you love Montana and you shoot it up? Cognitive dissonance...

Nope, no conflict here, I shoot things then eat them, and I love it. I'm reasonably sure Montana can survive my "shooting it up" with arrows slung about the forest, the same as the natives who were here 1000s of years before me. Today I'm going ice fishing were I will pull my fish up and kill them. Then I will bring them home and fillet them, then to the smoker. We will then gather around in a little circle and tear into the flesh and consume it with smiles on our faces. Might even pull out some canned veggies from last years garden. Man, you should have heard those carrots screaming when I pulled them out of the ground last fall.

[Gman2007]

Originally Posted by elkslayin

Man, you should have heard those carrots screaming when I pulled them out of the ground last fall.

I find that my kohlrabi scream the loudest!

[MtnClimber]

Originally Posted by elkslayin

We pulled out packs out of the back of my Ranger, mine weighed in at a round 55lbs, Bret, my hunting partners rang in at around 38. I couldn't understand why my pack was so much heavier, but I was sure he would be asking to borrow something later, so long as it wasn't my TP, we would be find. Toilet paper is forest money in the back country of Montana. We walk about 1 1/2 miles to the top of a ridge and then cut down through the blow downs, one painful step at a time. Once at the bottom we paused by the creek and could see some lazy rainbow trout eying the surface for their next meal while the thick pines danced off the pools surface. Packs back on we left the creek bottom in a sure walk. Four hours and 3 1/2 miles later we arrived at the base of another steep slope, another hour humping to the top, then heaven. From here a small clearing where we set up camp. By dusk we had a fire crackling in our fire pit and coffee from the Jet-boil stove was brewing. The sun was twinkling out and the vast array of slopes and valleys glimmered with the last drop of light. As if on cue, the comforting sounds of a bulls bugle echoed down the very mountain we were on, and then another. Soon we could here the elk bugling back and forth well into the night air. Eventually, as elk do, they drifted away into the dark. We were surrounded by sudden silence. It dawned us us both that we had sat there silent and listening to the sounds of nature for over a half an hour, without a word spoken. We laughed at our good furtune and told absurd stories around the fire, invigorated by the back country. The real backcounty, the wilds of the Rocky Mountains. This is the Montana I love.

For several moments there, I was with you in the wild, I could even taste the coffee and hear the bulls bugle. I then realized I was reading this from my screen. You sir, have a gift with words. Thanks for sharing, and please continue.

[MtnClimber]

Originally Posted by DesertMountainsDesert

So...you love Montana and you shoot it up? Cognitive dissonance...

I do not see any explanation of shooting in any form. I did have the great pleasure to enjoy a backcountry experience along with many others who read the same post. Please take the op to reread it, and you may also come to find the pleasure in Montana that I have.