Eskimo on the loose in Montana (Seeley Lake: yard, donated, area)

[elkslayin]

I took a former employee, and now a proud US Marine up to Salmon Lake today on an ice fishing adventure. We set a strict departure time of 6am this morn. He arrived around 7:30, and we departed about 8am, north bound for the Seeley Lake area. I white-knuckled a good portion of the way up there with heavy snow and icey roads, at times even slowing to a near crawl at 70-75mph. We found the lake after several passes and drug our gear out to a pile of slush in the middle. We drilled a couple of holes and cleared the area to set up the ice shanty. However, the water rolled into the area making the shanty impossible. So we decided to compact the snow/slush around the holes and then put the ice shanty up. This was achieved by shoveling snow and packing it down neatly. After about a half an hour we had a relatively hard base in which to put up the shanty. "Wheres the holes?" the Marine querried. Apparently, in our haste to set up the base, we shoveled under the holes. Approximately 45 minutes, and 50 yards away, we got the base, holes and shanty in concert.
A hour or so later, after a quick trip to town to retrieve forgotten bait, the wind picked up. The little shanty was rocking back and forth and we decided we had enough. We unloaded gear and I began to take the shanty down. The wind proved a formidable adversary and before long I was on my back pulling poles and balancing a full can of Kokanee beer between my legs while the gail force wind whipped the shanty about. I grabbed the brew between my legs and set in aside. Aside, however, was actually one of the holes we drilled. I heard the distinct sound of a full can of beer Ka-plunking into the water. I was at ease knowing that my forty dollar flashlight would have some familiar company. Perhaps, they could join forces with the pocket knife I donated there last year.
I was nearly in a bad mood until the marine yelled: "look at that!" at the moment I was in battle with an out of control shany, while laying beer-free on the ground. I managed to twist about and watch a marvelous site. One of the other parties fishing had lost their Eskimo shany. A poor solo soul chased it across the lake. He nearly had a hand on it when a boot was lost to the slush, and down he went face first. We saw the slush splatter and split as he hit the ground. At this point we were consumed with laughter. Undaunted, the noble chaser arose and regained pursuit. There it was, a slush-covered, one boot-wearing pursuer chasing a free lance eskimo shanty across Salmon lake. He ran, oblivious to the force against him, hand out-stretched and yelling "wait!". I'm not sure the shanty heard his demand, and if it did it wasn't listening. It tumbled about, end over end as if in slow motion, but just a bit faster then the one chasing. Alas, the shanty never stopped, and the chaser never caught, and some how through the tears from laughter we watched the two disappear across the snow covered lake into the white wall of snow and wind, growing smaller and smaller with every passing yard until there was none. Indeed, it was a fine day on the ice after all.

[Notar]

sounds like a real adventure, enjoy every aspect of that wonderful country you are in

[seven of nine]

Snow Gremlins no doubt

[Stephan_K]

Dude... we got to hook up some time and do some fishin. Sounds like you had one hell of a fun day indeed today ! I don't think I'd be able to control myself watching that... too funny

I was going to head out today myself but instead decided to spent the first 4 hours of my day digging out with the backhoe. Way too much snow came down last night and made a big mess of everything. Figured just about every fishing spot I could fish would be next to impossible to get to, sort of like getting out of my drive this morning.

Goin to get a snow cat tomorrow. Got to get to and on the ice somehow right ?!

[elkslayin]

Originally Posted by Stephan_K

Dude... we got to hook up some time and do some fishin. Sounds like you had one hell of a fun day indeed today ! I don't think I'd be able to control myself watching that... too funny

I was going to head out today myself but instead decided to spent the first 4 hours of my day digging out with the backhoe. Way too much snow came down last night and made a big mess of everything. Figured just about every fishing spot I could fish would be next to impossible to get to, sort of like getting out of my drive this morning.

Goin to get a snow cat tomorrow. Got to get to and on the ice somehow right ?!

words cannot capture how hysterically funny it really was. This chase lasted a good 3 minutes. I literaly was wiping the tears out of my face and as I type this my stomach is still sore from the laughter. I have not laughed like that in years. I will never forget this day, and that poor fella chasing that dang shanty across the lake. I try to write stories about adventures, but they just never really capture the moment, if they did, I suppose I would get paid for 'em. I think stories are a great way to expose others to the outdoors and maybe present a little differrent picture of what it is really like out there.
Yeah, lets hook up and fish (pun Intended) I got 4wheelers but no snow machine.....yet.

[GLS]

Originally Posted by elkslayin

I took a former employee, and now a proud US Marine up to Salmon Lake today on an ice fishing adventure. We set a strict departure time of 6am this morn. He arrived around 7:30, and we departed about 8am, north bound for the Seeley Lake area. I white-knuckled a good portion of the way up there with heavy snow and icey roads, at times even slowing to a near crawl at 70-75mph. We found the lake after several passes and drug our gear out to a pile of slush in the middle. We drilled a couple of holes and cleared the area to set up the ice shanty. However, the water rolled into the area making the shanty impossible. So we decided to compact the snow/slush around the holes and then put the ice shanty up. This was achieved by shoveling snow and packing it down neatly. After about a half an hour we had a relatively hard base in which to put up the shanty. "Wheres the holes?" the Marine querried. Apparently, in our haste to set up the base, we shoveled under the holes. Approximately 45 minutes, and 50 yards away, we got the base, holes and shanty in concert.
A hour or so later, after a quick trip to town to retrieve forgotten bait, the wind picked up. The little shanty was rocking back and forth and we decided we had enough. We unloaded gear and I began to take the shanty down. The wind proved a formidable adversary and before long I was on my back pulling poles and balancing a full can of Kokanee beer between my legs while the gail force wind whipped the shanty about. I grabbed the brew between my legs and set in aside. Aside, however, was actually one of the holes we drilled. I heard the distinct sound of a full can of beer Ka-plunking into the water. I was at ease knowing that my forty dollar flashlight would have some familiar company. Perhaps, they could join forces with the pocket knife I donated there last year.
I was nearly in a bad mood until the marine yelled: "look at that!" at the moment I was in battle with an out of control shany, while laying beer-free on the ground. I managed to twist about and watch a marvelous site. One of the other parties fishing had lost their Eskimo shany. A poor solo soul chased it across the lake. He nearly had a hand on it when a boot was lost to the slush, and down he went face first. We saw the slush splatter and split as he hit the ground. At this point we were consumed with laughter. Undaunted, the noble chaser arose and regained pursuit. There it was, a slush-covered, one boot-wearing pursuer chasing a free lance eskimo shanty across Salmon lake. He ran, oblivious to the force against him, hand out-stretched and yelling "wait!". I'm not sure the shanty heard his demand, and if it did it wasn't listening. It tumbled about, end over end as if in slow motion, but just a bit faster then the one chasing. Alas, the shanty never stopped, and the chaser never caught, and some how through the tears from laughter we watched the two disappear across the snow covered lake into the white wall of snow and wind, growing smaller and smaller with every passing yard until there was none. Indeed, it was a fine day on the ice after all.

Great story. At my age, being prostate challenged, the beer and laughter would have made me pee my pants, and they would have to amputate my leg.

[rangerider]

Great post, really funny!!