Category: N.O.S.
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Only the big things
Since we returned to Montana in early January, Little Bear has continued sleeping like a 6 month old should, which is to say not for especially long. M and I are bumping along just fine, but smaller things like household organization, non-essential dishes, and alpine skiing are not getting done. The big, important stuff like…
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Forest Service cabins of Montana
You should know about the forest service cabins in Montana. Retired patrol cabins, ranger stations, fire lookouts, and private residences which have gone into public hands, they’re one of the great secrets of public lands recreation in North America. Why am I writing about these cabins now? Because the Forest Services takes reservations a half…
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The death of the Baring Creek cabin
A couple years ago I spent a few nights, alone, at the Baring Creek cabin along St. Mary Lake in Glacier National Park. A few days ago it burnt down in the Reynolds Creek fire. The press copy about “the historic” cabin is somewhat misleading. Yes it was built in the 1930s, possibly by CCC…
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My favorite salsa recipe
Ingredients: 9 jalapenos 4 small onions 1 head garlic 2 cans stewed tomatoes with garlic 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar salt olive oil Slice jalapenos into ~1cm pieces, roughly dice onions, peel and halve garlic cloves. (If you’re averse to spice, de-seed the peppers entirely or in part.) Place in skillet or pan, drizzle with…
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The National Bison Range
If you happen to be in Montana, driving between Kalispell and Missoula or vice versa, I recommend you take a few hours and swing by the National Bison Range. Encompassing a low range of grassy mountains at the south end of the Mission Valley, the bison range is a beautiful place. It has been managed…
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7 months
The kid is due in just a little over two months, which means that life is already unalterably different, and that the rules of engagement have already changed. As a matter of course M is now carrying around the equivalent of the heavist pack she’s ever had on a trip (which is not necessarily saying…
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Almost nothing
For the first half of this past week I drank no coffee. Wednesday last we went on a hospital tour, and saw the very posh maternity ward where Little Bear will come into the world this summer. Four hours later I was at home in the thralls of norovirus, vomiting hard enough I was worried…
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Meeting the hype
Some times, some things, even things which are famous and about which you’ve heard too much, exceed expectations. This happened numerous times in New Zealand, but no case was more clear cut than the pancake rocks of Punakaiki. The west coast between Westport and Greymouth is rugged, and the road which goes down it will…
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The Harsh Fiords
The first day on Doubtful Sound was the most trying of our whole New Zealand trip. The first third of a 26k day in tandem sea kayaks lulled us into complacency, before the main arm turned a little more westerly and the full force of the 30 knot winds slammed us in the face. Progress…
Bedrock & Paradox 
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