Monday, June 25, 2007

Cliff Lake, MT

Erin and I rented a canoe this past weekend to do a little "relaxed" camping. I thought the canoe would be a good way to get away from the crowds of car camping while having the comforts of decent food and gear that is too heavy to carry in a backpack. We actually fit all the gear, ourselves, and Kaya in the Canoe all at once; which was good because the campsite I was told to paddle to was a mile into a 20mph wind and I didn't want to do it twice. Kaya didn't love the boat ride too much. I don't know why, she didn't have to paddle.


After setting up camp we went down to the lake to set up the hammock so Erin could take a nap while I tried to fly-fish in a tropical storm. While I was looking for the two trees of ideal separation for hammocking, Erin was alert enough to notice that the boat was no longer where we left it.


I started running down the shoreline, knowing very well that the most likely stopping place of the canoe in the now 30mph wind was at least back at the car where we started, if not further down valley. As I was turning around to tell Erin that I would be back to camp in July some nice people yelled from down the shoreline that they had intercepted an unmanned, quickly moving canoe. I was greatful.

I did get a few minutes of sort-of calm to fish after the 75+mph winds.

Kaya ended up helping out around camp.


But it took a lot out of her (that and her staying up all night defending us from every grizzly bear and squirrel in a 10-mile radius).


All in all it was fun. Windy. But fun.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's a good camping idea. At least you didn't roll the canoe. I imagine that camping brings a whole other level of excitement when you know there are Grizzlies around.

Anonymous said...

Oh yeah, I did roll the canoe. Luckily I was pretty much the only thing in it. I would do it again, the canoe rental was less than I expected.

Paul and Joni said...

Thats pretty funny, almost Homer Simpson-esque chasing after the canoe. I can't tell you how jealous I am, I have wanted to go camping for the longest time, its not the same out here obviously. Plus I made the mistake of telling Joni about a picture I saw of a giant banana spider that made a web spanning the entire door of someone's tent, and sat in the middle of the web until morning. Montana is awesome.

Anonymous said...

Looks like a great trip. Nice going on the canoe. Like Paul, I can totally picture the chasing scene, my version has you tripping a lot and running through other campers fires and getting really wet and stuff though with the dog happily nipping at your heals. OK, so my imagination gets away from me sometimes. Anyway...the canoe sounded like a great idea.

Maude said...

Wow - - great fun! What a great way to "get away" - - although it sounds like (luckily) you still had some human company around. The photos are great. Miss K. is a great dog, and was helpful most of the time, I'm sure. I do love Montana. Our trip over Bear Tooth Pass and that hike we took on your birthday last year will always be great memories. Thanks for sharing.

We just got a couple of two-man kayaks, and are anxious to try them out - -easier to manage than Jim's float boat.

Anonymous said...

SWEEEEEEET! Inflatable? Those things are FUN. So are the non-inflatable ones.

Anonymous said...

The story is perfect with the pictures! Love the one of Erin and the hammock and the tired pooch. I can imagine you paddling against the wind all the way - what a pain! What an outdoor couple - awesome!
Meleica

Maude said...

Yes, inflatable! Yippee! The easy way to go! I heard you had monster winds up there this last week. Somewhere near the South Dakota/Montana border, according to the weather report, had wind gusts up to 165 mph! That's crazy!

Anonymous said...

I'll second or thirds the "I love Montana" but yes the winds do get you up there, something I am not too fond of. I am so excited to finally spend some time up there this summer. It really is the best place to be in the summer. Do you and Erin want to join us in Glacier? Your more than welcome....we could all sleep cozily in the caboose!
My dad bought a really cool raft this year to float down the river in. My mom said they went the other weekend and they had to float it two times in one day because it was so fun and the rapids were so fast that they got down to the end quicker then they would have liked.
Does Erin like camping or is so more like me, one night is good?
I agree, the grizzlies are quite scary, I bet there are a bunch in that area?

Anonymous said...

I'm glad we have you all fooled into thinking we're an outdoor couple. Or maybe I should just speak for myself, one night of that kind of "relaxing" camping is enough for me. I came back tired (I can't sleep when I hear Kaya prowling around, growling at who-knows-what), sunburned (longer in the canoe than I expected), and with a sore arm from sleeping at a weird downhill angle in the tent (hard to find level ground in a tornado). But it was fun!

I did do more work than it looked like from the pictures, by the way. Especially after Joel flipped the canoe, got soaking wet, and didn't have another pair of shoes. I was suddenly stuck with all the "chores" while Joel was wandering around the woods in his bare feet. At least I was entertained!

Anyway, now I'm in Boston for a work conference. It is record-setting temperatures here (95+) and high humidity. I do not miss the east coast when I visit during this kind of weather. It is so oppressive. But I've still managed to do plenty of eating, shopping, and a little learning at the conference too. These pictures make me miss the cuties at home though.

Kendi, when are you guys coming to Montana?

Anonymous said...

I'm glad we have you all fooled into thinking we're an outdoor couple. Or maybe I should just speak for myself, one night of that kind of "relaxing" camping is enough for me. I came back tired (I can't sleep when I hear Kaya prowling around, growling at who-knows-what), sunburned (longer in the canoe than I expected), and with a sore arm from sleeping at a weird downhill angle in the tent (hard to find level ground in a tornado). But it was fun!

I did do more work than it looked like from the pictures, by the way. Especially after Joel flipped the canoe, got soaking wet, and didn't have another pair of shoes. I was suddenly stuck with all the "chores" while Joel was wandering around the woods in his bare feet. At least I was entertained!

Anyway, now I'm in Boston for a work conference. It is record-setting temperatures here (95+) and high humidity. I do not miss the east coast when I visit during this kind of weather. It is so oppressive. But I've still managed to do plenty of eating, shopping, and a little learning at the conference too. These pictures make me miss the cuties at home though.

Kendi, when are you guys coming to Montana?

Lisa Fasolo Frishman said...

Sounds like a blast - wish I could have been there. Does sound like Erin though to be napping in the hammock, I would have believed that without the pictures:)

I love Montana too - are we voting?

Joel and E - when are we going to meet up in Wyoming to do some camping fun?

Anonymous said...

Bess and I are sitting here at the computer and she says "Meow!" I guess Kaya doesn't look that scary, at least in her terms.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a great trip...it would've been better with a couple kids!!!!!
We're looking forward to seeing you both in a few days!