Letting Go of the Bay Leaf: March 2019

Sunday, March 31, 2019

Mosaic Monday #21: Going Backcountry

3/26/2019. 12.39 p.m. My email pings.

Dear Backcountry Permit Applicant:

We have received and successfully processed your Glacier National Park Advance Reservation Backcountry Permit Application. Based on the parameters noted on your application and availability of campsites when we processed your application, we were able to secure the trip itinerary at the end of this email.

Yippee! We're going camping! And not just any camping - BACKCOUNTRY camping. For the uninitiated, this means spending at least one night in the wilderness, usually at a designated campsite far from the nearest road.

No, no one is holding a gun to my head as I write this - we are actually willing participants in this activity. In January, we began our planning for summer 2019. Bold red ink outlined the little rectangle on the March planner page representing March 15 - the all-important deadline for backcountry permit applications.

When backcountry camping in Glacier National Park, you are required to submit your applications on line, which in turn obliges you to establish an account with Pay.Gov beforehand. In our case, we hope to have three separate camping trips - one night, two nights and three nights. To improve our chances of approval, each application included at least 3 possible itineraries and a span of 2 to 4 weeks. Simply, it's complicated!

For applications submitted on March 15, the backcountry website advises you not to expect a response for at least a month, hence my delight to receive approval for our 1-night itinerary in only 12 days! (We are still waiting responses on the other two itineraries.)

And what a coincidence the approval arrived on the same day we scheduled an outfitting session at REI Co-op. (Note that I am not receiving any compensation from REI or any other commercial organization for this post.) REI Co-op offers a by-appointment outfitting service to its members, which in my mind sets it apart from its competitors. Jim, assigned to us for the afternoon, began by placing a number of small items on the counter. Bear spray. Medical kit. Headlamp. Cords.

I think we established some immediate credibility by stating that we already possess all of these items. Taking it a step further, Spousal Unit described his research into lightweight tents, down to the model and size. (Jim observed that most people buy a tent that is one person bigger than the number of campers actually sleeping in it, to account for pets and gear that might also occupy the tent. Well, we don't plan to take the cats. And, with the exception of boots, pajamas, head lamps and bear spray, all our gear will be hung well away from the tent to avoid attracting any bruin.) So, Jim readily located the desired tent, and working as a three-some, we assembled it right there in the store. Incredibly easy.

Yes, the tent fits in this little 20" by 6" bag

And so the afternoon progressed. We experimented with inflatable sleeping pads and lightweight sleeping bags. (Memo to me: bring a beanie for sleeping in cold weather.) We climbed into the tent to make sure we could fit comfortably shoulder to shoulder.

Throughout, our discussion hinged on comfort versus weight. For example, a medium Aeros pillow weighs 2 ounces and a large tips the scale at 2.5 ounces. It may not seem like much, but when you add numerous items with "just a little more" weight, it can translate to several additional pounds that you will carry on your own back for as much as 30 miles on a three-night camping trip. Ultimately, we will try to limit my pack to 25 pounds, and that of Spousal Unit to 30 pounds.

Spousal Unit was fitted with a new backpack. It's quite a process, starting with strap adjustment without any weight in the pack. Then, Jim adds bags to the pack; each bag is marked with a weight, such as 5 pounds. Loaded with 25 pounds, the pack was hoisted and then Jim had Spousal Unit check for load balance - did it feel like the pack was tipping forward or back? After some adjustment, Spousal Unit went off for a walk around the store to test the feel of the pack. The first one placed too much pressure on his lower back, but he felt very comfortable in the second pack, pictured here.

While Spousal Unit strolled, I took a gander around the store. It opened recently, and I admire its helpful displays.

Center: each section of the store has maps - hiking = hiking trails; kayaking = rivers; etc.

During our session, Jim had plenty of tips. Who knew there was a right and a wrong way to hoist the backpack onto your shoulders? And would you have imagined the need for a "pumphouse", recommended for inflatable sleeping pads because our breath contains moisture and bacteria that over time will degrade the pad material?

Jim's advice extended to the storage of our gear. For example, down sleeping bags should be hung when not in use in order to prevent compression of the down.

Essentials: coffee, moleskin, fuel can stabilizer, water treatment system,

tent footprint (layer of protection between tent and ground),

collapsible cup, microfiber towel and folding utensil

At the end of the session, Jim helped us to the car with our gear. A genteel final touch on what turned out to be anything but a cheap date. But as my neighbor says: You don't want cheap when you are in the middle of a wilderness!

Watch this space for our upcoming adventures ...

Mosaic Monday

Welcome to Mosaic Monday, a weekly meme where we get together to share our photo mosaics and collages.
Please include at least one photo mosaic/collage in your post.
The link will be open from 1 p.m. Sunday until 11 p.m. Monday (U.S. Mountain time).
Remember to add the link to your Mosaic Monday post and not the one to your blog.
Please link back to this post so that your readers will be able to visit and enjoy more wonderful mosaics; taking the MM blog button from my sidebar is an easy way to link back.
As host I will visit every participant and leave a comment so that you know I stopped by.
Please try and visit as many other blogs as you can, especially those that join in later, so that everyone's creativity can be appreciated fully.
Thank you for joining in today and sharing your mosaics with us.

Sunday, March 24, 2019

Mosaic Monday #20: Drowning Oreos

Fishing poles, the lines carrying droplets of water back to the source. Dragonflies flexing their wings in sunbeams while tenderly perched on a lily pad. Fingertips trailing in the silky coolness of the lake as it swishes past the prow of the kayak. Swallows swooping over the mirror surface of the lake, momentarily reflected and then gone again, rising to the sky with insect prey pinched securely between upper and lower beak.

These are just a few of my memories of an August day on Monroe Lake - August 1, 2017, to be precise.

At that time, we were still living in the Whitefish townhouse and regularly traveling 1 hour each way to the home build site. As Monroe Lake is less than 2 miles from the new house, it was an ideal candidate for kayaking, especially on a day when we would already be inspecting progress on the new home.

Therefore, we had planned several times to kayak here, and one thing after another came up. The worst was July 30 - we sweat in the non-stop Montana sun while cleaning up the build site, and had even changed into our suits before we realized that Spousal Unit's fishing pole had remained behind in the garage at the townhouse. Aaarrrggghhh. I was SO ready for an afternoon on the water.

So, Take Two - the next day. A sublime afternoon. To access Monroe Lake, you launch on Ashley Creek and make your way through what I termed the "delta", a maze of thick cat-tails. I made one wrong paddle, and Man with Hat had to push me through the forest of reeds.

Once on the lake, we were greeted by a pair of loons and a young 'un. The parents called mournfully to each other throughout our time on the water.

Man with Hat concentrated on fishing; he caught and released a dozen small perch. An osprey circled periodically - I envisioned it was hoping for an easy handout ...

I paddled the circumference of the lake, taking in the lily pads and other aquatic plants. The water was so clear I could see the stalks of the lily pads stretching to the muddy bottom.

Two deer approached the water's edge, but retreated into the woods when they saw me. In hindsight, this spot was near the location of my video of deer crossing the frozen lake, 17 months later. Just a coincidence?

Monroe empties into Ashley Creek straight ahead in this shot

My kayak is in roughly the same location where I saw the deer walk across the frozen lake in January 2019

A giant mound of a beaver lodge anchors one side of the delta, almost like a sentinel marking the way to the creek. Another, smaller lodge is nearby, snuggled up against the shore. In my wild imagination, I see the second generation of beavers setting up house in a "starter" lodge!

Five days later, kayaking was a family affair on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. #1 Son served as steerman for our kayak, and Man with Hat led from the back with #1 Son's rookie girlfriend in the second inflatable - yes, her first time ever in a kayak!

Man with Hat fishing the Flathead River

The Flathead delivered for her - an eagle and an osprey, wildflowers, and fish.

Paddling the 11 miles from Paola Creek to Cascadilla Creek was technical - low water levels meant protruding rocks a-plenty! Inflatable kayaks deliver many advantages, but nimble steering is not one of them.

Lower right: Western White Butterfly on Canada Goldenrod

So it was that #1 Son and I found ourselves wrapped around a small mountain (ok, it was a rock), and that rock partnered with the flowing water to tip us into the brink. Fortunately, we escaped with nothing more serious that a scrape on his arm.

Oh, and we drowned the Oreos.

Mosaic Monday

Sunday, March 17, 2019

Mosaic Monday #19: Munch and Make

Almost since I began blogging 2 years ago, I have followed Tammy at T's Daily Treasures, and I have always been inspired by, and just a little jealous of, her craft group gatherings.

So I finally got my act together and hosted the first installment of "Munch and Make". I invited the ladies from the neighborhood and other friends that are into crafts.

The gathering was also the impetus I needed to transition the house decorations from the red/Valentine's theme to Easter. I kept the swags outside the front door, but changed the ribbon. I remembered these wooden eggs (and managed to find them in the utility room!);

they replaced ribbons and hearts in the above entry arrangement.

This Easter tree has always been a family favorite. My mind skips back to the seasons when the kids would divide up the ornaments before hanging them on the wiry branches. To me, the look is enhanced by the crocheted doily underneath.

I was blessed to receive these flowers at church. As a member of the Arts and Environment committee (fancy name for the group that arranges the flowers and other seasonal decorations), I participated in decorating for Lent on the Monday before Ash Wednesday. We don't use fresh flowers during Lent, so we divvied up the flowers we had purchased just the week before. The colors are so joyful and speak to me of warm sunshine.

The utility room is my Dollar Store - I go "shopping" there for new decorating ideas to fit a seasonal theme. My finds this time? A rose teapot. A purple candle, placed on an upside-down glass pillar candle stand. A mug hand-painted by the kids many moons ago. An amethyst-colored perfume bottle. I love how these articles came together on this table.

Decorating complete, I enjoyed organizing the simple menu. I plan to provide coffee and tea, as well as the main element of the snacks, while asking 2 attendees each time to contribute a small food item. I figure it spreads the responsibility, and more importantly, we will experience a wide variety of foods! For our first get-together, Spousal Unit baked a salmon and broccoli quiche, and I suggested fruit salad to one neighbor and baked goods to another.

Four ladies attended our inaugural session, and we noshed while crafting (the lemon cake was so light and fluffy you could almost imagine it had no calories!). I took the opportunity to collect opinions about best days of the week for Munch and Make, as well as desired frequency. For now, we will continue with Thursdays every other week, but we are likely to change to Saturdays once ski season closes and my work responsibilities on the mountain come to an end. We know this will enable at least two of our other neighbors to join us.

Upper left: boot toppers with owls embedded in the knitting pattern

Upper right: yes, I am still working on those Christmas tree ornaments

Lower left: Crocheted baby hat

Lower right: one of the ladies demonstrates her crochet technique

For those who didn't have an active project, I had prepared a table with all the supplies needed to create a simple Easter Egg Ornament.

This day, the group enjoyed chatting and/or working their own projects, so the table went untouched. But it's OK - it will still be available when we reconvene next Thursday for our second session! Watch a future post for highlights from Munch and Make Two.

Thursday, March 14, 2019

Just write

Do you ever struggle with a theme for a post? Do you even feel the need to have a theme?

My posts typically take the form of a monthly summary, a hike, a family visit, a special event. The theme is defined, or jumps out to me.

Today's post? Not so much. I had some pictures left from last month - they didn't fit the Deep Freeze theme - and I studied them, hoping for inspiration to come like the proverbial bolt of lightning.

A kernel of an idea started to sprout - pride in my accomplishments during the month. Such as:

I completed a prayer shawl that has been lingering in my project basket. (And in delivering the shawl to our ministry leader, it was a treat to chatter with her over a cup of coffee. We had not seen each other since June - a lot to discuss!)

I deployed one of my Christmas presents (the spotting scope attachment) to take pictures of the birds at our feeders.

I practiced my drawing.

I began tidying the utility room. A box of miscellaneous articles found its way to the charity shop, and two items are at the consignment store. I tackled our stock of gift bags and tissue paper, which had evolved into a rat's nest. To the left - a work-in-process picture, and to the right - the finished product.

The most significant challenge in the utility room, by far, are the photographs. Boxes of them. A few friends had recommended Legacybox.com as a potential solution. I investigated the service, and quickly dismissed it due to cost. The advertising implies that you can place an unlimited quantity of pictures and videos into a box - whatever you can get to fit - but in reality, the 'packages' specify a quantity, such as 3 tapes or 3 films or 3 sets of 25 pictures for $87.95. Yikes! I am still in the infancy stage of this project, but I believe I will use plastic sleeves in binders to preserve those photos we decide to keep. Stay tuned!

One-third of the way through the first box ...

And we had a little fun along the way, with a Super Bowl party and a breakfast date after Mass. And of course, snow shoeing in Glacier National Park was the only excuse we needed to stop for huckleberry pie at the Huckleberry Patch!

New table for lower level; gear actually raises/lowers it!

Blondies and ribs for Super Bowl

Writing this post couldn't be that easy, could it? No, of course not. I am the master of over-complicating a situation. Somewhere along the line, my brain over-ruled my heart. My initial draft of this post began "As I look back over the last six weeks, I am very satisfied. I have made very good progress on my New Year's resolutions and goals with other miscellaneous fun thrown in the mix."

Then my brain said "Let's structure this post using the February 2 edition about resolutions." And down that rabbit hole we went. Before I knew it, I was more than a little bit bummed. Some of my resolutions, such as drinking 64 ounces of fluid daily, have been a dismal failure. Is that what I want to write about? Quicker than you can say "jackrabbit", I went from pride in my achievements to a reluctance to even write this post.

Sun rising through morning mist over the back forty

At times like this, I find it helps to leave the computer and engage in a different activity. (I sorted more photos ...)

When I came back to the keyboard, I gave myself the advice we always delivered to the kids when sitting down to compose an essay: just write. Write whatever comes into your head.

So I did.

Do you ever struggle with a theme for a post? Do you even feel the need for a theme?

Linking to:

All Seasons