| 1993 Montana Ride Pictures |
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These are pictures of my Montana Trip in September of 1993. My intention had been to learn
backcountry packing skills, work in Montana in the summer and come home to Missouri in the
winter.
It was a fantastic trip that I will never forget, but after 3 separate times in one 3 day weekend trip,
that I thought I was going to die, I decided to stay home in Missouri where I felt safe.
backcountry packing skills, work in Montana in the summer and come home to Missouri in the
winter.
It was a fantastic trip that I will never forget, but after 3 separate times in one 3 day weekend trip,
that I thought I was going to die, I decided to stay home in Missouri where I felt safe.
This is Cody. He was my mount for the whole time I was there.
He was a great, and very patient, partner.
Very surefooted, he never tripped or stumbled. He did make me
nervous though because he had a habit of walking on the trail with
his head turned hanging over the side of the cliffs. I kept thinking
one of these times he's going to fall or step the way he was
looking (off the side of the mountain) but he never did.
He was a great, and very patient, partner.
Very surefooted, he never tripped or stumbled. He did make me
nervous though because he had a habit of walking on the trail with
his head turned hanging over the side of the cliffs. I kept thinking
one of these times he's going to fall or step the way he was
looking (off the side of the mountain) but he never did.
| Click on any picture to enlarge. |
This is Popeye. He was Larry's (my host and teacher) horse. He
was a Belgian/Quarter Horse Cross. He was a tank. Just point
him in the direction you wanted to go and you went.
was a Belgian/Quarter Horse Cross. He was a tank. Just point
him in the direction you wanted to go and you went.
This is Tanner. He was a pack horse in training. He was great once
you got the pack on him, you just had to go through a lot to get it on.
Usually it entailed a blindfold and a lot of circling.
you got the pack on him, you just had to go through a lot to get it on.
Usually it entailed a blindfold and a lot of circling.
This is Walter. He was an old hand at this packing stuff. Stood still
as a statue when you were loading him up. We always tried to keep
the packs packed to where they wouldn't make any noise, but if there
was any doubt, Walter was the one to carry it.
as a statue when you were loading him up. We always tried to keep
the packs packed to where they wouldn't make any noise, but if there
was any doubt, Walter was the one to carry it.
This is the North Fork of the Blackfoot River. It was one of the
first scenic things to see not far after leaving the trailhead. We
were riding in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, heading to Scapegoat
Mountain.
first scenic things to see not far after leaving the trailhead. We
were riding in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, heading to Scapegoat
Mountain.
This is the bridge leading to the Forest Service Cabin. It's bigger
than it looks in my picture. Sadly, it, along with the Forest Service
Cabin are now gone. Victims of a forest fire since then.
than it looks in my picture. Sadly, it, along with the Forest Service
Cabin are now gone. Victims of a forest fire since then.
This was a really neat cabin. What you can't see in the picture is a
plywood sheet, laying on the porch, with huge nails sticking up all
over it. There was one in the front and back. They were anti-bear
tricks to keep the bears out of the cabin. It came close to being
burned up a few years before I got there, but the forest service
people managed to fend off the fire. The next fire they weren't so
lucky.
plywood sheet, laying on the porch, with huge nails sticking up all
over it. There was one in the front and back. They were anti-bear
tricks to keep the bears out of the cabin. It came close to being
burned up a few years before I got there, but the forest service
people managed to fend off the fire. The next fire they weren't so
lucky.
This is one end of our destination, Scapegoat Mountain. I
remember thinking, when he pointed this out to me, "Wow, that's
not all that impressive. He didn't tell me at the time that this was the
ending edge of it.
remember thinking, when he pointed this out to me, "Wow, that's
not all that impressive. He didn't tell me at the time that this was the
ending edge of it.
It was a beautiful day on the way up. As we got closer it got
cloudier. Once we were at the top, a storm was moving over the
mountain. In this picture, just to the left, you can see a lightening
bolt.
cloudier. Once we were at the top, a storm was moving over the
mountain. In this picture, just to the left, you can see a lightening
bolt.
Here you can see storm clouds engulfing the tip of the mountain. I
couldn't get but a couple pictures because after that, we literally
RAN the horses down the other side to get below treeline. At the
time I wasn't scared. Didn't think about the fact that our horses
were carrying loads of metal in their packs and we were the tallest
things up there. I was too excited about everything. I think Larry
was worried enough for all of us.
couldn't get but a couple pictures because after that, we literally
RAN the horses down the other side to get below treeline. At the
time I wasn't scared. Didn't think about the fact that our horses
were carrying loads of metal in their packs and we were the tallest
things up there. I was too excited about everything. I think Larry
was worried enough for all of us.
This is the river that runs under that bridge. The water was so
crystal clear that we could drink from it as it was. We'd walk our
horses into it to drink, then lean down from the saddle and put our
cups in the water.......On the upstream side of the horse of course.
crystal clear that we could drink from it as it was. We'd walk our
horses into it to drink, then lean down from the saddle and put our
cups in the water.......On the upstream side of the horse of course.
This is a waterfall a little ways past the cabin.
This was our campsite at the base of Scapegoat Mountain. Here you
can get a better idea of the size of it. As you can see, the storm has
blown over. I don't remember now how much time passed from the
time we were on top and when we got to camp, but it wasn't that long.
can get a better idea of the size of it. As you can see, the storm has
blown over. I don't remember now how much time passed from the
time we were on top and when we got to camp, but it wasn't that long.
This is 3 of the horses resting in camp the second day. I think, if I
remember right, that this was Upper cabin Creek Basin, but I might be
wrong. Our campsite the first day may have been in that basin. All the
horses were hobbled and 3 of the 4 wore cow bells.
remember right, that this was Upper cabin Creek Basin, but I might be
wrong. Our campsite the first day may have been in that basin. All the
horses were hobbled and 3 of the 4 wore cow bells.
Here's Walter wearing his cowbell.
Here's our host Larry working on dinner the second day after we made
camp.
camp.
I have more pictures, but these are the best ones, so they're the only ones I'm going to add to my
website. If you ever get a chance to ride in the Montana wilderness, please do. Even though I
was scared out of my wits a few times, it was a fantastic experience that I wish every trail riding
enthusiast could enjoy.
website. If you ever get a chance to ride in the Montana wilderness, please do. Even though I
was scared out of my wits a few times, it was a fantastic experience that I wish every trail riding
enthusiast could enjoy.