September 6, 2020 – Highway to Hike!

 This morning I got in a 3 mile run with Ceilidh. While I was gone Russ was able to witness a process folks rarely see.  He watched as “packers” packed their pack mules.  He said it was so fascinating and when he asked one of the men who performed this job what they called themselves, he said “packers.”  Russ also asked where the fella learned to pack like that – tie all those knots and set the mules up in perfect balance.  The guy said that he learned it at a school.  Amazing, isn’t it?  There is a school and certification for just about everything it seems.







 

After I got back from my run Russ cooked us a big breakfast on the outside griddle.  Lots of bacon, eggs and hashbrowns.  Then it was time for the hike to the  Owl Creek Falls.    Russ had scoped it out on the map and it looked like the distance would be about 1.5 miles one way.  Well, I now know he was a bit off.  It was 2.2 miles each way and not exactly an easy hike.  On top of that it was overwhelmed with people including lots of kids and dogs.  I mean it was like a highway out there.  I don’t know what I expected, it being Labor Day Weekend and considering all of the trouble we had finding a campsite.  Anyways, we survived and I know Russ will sleep well tonight!  Ceilidh and I also.  


This afternoon we took a dip to clear off the sweat in Holland Lake – boy was it cold but refreshing. 

 

I have been meaning to mention this thought that I had.  After our search for a campsite in so many places, it made me think about all of the times we have camped in USFS campgrounds.  Over the years I have noticed a new phenomenon that is occurring on these sites.  There seem to be a lot more “long term” campers.  The client is familiar:  they arrive in camp, sometimes with an older suv dragging a small flatbed trailer.  They set up a site that includes everything but a washer/dryer.  There are older trailers or tents made of blue or grey plastic tarps, surrounded by 5 gal  water containers, clothes lines, tables and no frill  camp chairs.  They are there for the duration which at this point in time is 16 days.  If they are paying and they are senior citizens (which it appears most of them are) the cost is anywhere from $5 to $8 a night. 

 

I have decided that these folks are the latest breed of “American Gypsies.”  They have to move from campground to campground every 16 days but for 2 weeks, they are encamped with everything they need (pit toilets, water and sometimes even electricity)  for a relatively reasonable rent.  I’m not real sure what they do in winter – go south, perhaps where the campgrounds are open. 

 

I am casting no aspersions and making no judgements, just remarking on something I have seen and experienced.

 

So we have decided to stay here 2 more nights and then strike out towards a RV park east of Missoula.  We need to do our laundry, dump our tanks and fill up the fresh water tank. 

 

Hoping that tomorrow will settle things around here as people head home after the last summer weekend.

 

 

 

 

 

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