Montana TR- Getting There

(Sorry folks. As usual when I get started with these things I get very
prolix. Bear with me.)

I'm not, by nature, a traveler.

But taking a trip out west to do some trouting has been in the back of
my mind for a couple of years. This year we agreed that hell or high
gas prices we'd make the trip.

We left Merrill at 10 pm on Saturday the 5th. The plan was to drive
through the night and pull off to rest after we reached Montana Sunday
afternoon. We had access to the cabin on the West Boulder starting
Monday the 7th. We spent Sunday night in the dilapidated old city of
Forsyth. A railroad hub it still revealed aspects of its former
prosperity in a few buildings on Main St. but the overgrown sidewalks
and empty houses that stared panelessly out on those same walks were a
truer testament of its stature these days. The Interstate has given it
some measure of purpose with a street lined with motels and gas
stations and the Burlington Northern still has an office there. But it
was obvious that Forsyth was enduring hard times.

The motel was old but clean. The air conditioner strained mightily to
cool the kitchenette's three rooms in the 90 degree heat and actually
made the place sleepable. There was Animal Planet on the TV for Mason
and a coffee maker for Jacci and me. I made a personal re-acquaintance
with the goathead thorns of my Colorado days while walking the dogs.
It wasn't a bad stop over but I was relieved when we pulled out the
next day.

We drove past a pall of smoke rising from an unseen wildfire between
the "I" and the Yellowstone River. Further west we passed miles of
burned dry-land forest/prairie around Custer and Hardin. This was
somewhat worrying as there had been a small fire in the next drainage
over from the cabin, on South Pine Creek, and an even larger one near
to Yellowstone. We didn't know what we'd find. When we reached Big
Timber we made a quick stop at the IGA (nice place and people) and the
flyshop, Sweetcast Flyfishing, to get our licenses. Then it was up
into the mountains.

The road went from pavement to gravel to gravel/rock. The last 7 miles
took about 20 minutes to cover and went through the holdings of,
supposedly, Michael Keaton and Tom Brokaw. During the next week we
made numerous, unverifiable Brokaw and Keaton sightings. Whoever the
drivers were, it must be said that for a little rocky road, West Big
Rock Road hosted a very high percentage of pricey, upper end SUVs.

We reached the cabin. It was snugged up against a rocky bend in the
river. VT had preceded us by a day. His stuff was neatly stacked in a
small corner of the three room building. It was soon overcome by all
the crap we had brought from Wisconsin. To be fair, we (meaning Jacci)
had volunteered to do the cooking for the whole week and we had two
coolers full of things like steaks, roasts, milk and eggs. But there
were also packs and boxes of waders and fly tying materials and
trekking poles and headlamps and bear spray. We tried to limit the
Cleveland Chaos from spilling over to the rest of the cabin from our
bedroom but it wasn't always a successful endeavor. Some of it I would
drag out and forget, some of it the dogs would. In general though the
cabin floor was easy to walk across and the window ledges uncluttered
enough to open and shut the sliding multi-paned windows.

http://fishskicanoe.tripod.com/geopics/IMG_0223.JPG
The West Big Rock Cabin

http://fishskicanoe.tripod.com/geopics/IMG_0224a.jpg
The River Behind the Cabin

After we unpacked we headed for the river. VT had warned us about the
lack of trout in what seemed to be obvious places but it still came as
a surprise to drift dries and nymphs through numerous pieces of
holding water with nary a bite nor bump. Finally, along about sun
down, I hooked and landed a big whitefish. But that was it for the
evening. The rest of the day was spent on the porch, talking and
drinking beer. A little after dark a big full moon struggled up over
the mountainside to the east. The cabin windows glowed out into the
moonlit night.

The next day VT and I were headed up to the Meadows...

http://fishskicanoe.tripod.com/geopi.../IMG_0233a.jpg
VT and Jacci on the Porch


(More...fortunately or unfortunately... to come)


Geo. C.

George Cleveland wrote:
(Sorry folks. As usual when I get started with these things I get very
prolix. Bear with me.)

I'm not, by nature, a traveler.

But taking a trip out west to do some trouting has been in the back of
my mind for a couple of years. This year we agreed that hell or high
gas prices we'd make the trip.

We left Merrill at 10 pm on Saturday the 5th. The plan was to drive
through the night and pull off to rest after we reached Montana Sunday
afternoon. We had access to the cabin on the West Boulder starting
Monday the 7th. We spent Sunday night in the dilapidated old city of
Forsyth. A railroad hub it still revealed aspects of its former
prosperity in a few buildings on Main St. but the overgrown sidewalks
and empty houses that stared panelessly out on those same walks were a
truer testament of its stature these days. The Interstate has given it
some measure of purpose with a street lined with motels and gas
stations and the Burlington Northern still has an office there. But it
was obvious that Forsyth was enduring hard times.

The motel was old but clean. The air conditioner strained mightily to
cool the kitchenette's three rooms in the 90 degree heat and actually
made the place sleepable. There was Animal Planet on the TV for Mason
and a coffee maker for Jacci and me. I made a personal re-acquaintance
with the goathead thorns of my Colorado days while walking the dogs.
It wasn't a bad stop over but I was relieved when we pulled out the
next day.

We drove past a pall of smoke rising from an unseen wildfire between
the "I" and the Yellowstone River. Further west we passed miles of
burned dry-land forest/prairie around Custer and Hardin. This was
somewhat worrying as there had been a small fire in the next drainage
over from the cabin, on South Pine Creek, and an even larger one near
to Yellowstone. We didn't know what we'd find. When we reached Big
Timber we made a quick stop at the IGA (nice place and people) and the
flyshop, Sweetcast Flyfishing, to get our licenses. Then it was up
into the mountains.

The road went from pavement to gravel to gravel/rock. The last 7 miles
took about 20 minutes to cover and went through the holdings of,
supposedly, Michael Keaton and Tom Brokaw. During the next week we
made numerous, unverifiable Brokaw and Keaton sightings. Whoever the
drivers were, it must be said that for a little rocky road, West Big
Rock Road hosted a very high percentage of pricey, upper end SUVs.

We reached the cabin. It was snugged up against a rocky bend in the
river. VT had preceded us by a day. His stuff was neatly stacked in a
small corner of the three room building. It was soon overcome by all
the crap we had brought from Wisconsin. To be fair, we (meaning Jacci)
had volunteered to do the cooking for the whole week and we had two
coolers full of things like steaks, roasts, milk and eggs. But there
were also packs and boxes of waders and fly tying materials and
trekking poles and headlamps and bear spray. We tried to limit the
Cleveland Chaos from spilling over to the rest of the cabin from our
bedroom but it wasn't always a successful endeavor. Some of it I would
drag out and forget, some of it the dogs would. In general though the
cabin floor was easy to walk across and the window ledges uncluttered
enough to open and shut the sliding multi-paned windows.

http://fishskicanoe.tripod.com/geopics/IMG_0223.JPG
The West Big Rock Cabin

http://fishskicanoe.tripod.com/geopics/IMG_0224a.jpg
The River Behind the Cabin

After we unpacked we headed for the river. VT had warned us about the
lack of trout in what seemed to be obvious places but it still came as
a surprise to drift dries and nymphs through numerous pieces of
holding water with nary a bite nor bump. Finally, along about sun
down, I hooked and landed a big whitefish. But that was it for the
evening. The rest of the day was spent on the porch, talking and
drinking beer. A little after dark a big full moon struggled up over
the mountainside to the east. The cabin windows glowed out into the
moonlit night.

The next day VT and I were headed up to the Meadows...

http://fishskicanoe.tripod.com/geopi.../IMG_0233a.jpg
VT and Jacci on the Porch


(More...fortunately or unfortunately... to come)


Geo. C.

wellhell...this is fun so far. think i'll stick around to see where
we're goin next. excellent stuff george...thanks. ...esp. liked the
paneless parts. with you and claspy and wolf and knight around in the
yoop next month, the campfire's gonna be an entertaining place.

jeff

jeff wrote:
George Cleveland wrote:

(More...fortunately or unfortunately... to come)

Yes, more. Definitely more!

wellhell...this is fun so far. think i'll stick around to see where
we're goin next. excellent stuff george...thanks. ...esp. liked the
paneless parts. with you and claspy and wolf and knight around in the
yoop next month, the campfire's gonna be an entertaining place.

And John......don't forget John. Maybe we can get him to dance for us!

To whom, incidentally, I spoke not ten minutes ago. He's agreed to
driving up separately.....he'll be coming up over the Big Mac (if they
haven't blown it up by then) while I circle around and come in from the
west. Figured if we get you in a crossfire it'll be harder to miss
you.

We'll have three kayaks between us and John has promised a veritable
feast in the bottom of the Sturgeon Falls gorge. He is also hell-bent
on Fishing the Fox and the Two Hearted. Early in the trip probably
works best since we'll already be further east than in past ventures.
This also works out better for meeting Wayne who, when last heard from,
was planning to be there Saturday, the 9th. Bill has not yet
confirmed, but I believe mid week was his best guess. Not sure when
and where we'll meet him, but he was working on getting access to the
family cabin......which puts us back on familiar turf in the
west......as does Fisher's shack which is also available.

George?

Wolfgang

On 16 Aug 2006 18:33:29 -0700, "Wolfgang" wrote:


jeff wrote:
George Cleveland wrote:

(More...fortunately or unfortunately... to come)

Yes, more. Definitely more!

wellhell...this is fun so far. think i'll stick around to see where
we're goin next. excellent stuff george...thanks. ...esp. liked the
paneless parts. with you and claspy and wolf and knight around in the
yoop next month, the campfire's gonna be an entertaining place.

And John......don't forget John. Maybe we can get him to dance for us!

To whom, incidentally, I spoke not ten minutes ago. He's agreed to
driving up separately.....he'll be coming up over the Big Mac (if they
haven't blown it up by then) while I circle around and come in from the
west. Figured if we get you in a crossfire it'll be harder to miss
you.

We'll have three kayaks between us and John has promised a veritable
feast in the bottom of the Sturgeon Falls gorge. He is also hell-bent
on Fishing the Fox and the Two Hearted. Early in the trip probably
works best since we'll already be further east than in past ventures.
This also works out better for meeting Wayne who, when last heard from,
was planning to be there Saturday, the 9th. Bill has not yet
confirmed, but I believe mid week was his best guess. Not sure when
and where we'll meet him, but he was working on getting access to the
family cabin......which puts us back on familiar turf in the
west......as does Fisher's shack which is also available.

George?

Wolfgang

Mid-week is looking good.

Geo.C.

I only dance naked....and you don't want to see that....

anyhow my plans are leaving Dayton, Oh, on the 7th or 8th or thereabouts and
returning via any route on the 15th or 17th or thereabouts. If that helps
anyone I've got a big van.

Sturgeon Falls dinner will be filet mignon, with potatoes (recognize *that*
spelling?

) and green peppers and garlic and onions and other stuff all wrapped in
aluminum foil and roasted in the embers....I'll keep the receipt and charge
accordingly. The wine is on me and I'll pack it all in!

john

)
"George Cleveland" wrote in message
...
On 16 Aug 2006 18:33:29 -0700, "Wolfgang" wrote:


jeff wrote:
George Cleveland wrote:

(More...fortunately or unfortunately... to come)

Yes, more. Definitely more!

wellhell...this is fun so far. think i'll stick around to see where
we're goin next. excellent stuff george...thanks. ...esp. liked the
paneless parts. with you and claspy and wolf and knight around in the
yoop next month, the campfire's gonna be an entertaining place.

And John......don't forget John. Maybe we can get him to dance for us!

To whom, incidentally, I spoke not ten minutes ago. He's agreed to
driving up separately.....he'll be coming up over the Big Mac (if they
haven't blown it up by then) while I circle around and come in from the
west. Figured if we get you in a crossfire it'll be harder to miss
you.

We'll have three kayaks between us and John has promised a veritable
feast in the bottom of the Sturgeon Falls gorge. He is also hell-bent
on Fishing the Fox and the Two Hearted. Early in the trip probably
works best since we'll already be further east than in past ventures.
This also works out better for meeting Wayne who, when last heard from,
was planning to be there Saturday, the 9th. Bill has not yet
confirmed, but I believe mid week was his best guess. Not sure when
and where we'll meet him, but he was working on getting access to the
family cabin......which puts us back on familiar turf in the
west......as does Fisher's shack which is also available.

George?

Wolfgang

Mid-week is looking good.

Geo.C.

asadi wrote:
I only dance naked....and you don't want to see that....

anyhow my plans are leaving Dayton, Oh, on the 7th or 8th or thereabouts and
returning via any route on the 15th or 17th or thereabouts. If that helps
anyone I've got a big van.

Sturgeon Falls dinner will be filet mignon, with potatoes (recognize *that*
spelling?

) and green peppers and garlic and onions and other stuff all wrapped in
aluminum foil and roasted in the embers....I'll keep the receipt and charge
accordingly. The wine is on me and I'll pack it all in!

john

)
"George Cleveland" wrote in message
...

On 16 Aug 2006 18:33:29 -0700, "Wolfgang" wrote:


jeff wrote:

George Cleveland wrote:


(More...fortunately or unfortunately... to come)

Yes, more. Definitely more!


wellhell...this is fun so far. think i'll stick around to see where
we're goin next. excellent stuff george...thanks. ...esp. liked the
paneless parts. with you and claspy and wolf and knight around in the
yoop next month, the campfire's gonna be an entertaining place.

And John......don't forget John. Maybe we can get him to dance for us!

To whom, incidentally, I spoke not ten minutes ago. He's agreed to
driving up separately.....he'll be coming up over the Big Mac (if they
haven't blown it up by then) while I circle around and come in from the
west. Figured if we get you in a crossfire it'll be harder to miss
you.

We'll have three kayaks between us and John has promised a veritable
feast in the bottom of the Sturgeon Falls gorge. He is also hell-bent
on Fishing the Fox and the Two Hearted. Early in the trip probably
works best since we'll already be further east than in past ventures.
This also works out better for meeting Wayne who, when last heard from,
was planning to be there Saturday, the 9th. Bill has not yet
confirmed, but I believe mid week was his best guess. Not sure when
and where we'll meet him, but he was working on getting access to the
family cabin......which puts us back on familiar turf in the
west......as does Fisher's shack which is also available.

George?

Wolfgang

Mid-week is looking good.

Geo.C.




well hell with the campfire stories and dancin, let's eat! g

the fox and two-hearted sound like a fine adventure...looking forward to it.

jeff

You all got room for one more? I'm considering taking the trip.
General dates, meeting location..
Frank Reid

"Frank Reid" wrote in message
oups.com...
You all got room for one more?

Eh? A traveling fly shop? Hm........yeah, I suppose we could work
something out.

I'm considering taking the trip.
General dates, meeting location..

The only firm items currently on the itinerary are meeting Jeff at the
airport in Marquette at 2:07 p.m. on Friday, September 8 (John and I will
both be there), and returning him thither sometime on Saturday, the 16th.

Personally, I have no strong preferences concerning where to fish. John,
Jeff, Wayne and Bill have all expressed a desire to fish the Fox and the Two
Hearted. The Two Hearted is roughly a hundred miles to the east of
Marquette. John also wants to go back to the Sturgeon (which we fished
together last year), and Bill and I are most familiar with waters from there
on to the west. He and I both have access to relatively comfortable
accommodations in the Bruce Crossing to Kenton area. All of this is about
eighty miles to the west of Marquette. Bill and George (whose preferences
are as yet unknown) both plan to arrive around mid-week.

What all of this boils down to is a number of potential logistical problems
with regard to scheduling times and places for meeting. While the distances
involved are not overwhelming, I understand that some of the participants
have a limited amount of time available and would like to hit the water as
soon as possible. To complicate matters, cell phone coverage is spotty in
the U.P. It is reliable only in towns.....which is exactly where we will
NOT be most of the time. The only way to assure that we'll be able to meet
later arrivals is to make firm plans in advance.....changes MAY be possible,
depending on who can get in touch with whom by phone, but there is a real
risk that we'll be out of contact.

The best we can do is for anyone planning to attend to let me know as far in
advance as possible when they intend to arrive and where would be convenient
to meet. I'll do my best to accommodate based on how well conflicting
schedules can be overlapped.

I hope you can make it.

Wolfgang

On 8/16/06 9:33 PM, in article
, "Wolfgang"
wrote:

Bill has not yet
confirmed, but I believe mid week was his best guess.

Here I am. Just back from a Yoop-length drive in the opposite direction, so
now ain't the best time for me to commit to ANOTHER long drive in a month's
time. Less'n a month! Hellfire!

That said, I'm headed nort' on Wednesday the 13th. My suggestion to the
clavemeister was for a rendezvous on the Fox that afternoon. There is both
a nice campground right (RIGHT!) on the river as well as a motel in Seney,
as I recall. If being in the middle of the peninsula on Wednesday works for
you lads, I'm all for it. I'll probably pull in mid afternoon sometime.
Beyond that, I'm up for just about any destination, although given my
druthers, I'd rather head west than up to the Two Hearted. Though I can't
remember exactly when it was the fly-in boys are departing (Friday?
Saturday?) and will bow to whatever decision fits their flight schedules.

Family accomodations are up in the air and more likely to be unavailable
than otherwise, unfortunately. We'll consider it a windfall if it happens.

Glad to hear you are joining us, Frank! I'll bring the full first aid kit
and bear repellant.

Bill

Wolfgang wrote:

This also works out better for meeting Wayne who, when last heard from,
was planning to be there Saturday, the 9th.

That was if Wayne could get away and get as far as Grayling on Friday
night. My actual departure date from Indy will be dependent on the
Catholics financial closing calendar.

I am working on meeting a few friends with cabins and connections in
the area (and hunting dogs) for the grouse opener that Saturday. Who
else is up for a little casting and blasting at the end?

Wayne