tvashtarkatena Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 (edited) Trip: Blackfoot/Bitterroot Float and Backpack - Date: 8/27/2012 Trip Report: SLIDESHOW One week left of vacation and a cloudy state of Washington. What's a pair of bodies to do? Colleen and I spent two nights out floating the North and Main fork of the "A River Runs Through It" Blackfoot River. A mellow float (with a fair share of rock dodging this time of year). Plenty of ospreys fishing and red tails hunting during the day. At dusk, the kestrels, which look like large swallows, came out to reduce the insect population. We then headed to the smoke-shrouded Bitterroot Range for one night out at Wyant Lake (Canyon Ck TH). Forest fires can cause some strange animal behavior: we saw a bat lazily drifting overhead mid morning. They also make for some interesting skies. We were surprised to find out that the Bitterroots, at least in our vicinity, were granite and not unlike a more fractured, dryer version of the Yosemite backcountry. Montana provided a sunny respite from Washington's mercurial summer, and it's only slightly further than Smith Rocks from Seattle. Edited August 29, 2012 by tvashtarkatena Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyson.g Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 Great shots as usual Mr. You lead a blessed life you ol' Dawg! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonG Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 I didn't see a rod in your boat, say it ain't so! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvashtarkatena Posted August 30, 2012 Author Share Posted August 30, 2012 I keep it stowed until requested to do otherwise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 i see colleen is as big a fan as you of the collapsible bowl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete_H Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 Bitterroots are gneiss not granite. Looks like a fun trip! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvashtarkatena Posted August 30, 2012 Author Share Posted August 30, 2012 Come on, Pete, you really think I didn't look that up? For you geo wonks and igneoramuses out there, most of the Bitterroots are Cretaceous Idaho Batholith: granodiorite and monzonite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 granite is nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvashtarkatena Posted August 30, 2012 Author Share Posted August 30, 2012 (edited) I took some crag shots while hiking up Canyon Ck. I have no idea how developed the Bitterroots are (never looked into it), but given that Canyon Ck is just one of many canyons in the range, and the range is damn big, there's probably some fun to be had there for anyone willing to wade past Montana's ubiquitous white noise of kooks, drunks, and holy rollers. Fortunately, the state also offers a very low population density, particularly regarding Johnny Law. I'm glad to have it available as a possible refuge when they finally come for me. Canada's become impossible these days, but, apparently, Montana will take anyone. Montana's kind of like a snowy Mexico for scratchy white folk with a few Robert Redfords sprinkled in to stoke the brotherly love. Crag Shots Edited August 30, 2012 by tvashtarkatena Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete_H Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 In the early 19th century, Butte had the highest Irish-American population of any city in the country. You'd almost fit right in, Pat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvashtarkatena Posted August 31, 2012 Author Share Posted August 31, 2012 They don't call Butte the Paris of the West for nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonG Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 Well played Pat, I should have just asked if you did any FISHING. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvashtarkatena Posted September 4, 2012 Author Share Posted September 4, 2012 (edited) We didn't fish, Jason. Had to put the trip together quickly and didn't have time to research/acquire the licenses, check regs, etc. Plus, I've never fished from an inflatable kayak (only hardshells). Knowing me.... I do like those groovy little drop anchors the guides use. I'm a CastMaster kinda guy anyway. The finer points of the Blackfoot would have been lost on me. Still, Canyon Lake was WAY down and the fish would have practically leapt into the pan. Next time! Edited September 4, 2012 by tvashtarkatena Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 did you pick anything up at the house of ho's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.