by Marlene
Busy, busy, busy......getting ready for a camping and hiking trip this weekend to the Many Glacier area of Glacier National Park. We've made some trail mix, cleaned hydration packs, and started getting the camping gear ready. The Going to the Sun Road should be completely open tomorrow and the June 26th opening is considerably earlier than last years July 2nd opening. Crews have been working on damage caused during a November 2006 rainstorm, not to mention substantial avalanche damage from this past Spring. Recent snow and wet weather have delayed some of the work, but shouldn't hamper the opening. Glacier National Park is open year round, but the Sun Road gets special attention as it enables visitors to access Logan Pass with its awesome scenery and cross the Continental Divide. Winter snow is often left over at this time of year and we often see kids of all ages laughing and playing in it. Life's simple pleasures are the best and it brings me joy seeing people having so much fun in a place that I love. Tomorrow, we will drive the 50 mile long road to the east and travel north to Many Glacier to camp and hike the Iceberg Lake Trail. You'll be hearing more of our trip, I'm sure, but for now I'd better get moving! We've just posted a video about backpack preparation to our Youtube channel, so I'll leave you with that.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Happy Trails, Mr. Nerison
by Marlene
David, the girls, and I were out for an evening stroll when we passed a man with bandages wrapped around his leg. Of course I noticed, as it will be 4 weeks tomorrow that I sprained my ankle. Going in opposite directions, we exchanged greetings and kept walking. His face was familiar, but it wasn't until M told me who it was that I realized we had passed Mr. Nerison, the man that was attacked by a grizzly on the Lake McDonald Valley Trail in Glacier National Park on June 7th. Wanting to meet the man I had blogged about, I turned around, and called to him. After introducing myself and telling him of the scolding comment I had received about my post, he spoke to us for awhile. He was very polite and gave us an account of his ordeal. I felt like paparazzi as M snapped photos of him. He looked great and his recovery is coming right along. It was good to meet him and it turns out he lives just a few blocks away. I wish him a speedy recovery and hope he'll be hitting the trails again soon!
Follow the link below for the full article and comment:
David, the girls, and I were out for an evening stroll when we passed a man with bandages wrapped around his leg. Of course I noticed, as it will be 4 weeks tomorrow that I sprained my ankle. Going in opposite directions, we exchanged greetings and kept walking. His face was familiar, but it wasn't until M told me who it was that I realized we had passed Mr. Nerison, the man that was attacked by a grizzly on the Lake McDonald Valley Trail in Glacier National Park on June 7th. Wanting to meet the man I had blogged about, I turned around, and called to him. After introducing myself and telling him of the scolding comment I had received about my post, he spoke to us for awhile. He was very polite and gave us an account of his ordeal. I felt like paparazzi as M snapped photos of him. He looked great and his recovery is coming right along. It was good to meet him and it turns out he lives just a few blocks away. I wish him a speedy recovery and hope he'll be hitting the trails again soon!
Follow the link below for the full article and comment:
- Glacier Jogger Attacked by Grizzly Bear
 |
| Mr. Nerison was out for a walk with his dog. He has had several surgeries to repair his damaged leg since the attack on June 7, 2009. At this time, he said that preventing infection of the injury is the major concern. He encourages everyone to be bear aware when entering bear country. |
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Happy Father's Day
by Marlene
Father's Day is Sunday. Don't get Dad a shoe cake, neck tie, or Polo shirt. Get him something he really wants. If you've been listening over the years, your dad has probably given you hints or told you flat out what he wants. My dad has a bad back, so new golf balls are out, but I know he'd like to read a good Western or cherish an afternoon of peace while Mom goes shopping.
My husband has made it easy for his five kids to select a gift. For as long as I can remember, he simply tells them to go to the gun store. If they had taken the hint, he would have a sizable collection by now. We've been married for 36 years, so we've seen a lot of Father's Days together and he has gotten some very thoughtful presents. He'll be checking the porch for packages!
Father's Day is Sunday. Don't get Dad a shoe cake, neck tie, or Polo shirt. Get him something he really wants. If you've been listening over the years, your dad has probably given you hints or told you flat out what he wants. My dad has a bad back, so new golf balls are out, but I know he'd like to read a good Western or cherish an afternoon of peace while Mom goes shopping.
My husband has made it easy for his five kids to select a gift. For as long as I can remember, he simply tells them to go to the gun store. If they had taken the hint, he would have a sizable collection by now. We've been married for 36 years, so we've seen a lot of Father's Days together and he has gotten some very thoughtful presents. He'll be checking the porch for packages!
 |
| Target Practice |
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
It's Hot, or Not?
by E
Since we think the dry 80 degree weather around here is really hot, Dad proved to us that we were wrong. He gave us a speech on how back in the New Orleans area of Louisiana, where we come from, it is much hotter. He told how 100 degrees here, doesn't even compare to 80 there. Why is that, you may ask? The answer is, humidity.
 |
| Our tomato plants |
Working out in the garden planting our tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumber, lettuce, and carrots, we were hot as heck. Dad called us inside, and led us to his bathroom. I was frightened that he would present a dead moth, M was scared of a fake guy in the shower, and Mom feared a lizard. Distrustfully, I held back, until Mom said, "Oh, you're going to show them how the heat is."
We walked inside, and looked at Dad's thermometer. It was 90 degrees, with about 49% humidity. It was extremely hot, and sweat dripped from our faces. Dad explained how the humidity is much higher back in Louisiana. That seemed extremely unbearable, to us.
We stepped out of the bathroom, and felt the cool relief of our always chilled basement. Getting back to the gardening, the once hot weather seemed pleasant. But after more working in the sun, we soon felt the heat again. Just think about what it must be like planting a garden in Louisiana!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Boise Man Attacked by Grizzly Near West Yellowstone!
by Marlene
It has been reported by a spokeswoman for the Gallatin National Forest that a grizzly bear has attacked a Boise, Idaho man near West Yellowstone, Montana. The attack took place on Wednesday, June 10, when the 34-year old victim, whose name was not immediately released, was hiking alone along a Forest Service road when he surprised a sow and her cub. He suffered bite wounds to the head, shoulder, arms, torso, and one leg. Spokeswoman Marna Daley says the man was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Rexburg, Idaho.
It seems my blog entries of late have been all about bears! Grizzlies and black bears have been really making their presence known here in Montana. On a recent hike in the Bowman Lake area of Glacier National Park, we spotted bear tracks and the remains of a deer that had been violently attacked by a predator. I highly recommend that you make noise and carry bear spray when hiking in the wilderness. Bear spray costs around $40.00 and has been known to be an effective deterrent. Do not hike alone and remember that bears, as well as other wildlife, use the same trails that people do.
Related Articles:
It has been reported by a spokeswoman for the Gallatin National Forest that a grizzly bear has attacked a Boise, Idaho man near West Yellowstone, Montana. The attack took place on Wednesday, June 10, when the 34-year old victim, whose name was not immediately released, was hiking alone along a Forest Service road when he surprised a sow and her cub. He suffered bite wounds to the head, shoulder, arms, torso, and one leg. Spokeswoman Marna Daley says the man was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Rexburg, Idaho.
It seems my blog entries of late have been all about bears! Grizzlies and black bears have been really making their presence known here in Montana. On a recent hike in the Bowman Lake area of Glacier National Park, we spotted bear tracks and the remains of a deer that had been violently attacked by a predator. I highly recommend that you make noise and carry bear spray when hiking in the wilderness. Bear spray costs around $40.00 and has been known to be an effective deterrent. Do not hike alone and remember that bears, as well as other wildlife, use the same trails that people do.
 |
| Bear track on Bowman Lake Trail, Glacier National Park 5-24-09 |
Related Articles:
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Glacier Jogger Attacked by Grizzly Bear!
by Marlene
 |
| M and E pet a not so alive grizzly! |
It has been reported that Sunday morning, a jogger was attacked and injured by a grizzly bear while running along the Lake McDonald Valley Trail on the west side of Glacier National Park. Sixty year old Thomas Nerison told park officials he was bitten by a grizzly while running along the trail about 9:45 a.m. He said he heard what he described as the sound of a dog barking and then galloping horses coming up the trail behind him. He said he wasn't making any noise and didn't have any bear spray with him at the time, although he usually carries it. He turned around, got off the trail about a foot when he saw two 250 lb grizzlies running toward him. Nerison said he believed the bears were running from something that had startled them.
Duh, it was Mr. Nerison that startled them!
One bear stopped close to him, he kicked it, and then, he fell down. The bear bit him twice as he continued to kick. Nerison used sticks to poke at the bear. The bear lost interest, ran back in the direction he had come, and then uphill away from the trail. After that, Nerison walked downhill and cross country to the Going to the Sun Road where he caught a ride from a visitor back to his own car at the Avalanche Lake trailhead. He drove himself to the hospital emergency room for treatment.
Sunday afternoon rangers closed the trail between the junction with the Avalanche Trail and the Johns Lake Trail and are investigating the incident. Traveling alone and running on trails is not recommended in grizzly country. Running is discouraged because of the increasing number of injuries and fatalities nationwide of runners startling bears at close range.
Duh, it was Mr. Nerison that startled them!
One bear stopped close to him, he kicked it, and then, he fell down. The bear bit him twice as he continued to kick. Nerison used sticks to poke at the bear. The bear lost interest, ran back in the direction he had come, and then uphill away from the trail. After that, Nerison walked downhill and cross country to the Going to the Sun Road where he caught a ride from a visitor back to his own car at the Avalanche Lake trailhead. He drove himself to the hospital emergency room for treatment.
Sunday afternoon rangers closed the trail between the junction with the Avalanche Trail and the Johns Lake Trail and are investigating the incident. Traveling alone and running on trails is not recommended in grizzly country. Running is discouraged because of the increasing number of injuries and fatalities nationwide of runners startling bears at close range.
We've also hiked the Lake McDonald Valley Trail, but haven't written about the experience as it wasn't particularly eventful. However, we have seen a fellow hiker enjoying some peaceful meditation on the trail.
Also spotted was fresh bear scat in the form of meatballs, giving evidence of a black bear as opposed to the cinnamon roll shaped scat of a grizzly. As the Lake McDonald Valley Trail is in the woods, we think of this area as being frequented by black bears as grizzlies are usually found on slopes.
We've taken a bear identification course and I can tell you that bears can be difficult to identify, especially in nerve-wracking situations. (E made a YouTube video on bear identification and is also giving her 4-H illustrated talk tomorrow evening on the subject.) Who knows, perhaps Mr. Nerison in all of his excitement, misidentified the type of bear.
Also spotted was fresh bear scat in the form of meatballs, giving evidence of a black bear as opposed to the cinnamon roll shaped scat of a grizzly. As the Lake McDonald Valley Trail is in the woods, we think of this area as being frequented by black bears as grizzlies are usually found on slopes.
We've taken a bear identification course and I can tell you that bears can be difficult to identify, especially in nerve-wracking situations. (E made a YouTube video on bear identification and is also giving her 4-H illustrated talk tomorrow evening on the subject.) Who knows, perhaps Mr. Nerison in all of his excitement, misidentified the type of bear.
At any rate, Mr. Nerison isn't the only hiker to have experienced a bear encounter on the Lake McDonald Valley trail. In June of 1996, a seventy year old man, hiking alone along this same trail, sustained injuries from a grizzly bear.
Mr. Nerison's attack is the first bear related injury in Glacier since August of 2005 when Johann Otter and his daughter Jenna were attacked on the Grinnell Glacier Trail. You can read all about that incident in my article "The Otters Return to Glacier".
I'd say that all of us that enjoy hiking in bear country need to be vigilant and always bear aware.
Mr. Nerison's attack is the first bear related injury in Glacier since August of 2005 when Johann Otter and his daughter Jenna were attacked on the Grinnell Glacier Trail. You can read all about that incident in my article "The Otters Return to Glacier".
I'd say that all of us that enjoy hiking in bear country need to be vigilant and always bear aware.
Related Articles:
Thursday, June 4, 2009
"Bonanza" and "Weird Ben"
by Marlene
The Cartwrights rode into Americans living rooms in 1959. Bonanza was a family western about a three timed widower raising three sons on his ranch, "The Ponderosa", near Virginia City, Nevada. It captured the hearts of viewers for fourteen years. It starred Lorne Greene as Ben Cartwright, the wise father, Pernell Roberts as the architect who built their house and always wore black, Dan Blocker, as Eric, the gentle giant better known as "Hoss", and Michael Landon as Little Joe, the youngest and hot head of the bunch. Each episode captivated its audiences with realistic characters that usually found themselves having to demonstrate their loyalty by defending a family member. With modern television having so much inappropriate programming for children, we introduced this wonderful old show to M & E when they were quite young. They also read a fictional book about "Bonanza" titled "The Bubble Gum Kid" which inspired them to write their own story titled "Weird Ben" at the tender ages of seven and six. It's a humorous look from a child's perspective of what it might be like to visit the "Ponderosa" if they were left there while their parents vacationed in Hawaii. I'll leave you with this video of the intro to the show, which reminds me of Marlboro Country. And don't forget to read M & E's fictional story "Weird Ben". It's one of Grandpa Davey's favorites!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Ozzy Daisy
by Marlene
The growing season in Montana is very short. Lawns and Norway Maples have only gotten lush in the last few weeks and it's only been the last week or so that we have set out flower pots. The garden centers have gotten really busy as most of us are just starting to plant vegetable gardens. May 31st was the deadline for removing studded tires, and at a recent track meet, the announcer told the freezing crowd that the concession stand had run out of hot chocolate but still had hot chili. I know I'm rattling on, but I'm trying to paint a picture of a typical springtime in the Rockies. It can be the coldest, wettest season, yet sunny and delightfully warm.
Hooper's is my favorite garden center, and over the weekend we made our annual trek to buy some vegetable plants. By the way, Hooper's has been doing business in the valley for over 30 years, and they say a good rule of thumb is not to plant when there is still snow on the Swan Range. Well, there is still snow on the mountains, but I'm going to plant anyway. I enjoy shopping at Hooper's as their plants are superior and they have the most colorful display of flowers. I do believe it surpasses Perino's on Veterans Hwy. in Metairie. While there, we reminisced about last years visit when we saw the Ozzy Daisy's and E took this picture with the intention of sharing it with her brother Kyle. One thing led to another and it's taken us all of this time to post this picture.
The growing season in Montana is very short. Lawns and Norway Maples have only gotten lush in the last few weeks and it's only been the last week or so that we have set out flower pots. The garden centers have gotten really busy as most of us are just starting to plant vegetable gardens. May 31st was the deadline for removing studded tires, and at a recent track meet, the announcer told the freezing crowd that the concession stand had run out of hot chocolate but still had hot chili. I know I'm rattling on, but I'm trying to paint a picture of a typical springtime in the Rockies. It can be the coldest, wettest season, yet sunny and delightfully warm.
Hooper's is my favorite garden center, and over the weekend we made our annual trek to buy some vegetable plants. By the way, Hooper's has been doing business in the valley for over 30 years, and they say a good rule of thumb is not to plant when there is still snow on the Swan Range. Well, there is still snow on the mountains, but I'm going to plant anyway. I enjoy shopping at Hooper's as their plants are superior and they have the most colorful display of flowers. I do believe it surpasses Perino's on Veterans Hwy. in Metairie. While there, we reminisced about last years visit when we saw the Ozzy Daisy's and E took this picture with the intention of sharing it with her brother Kyle. One thing led to another and it's taken us all of this time to post this picture.
 |
| Hoopers Garden Center |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)