The Event at Rebecca Farm

Ponds decorate the grounds of Rebecca Farm.

by Marlene

This was our first year attending the Event at Rebecca Farm. I do not know much about horses, but watching the riders compete in trials for the World Cup was quite impressive. The course is big and set on the Broussard’s family farm in Kalispell’s beautiful west valley. The farm grows barley and wheat and covers 640 gently rolling hills. It is a private farm except for special events such as this "World Class Equestrian Triathlon".

The annual weekend event is free and draws about 15,000 people from around the world. Upon arriving, we were directed to a field to park. The girls and I were complaining of the heat as it was a scorcher of about 90 degrees. For Montana, that means hot and dry like a desert. Fortunately, it’s not humid and you can get cool in the shade.

As we walked towards the course, I noticed how pretty the grounds were with landscaping that included trees, ponds, and fountains. We were not sure how to watch a cross-country event but soon realized that spectators were walking from jump to jump. Also, if one desired to stay put, two big white tents had been set up on a hill, which provided shade and a view of the entire course. There was a trade fair tent selling horse related goods as well as tents set-aside for food vendors.

The more we walked around; I began to think that this was no ordinary cross-country course. Each jump was unique with names such as Pair of Trout, Duck Pond, and Jurassic Park. They were also pretty. Jumps were painted and showy flowers added a splash of color. I have since learned that blue food color was added to enhance the water’s color on the water obstacles. The jumps were designed by Captain Mark Phillips and turned into works of art by builder Bert Wood, one of about 25 professional course builders in the world. Guest artist, Matt Langelier also helped on the project fashioning out the moose jump, which took about 10 days to complete.

Kalispell is way up in Northwest Montana, not on the interstate, and I have been asked, "What do you have to do up there?" Well, the Event at Rebecca Farm is one of them… it's a first-class equestrian event for everyone…it will not let you down. If you think I’m just saying that because I live here, check out this link to Wet Reins, she has some glowing remarks and wonderful shots of the course.

A jump at Rebecca Farm

Duck jump

Discover the Fun of Geocaching

An ammo cache filled with trinkets

by Marlene

Have you tried geocaching? If not, I highly recommend it. Kids of all ages are captivated with the thought of finding treasure and it's an inexpensive and fun way for the whole family to enjoy themselves.

Geocaching is an outdoor activity which uses GPS, (Global Positioning System), or other navigational methods to hide and seek waterproof containers called caches. Containers are generally ammo boxes, Tupperware, or in the case of a micro cache, a film canister. Some geocache hiders get creative as in a recent cache found in our neighborhood. A 1970's green crock pot, the same identical one that I still use to this day, contained all of the goodies. Inside the container you will find a log, in which the finder enters their geocache name, the date, and a brief message if space permits. What's especially fun for kids is the treasure itself. Larger containers hold trinkets, toys, and other unique items for trading. Trade only for comparable items and put the cache back exactly where you find it for the next guy. Watch out for mugglers, or non-geocachers, as you don't want to attract curiosity seekers who will just disturb the cache and spoil the fun for others.

Geocaching is an educational activity that teaches orienteering, map reading, patience and perseverance. Geocaches have been hidden around the world and currently can be found in 100 countries on 7 continents, including Antarctica.

Try it the next time you're looking for an entertaining way to spend an afternoon. Your kids will love it!

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep

Ram displays horns at Logan Pass, Glacier National Park

 by Marlene

The American argali, more commonly known as bighorn sheep, roam in the higher elevations of the Rocky Mountains. The males, or rams, are known for their impressive curved horns. The horns, or growths, are a status symbol for the male sheep and are used to display superiority. During the mating season, these huge horns are used as weapons. Rams battle for mating rites by rearing up on hind legs and standing to face one another. They charge head on at about 20 miles an hour and hurl their huge horns into their foe. This fight for the female (ewe), with its clashing of horns, can be heard echoing through the mountains. It may continue for several hours before one of the males submits. The bony skull of the bighorn sheep prevents serious damage to the animal during these confrontations. A Rocky Mountain ram's body may weigh up to 500 lbs while their horns weigh up to 30 lbs, more weight than all of their body bones combined. The ewes have horns also, but are smaller and less curved than the males. They also weigh less than males, at about 160 lbs.

Wild sheep are social animals and live in groups. Rams live together but apart from ewes, who live in herds with other females and their young. They come together during the fall mating season, or rut, when alpha males with big horns display their dominance and fight for females. In the spring, after a 6 month gestation period, ewes give birth to lambs on high, secluded ledges away from predators such as wolves and mountain lions.

Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep can be found in the mountains from Canada south to New Mexico. They are relatives to mountain goats and have rough bottomed and split hooves which aid in balancing in rugged, rocky, mountain terrain. Bighorn sheep eat grass, seeds, and plants. They regurgitate their food and chew as cud before swallowing for digestion.

We often see these magnificent animals while hiking in the mountains. It is a privilege to watch them in their natural habitat. Yet, we know they are wild and give them the space they deserve. We hope you enjoy our photographs and will let us know your guess on the number of rams that are camouflaged in the last picture.

Ram eats vegetation on Highline Trail in Glacier National Park

Proud posture of ram at Logan Pass, Glacier National Park

Nice curls on two males at Grinnell Glacier, Glacier National Park

A female, or ewe, sits in a meadow on the Highline Trail, Glacier National Park.  Notice the difference in the horns.

A group of rams near Grinnell Glacier, Glacier National Park

Find and count the camouflaged bighorn sheep and tell us your guess.  This is on a slope near the Continental Divide, Glacier National Park.

Freebies

by Marlene

M and E in the Lazy Rivr

Freebies...gotta love em! And the free pass to Woodland Waterpark is one of the best...if you live in the Flathead Valley that is. All M & E had to do was join the summer reading program, and read a measly 10 hours to get the swim pass. M & E like to read, so it wasn't a problem, and the thought of floating around the "Lazy River" and swooshing down waterslides gave them added incentive. Once they obtained the passes, it was just a matter of time before I decided to take advantage of it.

The Waterslides

Last Friday was a full afternoon, 4 hours that is, of getting waterlogged, and sunburned. Yes, we used sunscreen and reapplied it. Instead of Coppertone's Water Babies, I tried Banana Boat Kids lotion spray. I suppose I should have reapplied it with more frequency. We're no worse for the wear and M & E are sporting a tan. I was a fuddy duddy, just standing around, until the last hour or so when I decided to try underwater flips and go on the slides. What a rush! That straight slide is not to be missed!
Read Splash Pass for a Woodland Waterpark adventure! That's all for now! Oh, and don't forget to check out what your summer reading program has in store for you! It's not too late!

Canoeist Drowns in Glacier National Park

Swiftcurrent Lake, Glacier National Park - canoes in foreground

 by Marlene

Drowning is the leading cause of death in Glacier National Park. Slippery rocks near fast flowing creeks pose a particular hazard. Earlier this month a 4-year old boy from Utah fell into Boundary Creek in Canada when crossing a bridge in the Waterton area of the park. His father jumped into the rushing waters to save him and was also swept away. The good news is that the two were rescued in Montana at the south end of Upper Waterton Lake in Glacier. The boy was unconscious but is reportedly recovering from the accident.

Sadly, we hear the recent reports of a 22 year old man that drowned in Swiftcurrent Lake in the wee hours of the morning on July 14. He and his friend were canoeing around 3:00 a.m. when their canoe reportedly tipped over. Both attempted to swim in the frigid waters but only one made it to shore. The body of James R. Greene of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania was found before noon on Tuesday approximately 20 feet from shore in about 8 feet of water.


It was extremely windy the day we canoed on Swiftcurrent Lake. So much so as to make it difficult to steer our canoes. I was in the canoe with M and at one point it was pretty tough paddling into the wind in order to return to the dock. It was an exciting and memorable experience . Read all about our adventure in the story titled Canoe Collision.

Man Drives to His Death in Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon National Park

by Marlene

It has been reported that the body of a man who plunged to his death some 600 feet into the Grand Canyon, has been recovered. Yesterday, on Monday around 6:00 a.m., eyewitnesses told park officials that they saw a man drive his blue vehicle into the South Rim of the Grand Canyon near the historic El Tovar restaurant.

My family and I have visited the Grand Canyon four times, including having M's 4th birthday party in the El Tovar restaurant. It is particularly dear to me as it is one of the first national parks that I have ever visited. Walking up to the rim of the Grand Canyon and discovering its magnificence is unforgettable. The experience can be described as awe inspiring, humbling, and just plain shocking. It can stir the emotions and is often associated with a feeling of spiritual connectedness.

According to news reports, it will take several days to determine if this man took his own life. If so, he will not have been alone in committing suicide in National Parks. To know more about this, read Suicides in National Parks Rise.

For more about my first whirlwind trip out west with Grandpa Davey read: Crossing Texas

Alaska Campers Tired of Sun

by Marlene

After reading M & E's latest adventure article titled, Bear Charges Trail Riders!, my eldest daughter sent me a link to an article in the Anchorage Daily News. She lives with her family in the picturesque town of Palmer, Alaska and often hears stories about outsiders who are unprepared for Alaska's rugged wilderness. In this case, two men on a camping trip used their emergency locator beacon to notify emergency personnel of their whereabouts in order to get out of the midnight sun. The article by James Halpin states that troopers alerted the Alaska Air National Guard, the U.S. Coast Guard, then diverted their own Dillingham-based float plane to head to the site and check things out. It turned out that the campers were unprepared for the long day, had gotten sunburned and wanted to leave the wilderness.

Like Alaskans, those of us that live here in Northwest Montana regularly hear of individuals who are unprepared for unpredictable mountain weather, desert-like summer heat, or obstinate wildlife. We hope you enjoy the awesome scenery and explore the wide open spaces that these places have to offer, but encourage you to take the time to be prepared.

Click here for the full article on the sunburned campers.

You may enjoy this related article with video of backpack preparation:

• Camping and Hiking in Many Glacier

Not About Michael Jackson

by Marlene

Okay, I told you this post wasn't going to be about Michael Jackson, and I intend to keep my word. Just because he's the most popular search on the internet today and his televised memorial has occupied all of the major TV stations doesn't mean I have to participate and write about him on this blog. So we'll talk about the weather!

It's a comfortable 73 degrees today and I sit here blogging with the windows open. There's a nice breeze blowing and birds are chirping in the background. The record high for today was 102 degrees set on this day in 2007. What's so important about that? It was the year my parents and brother came to visit Montana. Their arrival wouldn't be until July 12 and I was praying the heat wave would go away. It didn't, and was persistent throughout their visit. Air conditioning is not a given here and the lack of it added to the discomfort. Everywhere we went, people apologized for the weather saying, "It usually isn't like this". After their departure, the heat continued throughout the weekend and we took a hike up to Mount Aeneas. Normal temperatures then returned and soon thereafter we experienced fire season .

Well, so much for the unpredictable weather here. We've had snow in June and thaws in December. At least it isn't boring!

Picking up my family from the airport.

A Tale of the Edible Serviceberry

by Marlene

The edible serviceberry as seen on the Iceberg Lake Trail, Glacier National Park

Wildflowers were abundant on the Iceberg Lake Trail the other day. Everything was blooming and the hillsides and meadows were covered in shades of yellow, orange, blue, pink, and white. Regardless of how often we take this hike or repeat any other trail, there is always something new to discover.

When we first moved to Montana, we heard a lot about the huckleberry. It isn’t commercially grown, so each summer people take to the mountainsides in search of this delectable fruit. One problem we had early on was identifying the huckleberry from the serviceberry. The easiest way to tell the difference is to look at the leaves on the bushes. The leaves on hucks have smooth edges while the leaves on serviceberry are serrated. Serviceberry bushes bloom a little earlier than hucks, and while on the hike we learned a little tidbit about that. It is thought that the blossoms on a serviceberry bush were once used as an indicator of warm ground. Thus, the deceased of the previous winter could be buried. Put together the word service and bury for an easy way to remember the story and help identify the plant. Soon the serviceberry will produce its edible purple fruit. But don’t be fooled, the huckleberry is superior in taste and texture. But any self respecting Montanan knows that!

Montana's "Bubba Burger" Wins National Contest

by Marlene

James Monroe has put the small town of Eureka, Montana on the map with his "Bubba Burger" creation. His burger has won honors as the best burger in the "Ultimate Hometown Grill Off". On Friday, Monroe will be preparing his mesquite-fired patty with spicy Cajun sausage, jumbo shrimp, chipotle sauce, and cheddar cheese on ABC's "Live! with Regis and Kelly".

He says his burger has simple origins. "I had some leftover food one night and I hadn't eaten all day", Monroe said, "I just put it together to chow it down real quick. " I said, "That's pretty good and tried it again another day." He finally put it on the menu at his restaurant "The Cutting Board". It became a hit with the locals, and so much so, that it was nominated for the Ultimate Hometown Grill Off.

I've been pretty hard with my opinion of Montana food, but I tell you, this concoction sounds pretty good! The next time I'm in Eureka (the last time I was there was in 2005 for the annual quilt show) I believe I'll suggest we stop by The Cutting Board for a "Bubba Burger". Good luck on Friday, Mr. Monroe. It sounds like your succulent burger is a winner!

I do have another burger suggestion for you. If you're ever on the Sun Rd. and getting pretty hungry, try the buffalo burgers at the Two Dog Flats restaurant. Spendy yes, but delicious!

Will you be grilling or having a barbecue (did you know that barbecue is evidently a Southern term?) for the 4th? Share your favorite burger recipe and post it below!

Eureka Quilt Show - August 2005

Happy 4th of July!

Related Articles:

• Cajun Cooking