Kootenai Country - creating friends for all seasons
Brian Baxter | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 9 years, 7 months AGO
Guest Commentary:
Northwest Montana and the Libby-Troy area are truly an outdoor recreationalist’s paradise during all four seasons of the year. Even as dusk envelopes the last evenings of hunting season, one will see Christmas trees on rooftops of SUVs and in the beds of pickups. As soon as hunting is over, the talk turns to skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and other outdoor pursuits. That’s just how we are in Big Sky Country.
You can hear and feel the enthusiasm in conversations that occur in sporting goods stores, grocery check lines and the local pubs and breweries. As we collectively shift from one season’s pursuits of happiness to the next, we make plans with our buddies.
It was one of these discussions with my good friend Cindy over a pint that yielded our theory that some of our best friends were indeed, friends for all seasons. Cindy and I liked the saying. Perhaps our new efforts at rebranding the Libby-Troy area should refer to “Kootenai Country, friends for all seasons.“
How resilient we are in our neck of the woods. We put up the game carts and tune up the snowmobiles. Tough people and good people.
The mention of the good people of our area would not be complete without bringing in our fantastically dedicated emergency service groups: Our rural fire departments, search and rescue, ambulance corps and our excellent health professionals combine to deliver top notch response and care to residents and visitors to our homelands. These well trained individuals come to our aid at any time of day or night, any location and in all seasons.
I know this first hand. The first snowstorm of the season produced ultra-hazardous road conditions and there were many accidents that morning. I personally would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who helped me out including Chief Clyde Miller and the crew of Bull Lake Fire District. Also, the Ambulance Corps personnel, Brian of TNT Towing and Dick and Linda from Gene’s Body Shop. Sincere appreciation to the kind folks who came to my aid in time of need immediately after my mishap. I was not able to get your names, but you know who you are and you have my deepest gratitude which is beyond descriptive terminology. You too, are friends for all seasons.
Winter brings recreational opportunities that abound in our mountainous region. Turner Mountain is “steep, deep and cheap.” Snowmobilers take to the hills and cross country skiers have abundant trails. Friends of Scotchman Peaks are offering a free animal tracking class on Jan. 16. Montana Wilderness Association begins a series of free guided snowshoe hikes with a trail trek on Jan. 23, a Veteran’s Valentine Venture on Feb. 13, and a winter photography class on Feb. 27 co-led by Randy Beacham, local photographer.
So folks, dust off your winter gear and get out into our winter wonderlands. While you’re at it, make plans to enjoy the experiences of winter recreation with a few friends for all seasons.
Brian Baxter is an outdoor educator who lives and works in Libby. Let’s Talk Outside is sponsored in part by Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness.
ARTICLES BY BRIAN BAXTER
Voices in the Wilderness: Forest Choir
After the snowfall, Old Man Winter rests. He is warm now, with his long white hair flowing down his shoulders. After conjuring up infinite patterns of snow flakes, each one unique, and gently laying down the soft blanket of albescence, he tucks his chin into his full beard and begins to dream. In the mountains, the creatures of the earth begin to stir after the quietness of the last flake falling has been fully appreciated.
The Camaraderie of Hunters
Although the rather unexpected warmer temperatures and lack of snow at low- to mid-elevations during most of our recent hunting season did not help much, many hunters had a great season. And seasons are measured in a variety of ways, depending on each individual hunter.
Please thank our tireless firefighters
In the pitch dark, with layers of smoke blocking out the moon and stars, a lone driver takes off on a mission. He meanders his pickup through a maze of old logging roads that would trap a man easily. He feels a slight adrenaline rush of the fight or flight syndrome as he encounters ridiculously steep drop offs at every switchback. It’s a long, treacherous drive, and as he approaches an alder tunnel he fears he has missed his drop point. There are no turnouts on the hill where the Bay Horse fire is active. The old road warrior continues through the brushed in access road in hopes of finding the initial attack team that is spike camped out for the night. Busting through the one last bottleneck of vegetation, the wheel man arrives at the bivouacked squad’s location. Justin Figgins’s exhausted, black-faced crew are glad to see the driver, who has hot meals, Gatorade and other goodies, as well as humorous comments for the men and women of this squad.