Work In Progress

Hiking Log- Kootenai Lakes

Kootenai Lakes, Goat Haunt, MT USA
9 km. (5.6 miles)
With Doug, Cheril and Jonathon, Grandma and Bampa, Ethan, Lorali, Owen, Doug and JJ.

We boarded The International at 10 and enjoyed an hour boat trip down to the head of the lake and trail. Everyone loves the boat! Beautiful day after a heavy rainstorm last night. Wet trail but very shady and cool temps. The kids didn't complain at all and were practically running up the trail! When we got to the lake there were 3 moose (1 bull, 2 cows) in it! We enjoyed lunch and then a calf came into the waters with the others. It was amazing how close they were and they didn't even care we were there. This was a perfect hike for the kids!! The end of the hike we saw a bald eagle nesting pair on the boat ride back. It was a great last hike of the season for Doug, who heads home this weekend.

A trip to the townsite isn't complete until...

Hiking Log- Iceburg

Iceburg Lake- Glacier National Park
9.8 miles- 6 hrs. Round trip.

with Bampa and Grandma, Uncle Doug, Cheril and Jonathon (12yrs), Ethan, Lorali, Owen, Doug and JJ.

Beautiful weather. We saw lots of baby Tarmigan on the trail and Jonathon even saw a moose on the way down, got some great pictures. Ethan declared it his favorite hike so far bacause of all the Iceburgs. He had a very rough time coming down but, one autism fit in 2 weeks is great. He still had fun. We ate at Two Sisters on the way home. I love that place.

Saskatoon Sunday

Seriously people there is nothing better then this moment. Baking Strawberry-Rubarb and Saskatoon Tarts in the most beautiful place on earth. I love Mom and Dad's cute little cabin.

Here's my favorite pocket pie recipe.
2 1/2 cups all purpose Flour
1 tsp. Salt
2 Tbs. Sugar
2 stcks COLD butter
6-8 Tbs. COLD water (preferablly from Waterton)
1/2 - 1 cup pie filling ( best with Huckleberries, Saskatoons or Strawberry Rubarb but if you're in the South you'll have to settle for something boring like Apple)
1 egg wash mixture (1egg, 1/2 cup milk lightly beaten)

Mix dry ingredients then add butter mixing until resembles coarse meal. Add water and mix. It Should hold together but not be sticky. Divide dough in half shaping into disks to refriderate over night.

Let dough stand for 5 min. Then roll (1/8") cut fill and brush egg wash on top of pies sprinkling with sugar and then baking at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until it's golden brown and the filling is bubbling. Seriously people, it's heavenly. I'll make it for anyone, anytime. I'm even bring back saskatoons and huckleberries so i can make it whenever I want. Yummy!!!!

Hiking Log- Bertha Falls & Lake

Bertha Falls & Lake, Waterton Lakes National Park CANADA
11.4 km (8.5 miles)

with Bampa, Doug, Joanna, Owen, Ethan and Lorali

Great weather! The wildflowers are in full bloom. Originally we thought we'd take the kids to the falls and Bampa could continue on to the Lake but when we got to the Falls Ethan said he wanted to get to the fish. So Bampa went ahead and we plucked along the trail and made it up. The kids were actually really good. Doug didn't fish on this one but Dad caught one 'big one' on his first cast. While we were enjoying our lunch at the lake the sole of my Right book litterally popped off and I had to hike down the steep mountain without any soles on my boot. Half way down, the other boot last it's sole. I had to hike the rest practiaclly barefoot!! (I'll be taking a break from hiking tomorrow!)

Hiking Log- Blue Lake

Blue Lake (aka Crandell), Waterton Lakes National Park CANADA
3.6 km (1.5 miles)

with Grandma & Bampa, Doug, Joanna, Ethan, Lorali & Owen.

wonderful weather. Doug caught 1 Brooke Trout and Dad caught 11. Owen and Lorali loved taking their shoes off and playing in the water.

Prince of Wales.

While we're up here I want to go take Mom and Lorali up to The Prince of Wales for afternoon tea and then I want to buy Lorali her first official teacup there. I'll post pictures as soon as I can!

HIking Log- Forum Falls & Lake

Forum Falls and Lake, British Columbia, CANADA
8 km (5.5 miles)

with Bampa & Grandma, Doug, JJ, Ethan, Lorali & Owen

Doug caught 9 Cutthroat and Dad caught 39 in lass then an hour and a half! They even let the kids take them off the hook. The kids loved it when a girl was caught and she'd lay eggs on them because then they'd promptly try to save all the babies and throw them back into the water. Owen learned to say Fish!

It was beautiful weather both ways. Ethan had noticed all of Bampa's special rocks around his cabin and Bampa told him it was his 'collection'. So while we were at the lake Ethan found a very special (heavy) rock and decided that it needed to be part of the cabin collection. So he hiked his 6"x12" (6 lb.) rock all the way back down to the cabin. Bampa was so proud he etched Ethan's name and date into it and put it on his shelf, INSIDE the cabin. Ethan's been showing to to everyone that has come in the door since.

Heading to the Park

We're in Great Falls. We picked Doug up at the airport this morning and today we're driving into The Park. I remember growing up we'd cross over the border and within minutes Dad would tell us to unroll the windows no matter what the weather was like. "Why?" we'd always ask. "Because you need to know what Heaven smells like.". Yep, this afternoon as soon as we're past the border I can promise you that the windows will be unrolled and we'll be smelling Heaven.

(This is a Saturday Evening Post Cover from August 1964. It's the US/Canada Border crossing just outside Glacier/Waterton)