True North

Beam in.. Wall gone!

2010-02-07T16:45:00.004-07:00

Two weeks ago, Keith helped me fish in two 2x12 iLevel micro laminate beams into our attic. The two were sistered together and attached to the ceiling joists. The beam is supported on either side by a wall which allowed us to remove the partition between the kitchen and living room.

It is amazing how much less claustrophobic it feels now. There are still two walls which need to come out, then we can start demolishing the kitchen. Can you say camp style cookin'?

February '10

2010-02-04T22:53:00.001-07:00

Guess its time to reset the "Bear Counter".

DARPA Network Challenge Team Geocache

2009-12-05T10:09:00.004-07:00

We are loosely taking part in the DARPA Network Challenge.. A game/contest/charity where the winner gets $40,000. We are not trying for the prize, but are part of a broader community of Geocachers trying to assist the Geocache.com team to win so they can donate the $40K plus $10K of their own money. Visit https://networkchallenge.darpa.mil/default.aspx for info on the Network Challenge and http://www.10balloonies.com to follow TeamGeocaching.com progress.

And, if by off chance that YOU see a BIG RED balloon, let us know!

Our Home

2009-11-04T11:45:00.003-07:00

As if school, family visits and a wedding weren't enough for one summer, we thought we'd purchase a home too.

Shortly after we returned from our wedding in Glacier Park we met at Insured Title of Missoula with our extraordinary team to sign documents.

We were very pleased with our financing genius Astrid Oliver at Wells Fargo for deftly navigating certain intricacies of our situation. I will never forget her straightforward and matter-of-fact approach. It was much appreciated.

We are also eternally grateful to Jeannette Williams our beloved friend and Realtor. She put in the footwork and helped navigate two very nervous first time home buyers. She never failed in giving us an honest appraisal of our expectations and was patient and kind the whole way. We expected nothing less and received considerably more. Thank you Jeannette.

Finally, thank you to Moms and Dads. You have made so much possible for us. We love you all.

In the end, we ended up with a home in exactly the price range we were looking at with most of the amenities we felt most important. It is quiet and comfortable with room for improvement. We have a yard, a full basement and a garage.. Oak flooring and a kitchen fresh out of the Brady Bunch. We are happy newlyweds with bright plans for the future. Stay tuned for remodeling horrors and successes.. I'm sure there will be plenty of Blog fodder in the future.. Now hand me my Sawzall!!

Wedding 2009 (N 48* 47.695 W 113*42.729)

2009-11-04T10:12:00.011-07:00

I can't imagine a better setting to exchange our vows.. Glacier Park, Montana USA. From the very beginning of our relationship Jessica and I have shared and absolute undying love for this place and its wildness and wonder.

The original plan, decided months before was to have Oliver Meister, respected owner of the North Fork Hostel perform the service. Oliver is not only an ordained minister, but is the kindest of souls and represents much of what our ideal life would look like.. Living in a wild place, off the grid at a slower pace in the shadows and sunbeams of absolute splendor. Oliver graciously agreed to perform the service without knowing much at all about Jessica and myself.

But as the date grew closer, it became more apparent that the logistics of getting ourselves up to his remote location after all the summer visitors would be exceedingly difficult. While we were intent on keeping this ceremony simple, we did not want it rushed or totally stressful. We made the mutual decision to alter the plan and have our friends Keith and Lila perform the ceremony. I think Oliver was relieved although I'm sure he would have made a remarkable officiant. Hopefully he can break in his license soon!

After leaving the Marks family, Jessica and I headed east towards Many Glacier early so we could procure a campsite which can be difficult in August. We got a beautiful site and were soon met by Keith and Lila. We set up camp and began what would be a weekend full of wonderful hikes and good company.

After hikes to the many lakes in the Swiftcurrent Valley and to Grinnel Glacier, we chose a location where I had seen a Grizzly bear two days before while perched on a large rock. The location was somewhat hidden from the main trail but still close enough to the campground so as to not be a major expedition.

The day of the ceremony was beautiful. The weather was perfect- sunny and warm with slight breeze. When we arrived at the rock I immediately spotted two large Grizzly bears on the hillside behind us. They were a perfect addition to our wedding experience.

Keith opened with kind words about us and the Park... and thoughts of those who could not also join us that day. I spread a token scattering of my father's ashes and we moved into the ceremony. We started by each say a few words to each other- loosely edited and from the heart. We recited a group of vows/promises from the Hindu tradition and exchanged rings to become husband and wife. There were words of congratulations, hugs and tears. It was a wonderful, wonderful event- all the while, Lila faithfully performing her duty as photographer, videographer, maid of honor and flower girl.

Shortly after the ceremony, we parted ways so we could all have time to reflect. Jessica and I headed up the drainage to see if we could find those bears! I assume Keith and Lila headed back to camp but we'll never know. :-)

We were treated that evening to wedding cake so thoughtfully cradled from Missoula, all the while kept on ice and in perfect shape. It was a wonderful luxury in an otherwise spartan camp..

We would both like to thank our two wonderful friends. They went above and beyond the call of duty.. This was short notice for them but you never would have known it. We thank Keith for artfully, fulfilling his obligation as head officiant, dutch oven extraordinaire and all around creative force. There was no doubt in my mind that he would find the kindest of words and soundest of advice he did not fail. And to Lila for her logistical support and reasoned approach to this event... With out her skillfully donning at least a half a dozen hats, this could not have been as special as it was.

And thank you to all of our wonderful friends and family from both coasts and at many points in between for your love and support. We are sorry that we could not have everyone join us. We plan on having many "mini-receptions" in the future so that you all may be a part of it too.

And lastly, for those of you who share our passion for coordinates, enter in the coordinates from the title to Google Earth and see the spot for yourself..

We love you all!

Deke and Jessica

Some Updates...

2009-11-04T09:22:00.002-07:00

Well, it looks like we haven't updated our blog since early summer. On one hand, it is understandable since it has been one of the busiest times in our collective lives. But not understandable because it has been one of the most newsworthy as well.

Jessica, of course, completed the first round of her Master's program at the University of Montana. It was a crunch for several weeks but well worth it. She will finish up classwork next summer with a thesis-style project due the following summer.

Directly following classes, we were blessed with the presence of not one, but both of Jessica's siblings. Munchkin Lauren flew out for a week and was treated to many things Montana before heading off to college at Slippery Rock University in PA. She is a wonderful kid.. so thoughtful, and pleasant. A far cry from myself at her age.. We enjoyed having her.

Lauren's visit was immediately followed by Matt, Jessica's younger brother. He too was treated to a Montana adventure including Glacier Park and the Montana Knife Maker's Show here in Missoula. Matt, like all the Franks is the kindest of souls and a wonderful brother/in law. There is never a lack of conversation when Matt is in the house.. He fits right in in Montana.

The day after Matt left, my Aunt Caryl and Uncle Michael arrived with the twins Bryan and Regina in tow. We had a wonderful dinner at the Iron Horse in Missoula (their treat-thanks guys) and prepped for our sojourn up the Seeley Swan towards Glacier Park the next day. We all camped on the West side of the park and headed up to Logan Pass the next day. We opted to hike a section of the Highline Trail to Haystack Butte. It was a wonderful hike. We hurried back to the Pass so we could hightail it over to Many Glacier. Our goal is always to see wildlife and a trip to the Many Glacier section of the park increases your chance of seeing so many things. The ultimate goal, of course being a grizzly bear. Lo and behold, just before arriving at the parking area, we saw a big boar on the south side of the road. We all got out of the car and watched in awe as he rumbled around. Seeing a grizzly is always a highlight of any trip to Glacier. After our journey to Many Glacier was over, we piled back into our vehicles to begin the long drive to the west side of the park. Upon arriving at our campground, we all promptly hit the hay after a full day Jessica and Deke style.

The next morning, Jessica and I awoke, ready to head back to Many Glacier to meet our friends Keith and Lila for what would be our wedding weekend.

End of week one.

2009-06-19T19:48:00.002-06:00

I have now completed the first week of my master's degree. It has been really inspiring. I find myself writing a lot during class about all the ideas I'm having. I get the vibe that, for some people, the presentations fill them with a sense of dread. Upon being given a presentation or performance assignment I immediately have a thousand different ideas and try to start working through them to come up with the best concept I possibly can.

It is also nice how I am jotting down creative notes in my hard journal (instead of just processing a crises here and there) - and how I've actually come to embrace the idea of challenging myself so quickly.

I wonder if I will hit a wall???

~Jessica

Creative Pulse

2009-06-17T20:29:00.003-06:00

I have begun my master's degree. I am doing it through the University of Montana's Creative Pulse Program. In two summers of coursework plus a professional paper, I will have my M.F.A.

I just finished day three. So far, things are going well. I have been enjoying the rigorous readings and I'm looking forward to utilizing Blackboard for the posting and sharing of information. It has been really hard to figure exactly what I need to do on the logistics side of things. I have not been sure of what to do each step of the way regarding which books to buy, how to register, how payment works, etc.... Nonetheless, I've been figuring it out each baby step of the way. I think by tomorrow I will be allowed to finally register online.

We have to come up with a field project that we do anytime starting from the end of this session until next summer. I have what I think is a good idea for getting myself back in touch with the creative part of me - but I am holding off on committing to it for a little while yet. Each morning we've been watching the field projects that the second year students worked on over the previous school year. They are very thoughtful and really show that people have grown as a result of the assignment. I am excited to begin mine, but, as usual, I am apprehensive about how I will hold up once the school year begins and my schedule kicks in with its full force.

We'll see how it goes!
~Jessica

We Made the Cover!

2009-05-07T17:54:00.005-06:00

Once a year our local indy news paper, the Missoula Independent, puts out the Homesteader edition. This year's cover featured Al and Kim's strawbale home which I had the pleasure of working on.

The house was designed by local architect Lucas Dupuis and built by contractor Walt Redfield. Kim and Al helped with construction as well as everyone's favorite jack of all trades Jason Swor. The bulk of the construction took place over two summer/fall seasons in 2007/2008. It was the perfect project to 'cut one's teeth' on..

It is unbelievably satisfying to see the fruits of such labor and pride put on display.. To have this house published in such a way was the perfect culmination to a job well done by everyone involved.

Unfortunately, there was nothing actually written about the house or builder within the magazine, just the cover photo. However, if you'd like to read the Homesteader or see a larger photo, click here to link to the online version of the magazine.

In an even more amazing feat of sheer artistic genius, Jessica was responsible for the photograph of Walt and Jeannette on page 40 of the same issue. They were in need of a crack photographer to capture their incredible cuteness... Jessica was the natural choice.. Where else could they have possibly found such photographic excellence for the cost of two breakfasts??!! Good job baby.

Our 15 Minutes....

2009-05-04T20:35:00.003-06:00

A little outing to the Mission Valley yesterday puts us on a front page article in the local rag.. Well, the article started on the front page. Check out the May 4 edition of the Missoulian.

People say we get around.. I guess this proves it.

Deke

2009 Toole Ave Destruction Derby

2009-01-13T08:33:00.013-07:00

For those of you who didn't receive the mass email regarding the first annual Tool Ave. Destruction Derby, here is the official press release. To open your door at 2am, and behold such a scene is a journey into the sublime.

01-10-2009

In the wee hours of Saturday morning, a strapping young lass by the name of Megan Taylor, 24, took it upon her self to wipe out every single car in front of our home. In total, 7 cars were involved with varying degrees of damage. Ms. Taylor, after floundering through her field sobriety exams, was taken to jail where she spent the rest of her morning. According to the jail roster, the charges include driving while intoxicated (2nd offense), careless driving and failure to immediately stop after an accident (read fleeing the scene).

Jessica's car was taken by flatbed as requested by her insurance company. She is now sporting a rented Pontiac sedan.. Not too stuffy but its no Subaru. Damage to my truck was minor limited to tailgate, bumper, hood and grill damage. Luckily, Ms. Taylor is covered by insurance.. However, due to the extenuating circumstances, we're all wondering if it will be sufficient to cover everyone involved. It will be an education to say the least.

We heard the knock at the door at just before 2 am and were back in bed by 5.. The excitement never ends!

Thankfully, nobody was injured, including Ms. Taylor and her companion.

Stay tuned for further updates as the battle royal of insurance companies commences.

Deke

Jesse James Tidwell 1943-2008

2009-01-12T13:41:00.016-07:00

It has been nearly a month since I received the news of my father's passing. It the days and weeks that followed, daily life, and in effect reality was turned on its end. There was the business of seeing that my mother was getting the support she needed.. and all the things that need attention when such a traumatic event occurs. But a month has passed and I think I'm ready to reflect on what my father meant to me and how this loss will change my life.

Interestingly enough, my dad entered this world in the 'otherworldly' city of Roswell, NM in January of 1943. That fact followed him throughout his life often providing an "excuse" for his unique personality. He was raised in a working class family who offered little or no encouragement regarding education. However, with the encouragement and assistance of my mother, he attended college even though he lacked the ability to read at an adult level. In time, he became a star student graduating with a degree in wildlife biology from Humboldt State University.

He began his career advising farmers on pest control strategies. Through this line of work he was exposed to the wine industry in rural Northern California. After trying his hand at home wine making his entrepreneurial spirit blossomed and he started Parson's Creek Winery in 1979. The winery was successful with his unique style winning many awards. He had began making sparkling wine after researching abroad and produced two vintages until his facility was destroyed in a fire. He was never able to recover financially from this disaster and was forced to sell the business.

After selling the winery, he reinvented himself as a wine consultant able to help clients in every aspect of the wine business. Again, he was unique in the breadth of skills he offered. Clients could tap him for knowledge in wine making, grape growing, government compliance, production and to a lesser extent, marketing and sales. He always kept a pair of rubber boots at the ready, never knowing when he would need them. Further, my dad was knowledgeable in such practical disciplines and plumbing, electrical and carpentry and frequently used those skills in the wineries he worked in. If you needed an executive who could run your business and install a new motor on your corking machine, Jesse Tidwell was your guy- most likely the only one of his kind.

The wine industry was only one aspect of his life, albeit a big one. He was also an accomplished private pilot which played a huge role in my early life. Many times our vacations revolved around a flight somewhere- sometimes Canada or Mexico... Or a quick flight to the coast for lunch and whale watching. He was the proud owner of two planes, both twin engines and one capable of aerobatics which he also practiced. He was instrument rated and a capable pilot by any standard.

During the Fall and early winter, if you wanted to find my father, you'd have to don waders and look for him amid the tules and ponds of Cal Farms duck club. He was an avid hunter and made lifelong friendships during his many seasons hunting there. He was also a fisherman, always incorporating fishing into his adventures. For obvious reasons, he was elated, and in fact encouraged my move to Montana.

My dad was also a father. Growing up under his watch was not always easy. He was a strict disciplinarian so many of my early memories are of disputes of varying degrees. He expected a lot and was not always effective at communicating those expectations. This was of course exacerbated by having to deal with a hellion (borderline sociopathic) only child who had no concept of conscience or consequence. In time however, there was a meeting of the minds. At a ripe 33 years of age, I began to understand my father.. And miraculously, he began to understand me. I finally understood that he loved me, unconditionally and he wanted me to be the best man that I could despite what I had done in the past. I learned that he was a shining example of what it meant to be a man, a provider and a husband. He exemplified what honesty and fair dealing can achieve... and the importance of the ability to bring people together.. and of a good plan... the importance of moving forward despite being terrified. I learned of his resourcefulness... his ability to draw experience from an almost unlimited pool of contacts and experience.. and of his generosity... his knack for spotting someone in need and providing a solution.

Most importantly I learned the importance of reconciliation. After years of conflict and then absence, I will never forget the warmth I felt from him upon our reunion. I was given a gift that day which will linger in the background for the rest of my life. From that day forward, we shared every major event in one way or another.. We laughed on countless occasions.. We fished. We hunted. We traveled. We talked about his fears... and of his tireless efforts to leave my mother a comfortable life. We talked about the things he would never get to do.. and that fact that he had already done more than most. We worked together to resolve some of the wreckage of my past. He was a deliberate force, skillful in approaching large problems one piece at a time- providing hope where previously there was none.

He was also courageous. Outwardly, he approached his sickness with dignity, toughness and humor regardless of the fear and hopelessness he may have felt inside. I rarely felt I was with a sick man when I was with him for he was also an exquisite showman.

I have few regrets.. Nothing was left unsaid. There were no apologies or confessions to be made. We made our peace early and moved on. I only wish I could have learned more from him.. I wish that we had spent less time at odds and more time as friends. But in the end, I am eternally grateful for knowing my father. He lives on in me.. In the memories and in his hand, ever present on my shoulder, consciously guiding my actions... in the red of my beard...the lightness of my skin and the tenor in my voice. Most importantly, he lives on in the development of my character. He is and will forever be, an important force my life. I will miss him.

Click HERE to view his obituary.

Montana Deer Hunt Turns Up Bonus

2008-11-01T13:31:00.003-06:00

Most of you already know about our hunt last weekend. Well, here's a little video of what went down. This experience deserves a detailed blog entry but as time is limited right now, this video will have to suffice.

http://www.youtube.com/user/WeLoveMontana

Deke

We moved!

2008-10-07T12:06:00.003-06:00

This weekend we said goodbye to our tiny apartment in downtown Missoula and hello to our little rental house on the outskirts of downtown.

No more drunken college kids making all kinds of noises at all hours. No more strange smells and various kinds of smoke emanating from the apartment below. No more calling the cops to hush that cast of characters that shared our domicile.

True, our new place does have some pretty serious train noise as the tracks are practically next door. We are also graced by the twice daily presence of the emergency air lift landing at the hospital next door. Nonetheless, we are sleeping more soundly that ever before and are giddy at the thought of closets and shelves and cabinets and rooms with doors. It is a veritable playland for domesticity!

Soon, we'll carve some pumpkins so we can decorate our FRONT PORCH!!!! (We have one of those).

All is well.

~J

Glacier NP in July

2008-09-01T10:28:00.012-06:00

We of course can never get enough of Glacier National Park. It is not difficult to explain why. For me it is the wildness.. It is as close as I can get to the edge of our world in the time we have to do it.. It is a place where if you want to, you can get get lost and see things that are so beautiful that you can hardly believe your eyes. Glacier is big.. And bigger is always better right?? Scale and relative relationships are turned upside down.. Size only matters as it relates to what you see and where you are looking from... How deep are the valleys? How tall are the mountains? The only way we've found to satisfy our curiosity is to put two feet ahead of the other two and and stand on those mountains and stroll through the valleys.

We traveled to Glacier for the second time during the summer in late July.. The first time being with the Franks clan from Pennsylvania earlier in the month. Knowing that campsites at our favorite Many Glacier area would be few and far between, we left very early in the hope of bagging a site close to where we would most likely be hiking. Unfortunately, by the time we pulled into Many Glacier, the campground was full and we were forced to head back to the Saint Mary area in search of lodging. When we arrived at Rising Sun Campground, we were lucky to grab one of the last remaining sites... After reserving our space, we promptly headed back to Many Glacier to begin the first of two incredible hikes.

The Ptarmigan Tunnel trail is one of those hikes that Jessica has been eying for years.. But Glacier is wild and nature doesn't necessarily bow to our schedules. Snow is always a concern... And the Ptarmigan Tunnel trail is high enough that some areas will retain snow on high angle slopes for much of the summer. Without the proper equipment (ice axes, crampons etc) and training this prevents hiking the trail much of the time. Grizzlies also use the tunnel and trail to get from the Belly River drainage into Many Glacier and vice versa. The presence of grizzly bears alone usually will not cause the Park Service to close a trail, but if they are persistent or aggressive, or if there is winter kill in the area, the trail will be closed.

With that being said, there is a high probability that on any given date, any trail in Glacier may be closed for a variety of reasons, especially high altitude trails in grizzly country.. For years Jessica was thwarted in her attempts to hike to Ptarmigan Tunnel. I had the opportunity to hike there, but only made it to Ptarmigan Lake, while the Franks family was here. I could see (almost taste) the tunnel from a mile below.. We both had Ptarmigan Tunnel in our sights and wouldn't you know, it was open upon our arrival!!

Because of our camping dilemma, we got off to a late start, 11:30. The trail begins steeply through huckleberries and conifer forests only to open up to the beautiful meadow which provides the backdrop of the Swiftcurrent Motor Lodge. It follows the valley offering beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and the lakes that dot Swiftcurrent Valley. The trail climbs moderately until it reaches a junction. Go straight and you head towards Iceberg Lake... Hang a right and you're on your way to the Ptarmigan Tunnel.

The trail at this point gets steeper and becomes noticeably less crowded. Huckleberry bushes abound but July at this elevation is too early for fruit. Eventually, we reached Ptarmigan Lake, a small tarn set at the base of a deep glacial cirque. Such a lake is a familiar sight in Glacier but typically this marks the end of your hike. To reach the Ptarmigan Tunnel however, you must follow the steeply ascending trail that has been carved into the cirque wall. Eventually, after several long switchbacks, we reached our goal.

The Ptarmigan Tunnel was blasted through solid rock to link the Belly River Drainage with the more populated Many Glacier area. It spans about 100 feet and is almost narrow enough to touch both sides while standing in the middle. As you walk through the tunnel, you are treated to hints of what a spectacle awaits at the other end.. The Belly River drainage unfolds before you in a way that is difficult to describe... It certainly doesn't look real and it feels wild, even by Glacier standards. We hiked about a quarter mile past the tunnel and admired the views with open jaws and wide eyes. Photos were taken.. hugs were exchanged and we began our hike back under a light sprinkling of July snow.

If the Ptarmigan Tunnel was the main course of this fantastic hike, a sow grizzly and her cub provided the aperitif. Nearing the end of our hike we spotted her up on a ridge a safe several hundred yards away. She was cinnamon in front and blonde in the back. The color variations in these bears always amaze me.

On our way back to Saint Mary from Many Glacier we were treated to another roadside grizzly. This one was 75 feet from the road and had attracted a hoard of gawkers. We stopped for a moment but moved on quickly as visions of food and bed prompted us to get back on the road.

Hike number two can only be described as "more ambitious" than the first. Logistically speaking, we had to be creative to hike the Piegan Pass trail as a "through" route as opposed to the "out and back" standard that most people attempt. The plan was this: To take the free shuttle from our campground at Rising Sun up Going to the Sun Road to Siyeh Bend. From Siyeh Bend we would hike to Piegan Pass, then down to Many Glacier. At that point we would catch the paid shuttle back to our campground. The Glacier Inc. shuttle only runs twice after noon, both late in the afternoon so time was of the essence if we didn't want to walk the 30 miles back to our tent.

The shuttle that arrived to take us up the GTTS Road was crammed to the gills with eager tourists. The driver attempted to refuse to let us on but Jessica pulled her New Jersey trump card and insisted that we could stand. The mild mannered native kindly acquiesced and we were on our way to Siyeh bend. On a side note, Jessica and I were discussing the finer points of one of our previous hikes when another rider, an obvious "know-it-all" began offering unsolicited history lessons which, as captives of this bus were forced to listen to. Jessica was highly put off by this and wondered who that lady thought she was. The next day, while at the visitor center at Logan Pass, we saw the lady again.. This time she was donning the Park Service Ranger uniform. All was well at that point.

The hike to Piegan Pass is unremarkable, relatively speaking. It offers everything most Glacier hikes offer; stunning scenery, a plethora of wildflowers and a chance to view ma nature in her ultimate splendor. The pass itself provides views of both the Going to the Sun area and Grinnel Basin. There were many people on the section to Piegan Pass but again, the crowds thinned to nil as we decended into the valley below. We did not see another person until we reached the relatively popular Grinnel Lake area, some 7 miles later. In total we hiked 13 miles and felt every single one of them!

We arrived at the Swiftcurrent Lodge in plenty of time to catch the first shuttle... Looking at the numbers of people waiting, we hoped they would show up with a vehicle sufficient in size to accomodate the hoard. Glacier Park, Inc. showed up in a van not nearly big enough. To their credit, the driver made a phone call and was able to call in backup to get us "home". We did learn a valuable lesson however. It is not good to rely on the shuttle service at the end of your hike... It is much better to have your car waiting for you. That way, you don't have to hurry, or worry about weather you can really rely on the shuttle.

On Sunday, we traveled home, grabbing a few virtual caches on the way. Overall, it was a spectacular trip.. One that we will not soon forget.

Best,
Deke

August 7, 2008

2008-08-08T09:43:00.002-06:00

While Deke was at work, I thought I might go hike to the waterfall up the Bear Creek drainage in the Bitterroots. It was supposed to be 96 degrees, so hanging by a waterfall and doing some reading sounded wonderful. August means finding the last bits of fun and freedom before the school year kicks in.

In my trail book for the Bitterroots (Hiking the Bitterroots by Mort Arkava) he mentions that the huckleberry picking is great in this drainage at the right time. So, on a whim, I packed a gallon freezer ziploc bag. I also had a few smaller ziplocs in my pac that held clean t.p. for potty stops to facilitate packing that stuff out easily.

I got to the trail and began hiking, keeping my eyes out for hucks. Being familiar with small hucks on low bushes, I had my eyes on the bushes in the sunny spots near the sides of the trail. I found a few berries and thought it would be nice to have them as a snack at the waterfall. Then, in a sunny open talus slope, I happened to look up while having a drink and noticed a bushy-looking tree-like entity full of what looked like giant huckleberries! I climbed up the slope, and indeed - they were the biggest hucks I'd ever seen. I didn't know the bushes could grow so big or the berries could be so huge! I tasted a few and they were very mellow but sweet and practically bursting with juice.

I quickly fille the small ziploc I'd been holding that was full of my snacking berries from earlier. Then I got the gallon ziploc out and filled it, no problem. Then I emptied one of my clean "potty packs" and used that small ziploc, too! I started to realize my pack was going to be pretty heavy and that I had no hard-sided way of carrying them so they wouldn't get squished as I packed them out. So, I headed out. On the way back, right near the start of the trail, I encountered more of the giant bushes that I hadn't noticed before as I didn't think to look UP! I unloaded my berries in the car, cleared out a few more ziplocs (luckily I had extras from our recent trip to Glacier) and filled them all.

I got home and Deke helped me as I washed them all and put them into fresh ziplocs for freezing. We kept some out (the ones that had been in the bottom of the big ziploc) and I used them in our dessert. I toasted a waffle for each of us, and put them in bowls. Then I put a couple of small scoops of vanilla bean ice cream on the waffles and topped it with the fresh hucks. It was yummy! We may go out again this weekend when Deke isn't working - I would go out again today (Aug 8) but they are calling for storms and possible hail.

Deke weighed them when I got home and found that I'd picked about 8 pounds!
If we have that kind of luck again, we'll have hucks all winter!

Aug. 1, 2008 - Glacier again!

2008-08-08T09:08:00.003-06:00

On Friday, August 1st, Deke and I needed another fix of Glacier NP, so we packed up for a 3-day weekend in the park. We left at about 6am, planning to get to the Many Glacier campground early enough to get a site. It was not to be, and we turned around to go back to Rising Sun (which is slightly better than St. Mary CG). After that, we decided to hike the Patrmigan Tunnel trail. Last time, Deke turned around before the tunnell with my cousin Ed, so he didn't get to see the tunnel - and I was with my mom and sister, so I didn't get to do it either. I had been waiting 4 years to do this trail as injury, snow, or grizzlies have kept me from it in past summers. Although we got a late start (about 1pm) after finally claiming a spot in a quickly-filling campsite, we easily got to the tunnel and back with plenty of sunlight.

We took our time and took pictures, put layers on and off about 100 times, and had snacks and water breaks at our leisure. The bear grass was roaring - and we were treated to yet another wildflower show. We thought maybe we were getting such late season visual treats because of the higher elevations we like to frequent, and because of the long winter.

The tunnel was amazing - and we both remarked that we thought it would be bigger - but why make it bigger than you need for pack animals? The doors were very cool and we got some neat video of each other waling through and of the grand scenery on both sides. We were treated to a view of the Rising Sun glacier by going a little farther on the trail beyond the tunnel.

On Saturday, we set our sites on the Piegan Pass trail (it's been on our minds since doing the Siyeh Pass trail last summer). We were very much rewarded for our efforts - again, stunning wildflowers, a view of Piegan, Jackson, and Blackfoot glaciers, the east side of the Garden Wall, the panorama at the pass, Morning Eagle Falls, Featherplume Falls, and Grinnell Lake, Lake Josephine, & Swiftcurrent Lake. No wildlife except for marmots and groundsquirrels at the pass, although we sure did sing on the downslope after the pass as we made our way towards Grinnell Lake. Boy, was it griz country!

I must say, I did learn something about planning hikes with shuttles from this trip. We decided to rely on the Glacier Park, Inc. hiker shuttle that leaves from the Switcurrent Inn at 4:45 and 5:30 in the afternoon. We were there in plenty of time for the 4:45 shuttle, but so were a dozen other hikers! Apprently, the shuttle vans they use only hold 8 people - the driver that showed up had promised spots to other people down at the Many Glacier Hotel - so it only had room for five people! Needless to say, I was stressed by this as once we took this shuttle to the St. Mary VC, we had to get on the park's free shuttle to get back to the Rising Sun CG. The last free shuttle left St. Mary's at 6pm - so if we had gotten on the 5:30 $8 hiker shuttle, we might not have made it. The driver, for her part, did drive back to the May Glacier Hotel to call & arrange for an extra shuttle. When they both finally came back, there was just barely room for all the hikers there to start with, but the rest of the late arrivals would have to get the 5:30 shuttle. I don't think they would've made park's last free shuttle - so I feel bad for them. The whole "make it to the shuttle" thing made me have to rush on the trail and I didn't stop for as many pictures as I would've liked - plus lunch was VERY rushed. The lesson I learned was to leave your vehicle at your destination and use a shuttle for getting to the trail head. That way, you know you have your car waiting for you no matter what time you get off the trail.

No matter - what an awesome trip! I hope we get to go up again before school starts, but I'm not sure.... we'll see!

~J

Summer camping & hiking...

2008-08-08T09:01:00.002-06:00

Well, the day my parents left, Deke and I decided we needed to repack the car and head out for a little vacation from the vacation. We headed out to Rock Creek via Philipsburg for a night of camping. Deke got to do some long-awaited fly fishing, and I got to do some napping and reading. We had a great time making burgers by the river and slept VERY well.

The next day we decided to go home via Skalkaho Pass with a stop at Gem Mountain on the way. That gem-hunting show on the Travel Channel has us all excited about digging for treasures on our travels - and this was a fun and easy opportunity to hang out in the sun and pick through gravel for elusive sapphires. In the end, we found several, but Deke came up with the winner - a biggie that could be cut... maybe we'll put it in his wedding band or a necklace for me..... who knows? It sure was fun, no matter what!

July 12, 2008

2008-08-08T08:26:00.002-06:00

After we got back from Deke's parents' place, there were just a few days to get ready before my parents came out for a visit for a week. My whole family plus my cousin, Ed, came out from Pennsylvania for a week of camping and sightseeing.

Our first stop was Glacier NP. We decided to focus our time on the Many Glacier area, and boy was it worth it! This is our favorite area of Glacier anyway, and we were just reminded of why we think that area is so cool.

On our way over the Going-To-The-Sun Road, however, we decided to hike to the Hidden Lake overlook. I've done this hike many times, but this time, there were still several feet of snow everywhere at Logan Pass. So, we got out the hiking poles for everyone and had a blast playing in the snow as we made our way up the trail. We saw the requisite mountain goats and snowboarders. Deke made a mental note of coming up next year during the first week of the road being open (it didn't open until July 2 this year) so that he can snowboard at Logan Pass, too!

After Logan Pass, we made our way to the St. Mary area. Mom & Dad & Lauren stayed in the Rising Sun Motor Inn, and me, Deke, Matt, and Ed camped at the St. Mary campground. It's our least favorite campground, but you can reserve it, so it was easy.

The rest of the trip was spent in the Many Glacier drainage. Dad, Deke, Matt, and Ed did the Ptarmigan Tunnel trail while me, Mom, and Lauren did the double boat ride at Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine after taking some senior pics of Lauren on the Swiftcurrent Nature Trail. The girls saw a grizzly bear on the hillside from the boat, and the boys had a VERY close encounter with a moose on the trail. After all that, we met at the Swiftcurrent Inn for dinner, and got to watch another huge grizzly via the volunteers' spotting scopes on the mountainside near the inn.

The next day we packed up and headed home to get ready for the longer trip to Yellowstone NP.
We had an amazing trip with more bear sightings (black & grizzly) and a host of other wildlife. The wildflowers were amazing everywhere we went - which helped make for some more lovely senior pics of Lauren (when taking them as we traveled out of the park, there was a grizzly in the distance for one session). We camped at the Canyon Village campground and enjoyed the cafeteria and the new visitor center. We went on several guided ranger hikes including one very early in the morning in the Hayden Valley. It was all about wildlife viewing, but the only bear we saw was in the car on the way there! The ranger did show us a bald eagle, lots of elk, bison, and pelicans. Another walk with the family was along Lake Yellowstone to Storm Point from Indian Pond. Again, we were treated to amazing wildflower displays. On our other days in Yellowstone, we made our way through the thermal features of the geyser basins - fufilling a lifelong goal for Ed of seeing Old Faithful erupt. Of course, Deke and I snuck in some unobtrusive geocaching wherever we went.

We decided to take the Beartooth-Absaroka Byway out of the park. We stopped at a lookout tower along the way and got to see some of the oldest fossils and rock anywhere in the world. The rest of the drive was lovely with all the stunning scenery you could want. When we got to Red Lodge, we encountered a motorcycle rally and got to check out all the hogs as we drove down the main drag.

Once we got home, my family had one night in Missoula to regroup before heading out to Spokane, WA for their flight home. It was hard to say goodbye, but everyone was ready for a well-deserved rest as I don't allow for much down time when planning an itinerary!!

Here's to a June and July that was full of family and fun!

~J

July 1, 2008 - The question....

2008-07-27T09:58:00.004-06:00

Well, it has been quite the summer for us here! There has been so much going on that it's been hard to keep up our blog!!!

Anyway.......

Back on July 1st, we went for a walk after dinner on the beach at Deke's parents' house. The waves were crashing and the air was misty..... it was a mysterious evening to be walking out on the spit that splits the lagoon from the ocean.

After walking for a while, Deke took me in his arms and asked if I would be his wife (I'll keep the details for us). I said yes, of course! We don't know when we'll tie the knot. We'll probably run off together one day and just do it simply. We do love Glacier NP, so maybe that's a possibility.....

Whenever we get around to it, we'll post pics of the ring.

For the rest of the week, we had a great time being with Deke's parents and doing some geocaching and hiking. One memorable hike was in Redwoods NP on the Donalson Prairie trail. We weren't a quarter of a mile down the trail when we came across a little black bear about 20 yards in front of us! We shooed him off ahead of us and enjoyed watching him hang out (from a distance) before continuing our hike. We saw amazing old growth redwood trees, banana slugs, lush greenery, bear and coyote scat and lovely scenery. We also had the worst allergy attacks of our lives! The trail was gorgeous and we didn't see another human the entire time!

It was a great week all in all, and we have many pics to post - but time is working against. We'll put up pics when we can!

~J

June 29, 2008 - Heading to California

2008-07-21T17:27:00.005-06:00

Right after I got back from my PIT project, Deke and I packed up for a week in California to visit his parents.

Our plan was to head out and spend the night along the way near the Dalles Dam on the Washington/Oregon border. Along the way, we decided to take a scenic route on the northern side of the Columbia River and discovered a life-sized replica of Stonehenge that this guy built as a war memorial. It was pretty amazing! The best part was the view of the river valley and Mt. Hood in the distance.

We continued on to the Maryhill Museum of Art, but we decided it wasn't in our budget. Maybe one day.... Nonetheless, we had fun with the peacocks who were ornamenting the law

After that, we were treated to an electrical storm and a bit of rain before making it to our chosen campground for the evening in the area of Multnomah Falls. We enjoyed hiking to the top and taking in the views.

June 21, 2008 - Passport In Time

2008-07-21T17:07:00.003-06:00

This week was my P.I.T. project up China Gulch near Superior, MT. The week was amazing! I learned a lot about the history of Chinese gold miners in the area, as well as the beginnings of the basics of archaeological excavations. It was great fun and hard work. I did brush clearing, digging, working the screen, mapping, GPSr waypointing, as well as serving as the photographer for the project. The camping was great and the food was fabulous.

This was my first Passport In Time project, and I can easily see myself doing more in the coming summers. The idea that we were helping to unearth the story anchored to the many stone hearths in the area was intoxicating. My big finds were an almost complete wine bottle and a Chinese button.

If you want to know more about the area, you can contact Chris Merritt at the University of Montana. The whole endeavor was a part of his work on his PhD.

~Jessica

Predated - June 14 2008 - Backpacking Blodgett Canyon

2008-07-03T21:21:00.005-06:00

We went on our first backpacking trip together in mid-June. Amazing that we hadn't done a proper backpacking trip in our 1 1/2 years together - but it's been pretty much all car camping or staying in cabins. Nonetheless, we set off up Blodgett Canyon in the Bitterroots, and made our way up to the big falls where we found a sweet camping spot on a rock outcropping with the water crashing nearby. We had a blast making dinner and chatting 'round the fire.

The next day, we decided to do a day hike before heading out. We headed farther up the drainage as is became a vertiable swamp and soon discovered that we were in wolf territory as we were following their tracks and very frequent scat. We even found the site of what was probably an old mountain goat carcass from an avalanche this winter. Lots of white fur in the scat for a great distance on the trail around that!

The scenery was absolutely stunning - especially at 7-mile Meadow. That became our destination after a failed attempt at the High Lake Trail (to be done later in the summer when the runoff goes down). We had some lunch and layed out on a huge rock overlooking the amazing subalpine landscape and canyon walls tipped with snow.

The hike out was just as lovely as on the way in. We can't wait to go farther up Blodgett when the snow levels clear out!

We took our brand new video camera with us - so here is a little dorky clip from our day hike during the trip. :-)

Voting in Missoula.

2008-06-03T22:19:00.004-06:00

So, after a trip to the courthouse, and then to our respective polling places (based on our old addresses) we voted tonight. We actually kind of felt like it mattered a little in the Obama/Clinton/McCain love triangle. It was neat to come home and turn on the news and see Montana being talked about for once. We hope you all voted in your state when it was time!

Morels!

2008-06-03T22:04:00.004-06:00

This weekend, we went morel hunting for the first time with our friends Keith and Lila.

Thanks to their guidance, there was much success all around! We went hunting in the Seeley Lake area because it burned last year. The commercial hunters were out in full force - but with the help of the Forest Service's handouts and maps, we had plenty of our own areas to check out.

We brought home plenty of morels and promptly decided to have them with butter and garlic on some steaks.

Deke got to work and prepared quite the feast!!!

We couldn't decide whether we liked hunting for them or eating them more!!!!

Hitting the trail.....

2008-06-02T18:06:00.008-06:00

In spite of rainy weather, Jessica and her dad set out on Sunday the 25th for a day hike up Blodgett Canyon in the Bitterroots. As the day went on, the weather got better and they were treated to blue skies and wandering clouds on the way out. Calypsos (Fairy Slippers) were peeking out of the banks along the trail, along with a whole host of spring flowers.

The spring runoff made for a roaring creek and rushing waterfalls. It was a delightful day on all accounts!

The next day was Memorial Day, so Jess, her dad, and Deke decided to head up another favorite Bitterroot drainage - Bass Creek. The tops of the canyon walls were socked in most of the day making for misty ambience and a moist canvas for the spring foliage. The trail was inundated with torrents of runoff. Eventually, they got to patches of snow - and Jessica's dad was delighted to stand on an old avalanche. 14 miles in all, the day was full of smiles and scenery.

Jessica's Dad Visits!

2008-06-02T17:50:00.002-06:00

What a busy week it's been! So much has been going on that there just hasn't been time to post anything!

Back on Saturday, May 24th, Jessica's dad arrived for a visit during his time off from his new job. He is currently working as a consultant for a diamond mine north of Yellowknife, Canada. Yes - up in the neighborhood of where they filmed that show about the trucks on the ice roads.

After a visit to REI for the purchase of a much-needed backpack for her dad, Jessica took him for a nice hike on the North Loop Trail in the Mt. Jumbo area of Missoula. There were wildflowers galore and it was a nice stretch of the legs.

Happy Mother's Day!!!!

2008-05-11T08:34:00.002-06:00

Happy Mother's Day, Mom! I just wanted to let you know how much I think of you all the way out here in Montana. Montana may have just about everything I've been looking for in life - but it doesn't have my mom - and that's tough. Still, I know that no matter where I am or what I'm doing, you are thinking of me and wondering how I am. That's pretty darn cool. Daddy sent me this picture to post of you holding me when I was only one month old. You are beautiful!!!! No wonder Daddy talks about your hair all the time - just look at those coal-black locks! Well, little did you know that you would have three of us in total. I know I was quite the trail-blazer - but I like to think I made things easier for you for the next two little ones.

You know, once I was asked what my earliest memory was. I thought really hard and this image came to mind all of a sudden. All I remember was feeling like I was on my back and seeing bright sunlight filtered through green fibers very close to my face. I could see the weave of the fabric and the pilling of the fibers all outlined by the sun. I knew I was bundled up. Then I remembered a big green blanket we had that I loved dearly. It had a "bee bee edge"! Remember that?! I loved to rub the ribbony silky "bee bee edge" between my little fingers - and I still do that when I'm wearing something that has that same feel in my hands. After that I remembered a black metal railing and a long slanted concrete sidewalk. Perhaps you were carrying me down the sidewalk from the side door of our Bobtown house on your way to my babysitter and teaching school. A nice first set of memories, I think!

Anyway - Happy Mother's Day! I wish we could celebrate together - but Pennsylvania and Montana are hard to bridge. I guess we'll have to make up for it when you visit in July!

*hugs & love*

~Jessica

To Mom

2008-05-11T00:01:00.001-06:00

What Blog would be complete without a tribute to my Mom on Mother's Day..? To my mother, who had the privilege of giving me life, not once but at least twice (and probably more). I give thanks every day for her persistence, love and courage which has allowed me to have the life I have today.

To my mother, who despite every reason to give up, hung in there when I know it was difficult.. Who has always been there for me, and for her husband and family. You are and always will be a hero to me.

I love you.. and Happy Mother's Day.

Deke

PS- I hope all the special mothers in my life are having the wonderful day you deserve!

Sunday, May 4, 2008 - Happy Birthday, Peggy!

2008-05-06T19:12:00.005-06:00

On Sunday, we went for a hike up the Bear Creek drainage with our friends Peggy and Ron. It was Peggy's birthday and we thought striking out on the trail with some snowshoes on our packs would make for a great celebration. The weather was awesome - blue skies and big puffy clouds. The glacier lilies had just come out and were scattered around us here and there. They were a lovely diversion as we hiked and geocached our way up the trail.
Bear Creek was roaring with runoff from the melting snowpack. There was lots of moose sign along the way - but no bear (much to the disappointment of a horseback hunting party we encountered on our way out).
The sun was working hard to clear the slushy snow from the trail. As we got close to the wilderness boundary, we had a few rounds of "snowshoes on, snowshoes off". Our final geocache and the turnaround point of our trip was when we decided to throw our little surprise party for Peggy. We whipped out some Hostess cupcakes and candles and sang Happy Birthday. (Only the very best for our friends). Good times...
Although the trail leading into the Selway-Bitterroot wilderness beckoned, we decided to head back to Missoula to get ready for a nice dinner to round out the day.
Indeed, a scrumptious meal at Scotty's Table at it's new location under the Wilma left us with full bellies and smiling faces.
Until next year you guys!
~D&J

Jessica finds a challenge...

2008-04-27T23:25:00.003-06:00

Having just completed the mild Riverbank Run here in Missoula, I started checking out the Run Montana website for my next race.
I found this:

http://www.redlodge.com/beartoothrun

Would be a great excuse for a trip to Yellowstone/Grand Teton, but I think I will be volunteering on a forest service project at that time. Still, it's a neat race to check out...
~J

Forestry Day at Fort Missoula

2008-04-27T17:14:00.011-06:00

To continue our Saturday.......
After the Riverbank Run, we checked out Forestry Day at Fort Missoula. There were tons of fun events to watch which included pole-climbing, springboarding, jack-and-jill sawerying, cookie-stacking, and hot saws! We learned a lot and saw a lot of new things.

Jessica's favorite event was the cookie-stacking wherein one uses their chainsaw to cut thin slices off the top of a vertically-placed log. Then the slices must be moved with said (running) chainsaw to a chopping block. After 90 seconds, the person with the most stacked "cookies" wins the prize ($$$). Deke was taken with the "hot saws" which were chainsaws powered by modified snowmobile engines and with the giant chainsaw that was powered with a V-8!!

YMCA Riverbank Run

2008-04-27T11:26:00.011-06:00

On Saturday, April 26, a full day was in store for D & J. Jessica was slated to run the 5k event in the annual YMCA Riverbank Run, and plans were in the works to attend Forestry Day at Fort Missoula in the afternoon.

It was a clear and crisp morning in Missoula. Blue skies and sunshine reigned over the starting line.

Although she started out in a down jacket and gloves, Deke convinced Jessica to pare down to her intended running attire. She was glad to have done so as things quickly heated up on her journey along Higgins, through the U of M campus, and down along the river trail. Jessica gained yet another personal best by finishing the race in under 30 minutes for the first time ever! 29:45! Here are the official results from Perfect Timing:
Congratulations on finishing the Riverbank 5K 2008 on April 26, 2008. For your records, the weather that day was warm, sunny, clear. There were 63 finishers in the Female 30 to 34 age group and 1010 finishers in the race. Your overall finish place was 435 and your age group finish place was 21. Your overall finish percentile was 43 while your age group percentile was 33. Your time of 29:45.0 gave you a 9:36 pace per mile.
Deke memorialized everything with some shots of Jessica getting ready, running with hair a-flying, and recuperating after the finish line.

The Helix

2008-04-25T12:17:00.016-06:00

Some of you have been curious about the project I'm currently working on. The owner and builder simply calls it "The Helix" appropriately named for the spiral shape.. While the shape may be interesting, the concepts behind the building are what set it apart from traditional structures.

The first and most obvious are the natural building techniques such as earth bag and straw bale construction as well as utilizing south facing orientation and thermal mass. The combination of thermal mass and the high insulating factor of the straw will make the Helix extremely energy efficient when it comes to temperature control. Many of the components were taken from the site and most of the materials are recycled.

From a builder's perspective, working on this project has not been easy. Much of the design and problem solving is happening as we go. However, from an educational perspective, working on a round(ish) building with ascending and descending angles has proven key to enhancing my skills. Further, working with recycled materials is always good, but not always easy. Old lumber is never straight and is frequently riddled with nails. But without exception, the end result of working with old wood is spectacular and extremely satisfying.

I am excited to be a part of this creation and vision and look forward to seeing it grow.

For more information on the Helix in Walt Redfield's own words, visit the Missoulian article at http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2006/06/08/news/local/news05.txt

Photo Credit- Ms. Jessica L. Franks

Snowshoeing Bass Creek

2008-04-20T14:46:00.000-06:00

On April 13, we hiked in to the Bass Creek drainage in the Bitterroot Mts. south of Missoula. Fortunately, we had our snowshoes strapped to our packs as we needed them right around the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness boundary. Semi-recent avalance evidence, bright blue skies, the rushing creek, all were the accompaniment to our day. In all, we got about 5 miles up the drainage to an avalanche chute. Along the way we heard ice booming and cracking off of the mountainsides on either side of us. We were lucky enough to get to watch a few large chunks falling down the northern wall of the drainage. The runoff waterfalls were roaring and took our breath away. The temps were in the low to mid 70's, so it was a real treat for Jessica who loves it when she can snowshoe in a tank top!

We followed the old trail and crossed the creek at a large boulder - beyond where the newer trail branches off and begins its switchbacks. This let us follow the old equipment grade that was used to help build the earthen dam up at Bass Lake. We got to about 5850 feet in elevation and were about 2 miles from the lake before the sun told us it was time to turn around.

We saw tons of moose tracks and scat. (We were very happy to have had snowshoes on as some of the moose postholes would've had us in up to our hips had we slid into them in mere boots)!

Another amazing day trip practically in our back yard!

Getting our act together...

2008-04-20T14:05:00.000-06:00

After all of our wonderful adventures together, we've decided it's time to start a blog. We have pictures and stories to share - maybe one day some video! Be patient while we learn how to post here. Please drop us a line and say hi since we are so far away from those who are dear to our hearts.

There may be a few out of order posts as we put up pics and tales from a few recent outings.