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  • After a long trip over back roads, we find Eagle Guard Station, a de-commissioned Forest Service cabin. width:1024;;height:752
  • We had access to the far two thirds of the cabin. width:1024;;height:768
  • The cabin was built about 1895 by a homesteader. width:1024;;height:768
  • The kitchen is atmospheric and roomy!<br /> width:576;;height:768
  • There is no running water nor other utilities but modern camping equipment is convenient enough. width:1024;;height:768
  • The bunk room (with hanging lamp). width:557;;height:768
  • Two retired Forest Rangers stopped by on a visit to their old stomping ground. The gentleman on the left was promoted to an office in Upper Darby, PA after which he returned to Montana. width:1024;;height:768
  • Our front yard, marred only by the flies always found around horse corrals. width:1024;;height:768
  • Heading off for a day hike. width:1024;;height:768
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  • <br /> We found some bones for our garden collection. Since beef cattle are so plentiful and are an introduced species, we do not think we are upsetting the natural balance. width:576;;height:768
  • <br /> It was distressing to witness the death of so many pines and spruces because warmer winters fail to control the pest population. width:576;;height:768
  • Hale and hardy at the start of the day. width:1024;;height:768
  • By the late afternoon - not so much.<br /> width:576;;height:768
  • Jean is in the middle of the picture working her way down-valley.<br /> width:954;;height:768
  • Between back country experiences, we visited Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone NP, outside Gardiner, Montana. width:1024;;height:690
  • The Park was administered by the Army in the late 19th century. Their headquarters was Mammoth Hot Springs and this was the cavalry barracks.<br /> width:1024;;height:652
  • There is a lot of history and good architecture at Mammoth. Our favorite is the old civil engineering headquarters. width:1024;;height:714
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  • The "Liberty Cap" formation at Mammoth Hot Springs.<br /> width:1024;;height:721
  • The travertine deposits are constantly changing and often consist of pools and steps. width:1024;;height:768
  • A Ranger explains the unusual limestone-based geology of Mammoth. width:590;;height:768
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  • Looking back to the Mammoth Hot Springs village. width:1024;;height:768
  • The constantly changing travertine sometimes envelopes tress.<br /> width:576;;height:768
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  • Gardiner, MT, and Mammoth were the most popular entry points in the railroad era but seem quiet now. The (Theodore) Roosevelt arch is in the background. width:1024;;height:768
  • Our next adventure is at the not-as-remote Ibex cabin in the foothills of the Crazy Mountains.<br /> width:1024;;height:733
  • Our first glimpse of beautiful Ibex cabin.<br /> width:647;;height:768
  • Unlike Eagle, Ibex is a smaller, one-room cabin. width:1024;;height:643
  • We (or, at least, one of us) cleans up the cabin.<br /> width:1024;;height:766
  • Ibex Cabin was built by the Forest Service for its crews.<br /> width:576;;height:768
  • There is a sink but the running water was detached long ago and it empties into a bucket underneath. The accordian-style container is a portion of our water supply. width:1024;;height:768
  • We cooked with our backpacking stove.<br /> width:564;;height:768
  • The cabin has two bunk beds. width:1024;;height:768
  • We REALLY enjoyed the porch.<br /> width:991;;height:768
  • The facility is down the hall. width:1024;;height:768
  • Back country humor.<br /> width:576;;height:768
  • The view from the outhouse. width:550;;height:768
  • The cabin was cozy and charming after dark with the butane lantern.<br /> width:596;;height:768
  • We day-hiked every day. width:1024;;height:768
  • An old cabin in a beautiful, isolated valley.<br /> width:1023;;height:768
  • The Canadian thistle is invasive but attractive.<br /> width:562;;height:768
  • Jean approaches a stream crossing as smoke from Idaho and west Montana forest fires descends. width:1024;;height:768
  • We have some climbing ahead!<br /> width:490;;height:768
  • Uh-oh. Bear scat, complete with berries. Fortunately, it was at least a day old and grizzlies are very rare in this part of the state.<br /> width:979;;height:768
  • Joel figures out where we are, or should be, or something.<br /> width:568;;height:768
  • It gets very steep! width:1024;;height:768
  • Smoke from the Idaho forest fires limits visibility.<br /> width:1024;;height:754
  • <br /> Approaching the end of the trail. width:576;;height:768
  • The trail ends around the corner. There is a glacier out of sight at the top of the slope. width:1024;;height:768
  • Pines under attack by borers exude sap through the holes in defense. With global warming, this pattern is becoming very common and a high proportion of the forest is dying.<br /> width:449;;height:768
  • Visitors are free to help themselves to deadwood in select areas.<br /> width:898;;height:768
  • We return to the cabin and find it surrounded by beef cattle.<br /> width:1024;;height:741
  • They were curious about us but also wanted to stay away.<br /> width:1009;;height:768
  • Jean meditates in the Ibex front yard. width:1024;;height:768
  • We clean the cabin before departure. width:1024;;height:768
  • We stop at Little Big Horn on the drive back to Minnesota. This monument is close to where Custer fell. The grassy area is now a mass grave for his soldiers. A monument to Indian warriors is nearby.<br /> width:977;;height:768
  • The soldiers' markers show where they fell. There are other markers for the Indian dead, added relatively recently. width:1024;;height:768
  • Terry, Montana, where Jean took a picture to remind herself of where she would rather not live. width:1024;;height:768
  • The National Buffalo Museum in North Dakota.<br /> width:1024;;height:716
  • In Moorhead, MN, an individual led the community project to reproduce an ancient Norwegian stave church and did most of the carving.<br /> width:607;;height:768
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  • Also in Moorhead, another individual was inspired to build a reproduction of a Viking ship. A local team sailed it to Norway and back. width:536;;height:768
  • The Sons of Norway is a significant organization in Minnesota.<br /> width:576;;height:768
  • The voyage to Norway took 72 days. The crew slept under canvas on the deck. Our journey back home from Montana took 70 days less with considerably more comfort. width:573;;height:768
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