Two weeks ago myself and three girlfriends hiked into the Twogood Cabin in the Bitterroot. We got a late start and started the six-mile trek into the cabin at about 6:30pm. The mellow trail was saturated with every Montana wildflower and native plant you can think of. We hiked through the burn, dense forest, open pasture and rock fields. Thankfully we made it in through the moose territory just as it was getting dark and the unbelievable expanse of stars were waking up. We were greeted by an adorable cabin on a darling creek and a bucket full of maggot-infested mice floating in water. It was perfect.
Chelci made burritos and Sarah took the foul mouse bucket outside. We slept on “cots” that were really wooden planks that must have been reinforced with rebar. We didn’t sleep that well especially with all of our guard dogs on high alert.
The next morning was gorgeous. Breakfast, strong coffee, great jokes (Anne: What do you call a psychic midget on the lam? A small medium at large.) Sarah buried the mouse funk (see picture with stick and yellow bucket.) We hiked up and up and up to some beautiful falls (can’t remember the name..bitch creek or something). It was blue and sunny and hot. We hiked in pairs, alternating the groupings so we all got equal time with each other. The dogs ate snow. The falls were maybe the biggest I’ve seen next to Niagara but we couldn’t get very close. Maybe that is why they are called Bitch Creek…cause it’s a bitch that you can’t see it very well…
That night we were tired and hungry. Ate a yummy meal, watched my girls enjoy IPA ( I stole a few sips), crashed. Hiked out early the next morning and just missed the deluge.
After a weekend of belly laughs, happy pooches, the freshest air you can imagine and twenty-two miles under our belts, we were ready for Monday morning at work.
We all brought stellar food. Sarah gave us her recipe for this very healthy, very dense and very delicious trail bread from her days as a camp counselor:
Sarah’s Trail Bread
350 degrees, 23 -30 minutes
Sift:
2 1/2 cups white flour
2 1/2 cups whole wheat
2 1/2 cups oat flour
1 1/2 cup corn meal
3/4 cup bran
1 T salt
1 T baking powder
3/4 cup dry milk
Cut in 3/4 cup veggie oil
Mix separately and add to dry ingredients ( whip until honey is dissolved)
3/4 cup honey
1/2 cup molasses
3 eggs
2 1/4 cup water
Press or roll out into greased huge pan. Score to make it easier to break apart. Take out of pans immediately to cool or it will dry out. Freezes well.
The photos: hiking in; nasty mouse bucket; a plant that looks like dill…any ideas?; aren’t we adorable?; our cabin sans mice; will have to look into this one, Alice, Howdy and Dentist; yarrow; Chelci the dog whisperer; Anne and Chelci filtering for the hike; me; fairyslipper; Chelci on the creek; will have to look this one; prairie smoke.
