Early Spring Drive to a Forest Service Cabin

Post by **BlackBart** » 19 Mar 2021, 17:24

Took a long weekend to relax in the mountains in a tiny forest service cabin near Holland Lake in NW Montana. It's part of a FS packer camp, where the horse and mule pack trains are kept as they head up into the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex. Apparently very busy in the summer, and this cabin is not available to the public then. It's the only cabin there, surrounded by nothing but quiet in the winter, and about a mile to the lake.

No, it's not the Unabomber cabin....it actually looks like this...

Post by **BlackBart** » 19 Mar 2021, 17:51

It had electric lights, and a range, and in spite of our car full of wood, they've switched it to a propane fireplace! With a thermostat on the wall - the luxury. Bunk beds, table, a coach, kitchen counter. Binder full of instructions.

Nearby are many corrals.....with street lights?! All winter?

It's a lush wet forest with a lot of deciduous, also Larch with no needles.

A mile away is Holland Lake, up against the mountains. Frozen solid. There were ice fishermen out there. Funny, at home we thought, It's spring, maybe we should take the kayak!" Not up here it isn't!

This is looking across the valley to the "back" of the Mission Range. Sharp jagged ridge. Tribal Wilderness Area.

Holland Lake. Up that canyon is the trail going into the Bob Marshall Wilderness. A vast area.

We napped on some sunny benches at a closed up lodge fire pit. Took hikes up roads. Didn't think to bring skis, duh. But warm and sunny and slushy days. Stars were spectacular.

Post by **BlackBart** » 19 Mar 2021, 17:57

Two nights and we had to pack up and head home. Radio silence, it was really nice. After 20 miles out on the highway, our phones started beep beeping, and we also learned the time had changed and we checked out an hour late. Didn't seem to matter, not a soul around.

Oro · Post by **Oro** » 19 Mar 2021, 18:54

That's great. I love that part of the country.

I was not too far from there last December on a solo trip in my '04 XC, and I did drive that highway last June on another trip. I for one do enjoy the pics.

Post by **abscate** » 30 Mar 2021, 04:35

I did a five year stint in Montana and the stars were spectacular, even in urban BZN

Aurora was spectacular, too.

Post by **volvolugnut** » 30 Mar 2021, 09:04

Early spring drive into town trip report (tongue in cheek):

Yesterday I made an early spring trip into town. The V70 fired up eagerly and we were off. The red bud trees were blooming at the end of the drive. The truck driving neighbor has left earlier to take his load some unknown place. The usual dollar store stop was cut short as the store was closed for some remodeling. Not to be stopped from shopping for cheap movies, I went on to the dollar store downtown. After selection of granola bars and a couple of movies, I delivered boxes to the Post Office for shipping. The usual postal clerk greeted me cheerfully.

Next stop the grocery store. The bread truck had not arrived yet, but the ice cream truck and a beer truck were unloading their sweets. I greeted a local couple in the parking lot. I maneuvered my cart through the aisles, loading needed items. I noticed the bread truck had arrived and the shelves were getting restocked. More bagels! I checked out without incident and declined the help getting to my car.

I took the scenic route on the way home. I checked on construction progress of two new homes. Many early trees and bushes were blooming and the daffodils still look good.

volvolugnuty

Post by **abscate** » 30 Mar 2021, 09:37

Sometimes its just good to slow down and smell the ....

wait....WTF? WHy do I smell brake fluid ???