Howdy Beaver
Last week out in the beautiful Bear Paws there wasn't a lot of rain, but what there was was just wonderful! It could even be called a three- day drizzle. Over on Beaver Creek, those folks came out with about an inch. Over on Clear Creek some people reported getting as much as an inch and a half, and at Cleveland there was even more than that.
Best of all though, is that there was no run-off at all. Area creeks did not rise any to speak of. Instead, the slow drizzle types of rain 24 hours a day just sort of sunk into the parched earth and really helped the fire danger, keeping the mountains green, and producing another rage of beautiful wildflowers.
There was no snow to speak of in the Bear Paws, maybe a tad on Baldy one morning. There is just lots of fog, mists and low clouds. Something that felt really great to be a part of!
And all that should bring on those flowers. This is the beginning of the wild rose season. That is the time when the millions and millions of wild roses bloom and perfume the countryside. Our coulee is just full of wild roses and a walk to the front door of our tiny cabin is like walking through a perfume factory when wild rose season is upon us.
Not only is there the incredible beauty of the wild roses to enjoy right now, but those produce the wonderful rose hips which in turn are gathered by people to make a great tea and keep some birds happy and content all winter long.
Rose hips are so full of vitamin C that they make oranges pale by comparison. During World War II, there was a concerted effort just north of us to pick rose hips, turn them into tea, and ship that tea overseas to help keep the troops healthy. The truly astounding thing about those rose hips was that there were millions and millions of pounds readily available. They don't call that part of Canada "Wild Rose Country" for nothing. Those amounts of hips are available right here in Montana as well. And folks who drink rose hip tea say that not only is it good tasting, but that it prolongs the quality and quantity of life as well.
This weekend is Father's Day. It is a good time for a fishing trip out to the beautiful Bear Paws to celebrate Dad's day. Pack up that old lunch hamper, head south and make a weekend of it. Camping is a great activity for Dads and families and we have noted that in Glacier as well as in the Bear Paws, there is so much more tent camping than there used to be and it is just great fun. Particularly after dark when the ghost stories start. And, oh goodness, the tents they make these days. So large, and so light. We practically drool when we see a family out tent camping.
So get out and enjoy this beautiful Father's Day weekend in the beautiful Bear Paws.
If you are fishing, what some are calling one of the ten best fisheries in Montana that being Bear Paw Lake use caution because folks are seeing rattlesnakes around that lake this month.
