By Alkali Springs Correspondent
First the bad news. We have flies back and they are back with a vengeance. With the 50-above weather, they have come out of any and all nooks and crannies of our cabin and delight in divebombing us any and all occasions.
So we are enjoying the colder weather and once more an end to those pests.
And an update. A couple of weeks ago we wrote that our chipmunks had gone into hibernation. Well, they were once again out and about and feasting each day on what the birds spill on the ground. Those critters must have thought it's spring. They won't be alone in that thinking. If the warm weather stays around for much longer, there will be pussy willows and buttercups showing their faces in search for spring as well.
We are having a devil of a time reporting on ice fishing. Sort of like the problems that ice fishermen are having. Just when they get their ice houses situated for a long sojourn of spearing and fishing, it warms up and the ice melts. Last week the ice was frozen solid. This week it is not. But by the time you gentle readers are reading these words, who knows? All we know is that this is the year to be very careful on the ice. None of it is all that stable.
One thing that all this open weather has provided is an opportunity to take drives through the beautiful Bear Paws that are not usually taken this time of year. To be able to drive over divide after divide on dry roads in the middle of January is something probably folks will never have the opportunity to do again, we hope.
And that driving has even caused us to take to the road over trails usually less traveled.
One such road is the Eagle Rock road. Do not confuse this road with the road to the Eagle Rock Estates. The road we are referring to is south of the Eagle Rock Estates turn. For our road, get to Eagle Rock, then turn west and head up a long winding road with some of the most impressive vistas down to Beaver Creek Reservoir and into Havre that you will ever see. There is the old Eagle Rock School along the road that some enterprising folks have turned into a home. And there are at least a couple of the most historic ranches in this part of Montana along the way, in a most beautiful setting. All the road, the ranches, the school and the traveler just wind along the side of Number One Mountain.
Funny we have not driven or written about that road for a long time for it is one of the most beautiful of all the Bear Paw trails and one of the most accessible to Havre residents.
Try it for yourself. You will enjoy.
How about a footnote? The beautiful and long peak called Number One got its name because it is the first mountain that people get to when heading out to Beaver Creek. There is a Number One Crossing, a Number Two Crossing and a Leavings Hill to go along with it.
