Summer Reflections

Flooding and another year at Pine Butte

2011-06-08T13:36:00.000-07:00

Bitterroot

2010-07-09T16:35:00.000-07:00

The state flower of Montana

Marmot Rock, Lonesome Ridge, Blackleaf?? Oh my!

2010-07-07T15:54:00.000-07:00

2010-06-12T13:08:00.000-07:00

Pine Butte 2010

2010-06-05T11:32:00.000-07:00

Neices and Nephews.

2010-04-07T22:28:00.000-07:00

Spring has arrived with a vengeance -- along with my Niece and Nephews! These are some pictures from my brother's children's visit this past week. Helping ol uncle Mikey clear the garden plot!

SPRING!!!

2010-03-04T12:46:00.000-08:00

Sure it may still look and feel like winter outside, but if you pay close attention, the signs of the coming season are more and more obvious. The drip drip of melting icicles in the afternoon sun - the critters scurrying about with a renewed sense of purpose. It seems no matter how cold and dark the winter months are, the promise of spring is with us.
To me, spring is a time of renewal - a time to take stock of life and think about changes that need to be made. this winter has been especially rough for many reasons, but I'm hopeful and excited for whatever 2010 has in store. It's going to be a good year!
The other day I talked to Annie -- my Montana Boss -- about returning to Pine Butte for another season. I'll be starting work May 1st! It's an incredibly special place and I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to live and work there again.
Goodbye winter!

September

2010-01-05T22:53:00.000-08:00

I was going through my pictures today. Discarding some really bad shots, and finding some good ones I never realized I had. While doing this, I came across a batch of photos that vividly reminded me of a certain thing that happened while I was in Montana.
You see.
It was a beautiful frosty September morning -- The kind of morning that makes you feel glad to be alive -- and I had decided to take a nice long hike up Rierdon Gulch.
It's a beautiful place. The trail starts out by passing through a rather thick coniferous forest with aspens, willow, and rocky mountain maple interspersed throughout.
As you climb higher up the trail, you find yourself emerging into a vast wide open valley with steep rocky hillsides on either side. On this morning, there was a fresh dusting of snow on the ground as I made my way higher.
It was when I stopped to rest and take a drink of water that I noticed -- what appeared to be -- bear scat on the trail ahead of me. A closer look brought me to the conclusion that it was most likely grizzly scat.
In retrospect, I suppose I should have probably turned around. But it was such a beautiful day, and I had bear spray with me, so I decided to continue on for awhile

Perhaps not my brightest moment.

A short while before you reach the pass, the trail leads you into a smallish band of scraggly timber. It's as I entered this stand of trees, that I heard a loud crashing sound off to my right. I turned to see a sow grizzly barreling out of the trees at me! I also saw 2 small cubs in the trees behind her.
And the rest is a blur...
I responded to her charge by doing the worse possible thing a person can do in this situation.
I RAN
I could hear her behind me as I bolted back down the trail -- and after a short distance -- I turned and saw that she was still coming towards me huffing and just generally looking displeased. I estimate that she was no more then 15 feet away from me at the time. Before I could even think, I was pulling the bear spray off my hip and spraying a stream of pepper spray right at her. After that, She stopped coming and ran back into the trees. I then proceeded to run like a mad man back down the trail. The journey back down seemed like an eternity. I kept on looking behind me as I went -- wondering where she was-- and if she could possibly be following me. as I neared the trail head, I was beginning to think that the chances of running into that same bear again were fairly slim. I really didn't think she was in any condition to give chase after being sprayed directly in the face. Also, would she put her cubs in danger by pursuing something that she considered a threat? I didn't really think so. I was concerned; however, that she may have fled down the drainage -- in my direction -- instead of up and over the pass.

It was as these thoughts started creeping into my mind, that I heard a familiar sound. It was the sound of a large animal (or animals) running through the forest.
I was feeling very vulnerable to say the least. My bear spray was used up and I had no other means of defending myself. I had stupidly tossed my backpack away shortly after our first encounter so I didn't even have what little protection that could have provided me in the event of an attack.
And then I saw them.
Two mule deer running through the forest.
After that I was simply too tired to continue so I stopped and caught my breath before continuing the short distance back to my car.

I guess I learned a valuable lesson from this experience. Well, a couple actually. First, I now understand why some people hate and fear these creatures. A close encounter can be very terrifying! Especially when you come across a sow with cubs. But, the way I look at it is this: I was in HER territory. I was an intruder and she perceived me to be a threat to her offspring. So she did what any good mother would do; she confronted the threat. How can you possibly blame her for that? Obviously, if this ever happens to me again -- I will handle it differently. I look forward to getting back out there next season and enjoying Gods creation with new found respect for the creatures that inhabit this beautiful area.

This fall there have been numerous "incidents' between man and bear along the rocky mountain front in Montana. In fact, a record number of these confrontations have been reported, and many have been fatal. Not for the humans involved but for the bears. I think we have a responsibility to these animals. To understand them better, so we can dispel the stigmas and rumors that make people hostile towards them.
I think we owe them that much. After all, they were here long before men with guns and bird dogs came along...
My 2 cents... Take it or leave it.
That September day will certainly go down as one of the more memorable days of my life.
Cheers,
MJB

Grizzly sow with cubs --- May 2009

More from pine butte.

2009-10-09T21:10:00.000-07:00

Ok so I realize I never actually WRITE anything on this blog. But whatever.....
Just a few more pictures of the wonderful folks I got to know at PBGR.

I Sure Do Miss You..

2009-10-05T21:40:00.000-07:00

Our Lake

2009-07-20T19:10:00.000-07:00

Big Sky Country

2009-07-18T16:30:00.000-07:00

Me and my mommy:)

Me and my mommy:)
Don't really have much to say this time around. We went tubing down the north fork today, and it was a blast!

Independence Day

2009-07-06T20:39:00.000-07:00

So, I had a fantastic 4Th of July! Attended the Choteau rodeo! The ranch provided all staff with tickets which was very nice for sure. Took TONS of pictures. My parents are visiting for a few days which is awesome! We're all sitting for dinner at the ranch tomorrow night. I was really excited to show the area off to them. Unfortunately, it rained half the day and we ended up getting hailed on up the south fork road. But, it was a good day and I'm sure tomorrow the weather will cooperate.
All for now.
Cheers,
MJB

The most beautiful place on earth?

2009-06-16T15:42:00.000-07:00

Maybe

Checking In

2009-06-07T13:59:00.001-07:00

Mostly photos. Had to say goodbye to some dear friends the other day. They certainly will be missed around here.
The wild-flowers around here are simply amazing! this is Larkspur.

And this is balsam root. Alice's ridge is yellow with it. We've been picking it for our supper tables, as well as for the guest cabins.

And These of course

Encountered these guys near the preserve. I usually don't see then this close.

And finally, I'll leave you with this shot of Ear Mountain, I took this while hiking up Pine Butte

Grizzlies!

2009-05-18T12:17:00.000-07:00

I’m sitting in the lodge right now typing this. I’ll be going into town to post later on. I thought I’d mainly share some photos from the past few weeks as well as some random little things. Last night I drove out to the Pine Butte Preserve and spotted a female grizzly and her 2 cubs. I watched them for about 45 minutes or so and it was just an amazing experience! I could see every little move they made through binoculars as they grazed peacefully by the waters edge. At one point, the cubs splashed into the water chasing ducks. Also, as I was watching the bears, a Moose came into view directly behind them. Neither seemed at all concerned by the others presence. In the 4 weeks I’ve been here, I’ve seen FIVE bears! A cinnamon black with her blond cub, and the grizzly with her two cubs. Not bad I’d say!
The job is going well I think. Everybody here is very nice, and I’ve met some very interesting people. The weather finally seems to be coming around. It was 75 yesterday!
Definitely a welcome change from the freezing temps and snow we’ve had.
We’ve got a lot of great dogs running around here, and I’ll eventually post pictures of all of them. But for now, this is Gus.

And here are some more. the Front, a Blue Grouse and a Northern Harrior...

We have SO many Mule Deer!!!

On top of Indianhead Rock with Ear Mountain in the background.

And me!

GRIZZ!

More photos later. I still haven't taken one of the ranch that does it justice.
Stay tuned.
Cheers!
MJB

Badlands

2009-04-23T21:15:00.000-07:00

Here on the high plains the weather can be unpredictable, with wild temperature fluctuations and sudden storms. Well, I got a taste of all the above yesterday.
Firstly, when I arrived in the Badlands it was AT LEAST 90F! Lucky for me the KOA Kabin I stayed in had a little air conditioner. Then last night came the thunderstorms. And know, it's 32F with light snow.
I'm hitting out for Montana tomorrow. Decided, due to the weather, to cut the rest of the trip into two days. I'll check in either from Billings or Helena tomorrow night.
Cheers,
MJB

Packing -- Kinda

2009-04-21T16:51:00.000-07:00

I'm leaving early Thursday morning. I WAS going to leave tomorrow but it didn't work out. For one thing, I'm not even close to being all packed up and ready to go. Also, my camera is in the shop and I won't be able to get it in time.
Anyway.....
We received some disturbing news yesterday. I can't go into detail but lets just say I'm very worried and frustrated. It's disturbing to see the same scenario played out over and over again. You have a person who was mistreated by her mother. this person's mother was a terrible person who had no time for her. She let men into her home who didn't have the children's best interest at heart. And now, rather then learn from her mother's mistakes, this person has decided to RUN down that same destructive path with her own children. It truly is a sad situation

Now I must go finish packing. Chances are I'll be in South Dakota or Montana next time I post..
Cheers
MJB

Melancholy

2009-04-14T20:18:00.000-07:00

It’s late and I should be sleeping, but since that is obviously not going to happen, I might as well write some. I've been planning this trip for so long that it’s hard to believe - in just two short weeks - I’ll be starting my first day of work at the guest ranch. When I first applied for the job it seemed like the distant future.

Note to self: TIME FLIES.

I have four more shifts at my current job - and though I hate to admit it - I’m actually going to miss the place. I should apologize for such a melancholy tone, but I really am feeling very much -- well melancholy. Or maybe it's just that I enjoy using the word.......

In addition to being melancholy;) I’m also VERY apprehensive about the new job. So many questions! What will it really be like? Will I be able to do the job well? What if they don’t like me? I’ve basically had every bad scenario possible run though my head.

On the positive side, I’m pretty confident that this is going to be a VERY interesting experience for me.

Stay Tuned
Cheers,
MJB

First Blog Entry!

2009-04-09T13:36:00.000-07:00

Well, this is my first post and I'm not really sure what to write about, so I'll begin with the reason I'm starting this blog in the first place. I'm leaving for Montana in two weeks where I'll be working through the summer at a guest ranch along the rocky mountain front west of Choteau. I plan on using this blog to update my family and friends (or whoever else wants to know;) on what I'm up too.

That's all for now, but I'll post again soon (if I survive the dentist tomorrow)

Cheers,
MJB