Mystic Lake and then some

Here is where we've been

June 20 Buffalo Campground – Targhee National Forest, Island Park, ID – beautiful setting

June 21 – Buffalo Crossing RV Park, West Yellowstone, Montana- right next to the park

June 22 – Bakers Hole Campground, Gallatin National Forest, West Yellowstone – beautiful setting on the Madison River

June 23-24 – Itch-Kep-Pe City Park Campground, Columbus, MT – No hookup but big sites and on the Yellowstone River

June 25-July 2 – Mountain Range RV Park, Columbus, MT -

July 3 -  Riverside Campground and RV Park – Belle Fouche, SD – Ugh. Dog poo. Crowded

July 4 – Happy Holiday RV Resort, Rapid City, SD – very crowded

July 5-8 – Fort Pierre Motel, Fort Pierre, SD – practical for fishing

When we leave Columbus today, I will take out a new color highlighter to trace our journey. July 1 is the anniversary of our journey. Two years ago we finished wrapping up our affairs in Illinois and headed north to begin putting together our life on the road.

On July 1, ten of us hiked back out of the mountains…. 3 miles around Mystic Lake then some steep switchbacks up the mountain and a long hike down-hill through rocks and switchbacks for another 3 miles till we were all safely back to the trail head. I measure success by the safe return of all the hikers and once more we all made it. Not that I’ve ever been on the trip when anyone was injured but in my imagination it could so easily happen. From the time that we begin planning a trip… in this case it was in September last year until everyone is safely down the mountain, I have some anxiety that increases in the weeks before the trip and doesn’t go away until we are all safely home. Now I can sleep soundly again.

Of course it is worth it. Mystic Lake never fails. We spent five days amidst indescribable beauty. I will let the pictures tell of that. We ate delicious trout cooked on an open fire. We took a day hike over to Silver Lake. We set up the cribbage board on a makeshift table under the tarp shelter that we built when it was raining. It didn’t rain too much so there wasn’t much cribbage played. Don found a couple of trout holes and they brought in 2 meals of delicious trout. These were bigger trout than we have ever caught up there. Nephew Andrew fed us with large pots of soup, cheese and salami in addition to the trout.

Here is what I wrote about the hike up the mountain the day after….

“Everything

        in the

     universe

     has

       rhythm.

Everything

            dances”

    Maya Angelou

That is the title of this journal. Today, 6/28/16 I am sitting on a log just down from our camp on Island Lake in Montana. On Sunday, 6/26 we made the hike up the mountain and around Mystic Lake and across the log jam to where we are now – Don, Ludwig, Greg, Kelly, Ken, Lori, Paige, Andrew, Stasha and myself. We are here till Friday, 7/1 when we will make the return trip – a trip of a lifetime. Eleven years ago when we came up last, I thought that I would never come back. I said to Greg that in 11 years, Edie will be Paige’s age and you can bring her here. I doubt I will make that trip. But we are here now.

There were doubts along the trail but today I think everyone is glad they came. If we can all return with no serious injury the trip will be an awesome success. That is my only criteria. So here I am at Island lake but I will address Mystic Lake which is always the name of this trip.

Mystic Lake,

We always brag on you when we extol this trip and you never fail. When we know our pack is too heavy, our shoulders and hips ache, our legs are so weak we don’t think we can take another switchback, we come around the corner and there you are below us, nestled down in the mountain, blue as blue. We can hear the whisper of the dam. Far below, we can see people sitting on your beach beckoning us down…blessed down. The switchbacks on this side are steep and rocky. We have to be careful with our tired legs but now we have gravity working for us. We go down to you with renewed vigor. We lay those cursed packs in a pile and go to our people for rest and the refreshment of your cold clear water. Now the dam is a roar and you welcome us. This is our reward for now.

And then comes the hard part. Our leader is not content to be here because on your other side beyond the log jam that separates you from Island Lake are beautiful level camp sites among the Fir and Lodgepole pines. Our hike is not over. So we trudge on somewhat renewed and hopeful because we got a drink of your fresh cold water. We can’t tarry too long as the day is getting late and we have to move along. Now we are getting discouraged again especially as the trail takes us up hill again for a while. We get another break at Huckleberry Bridge to give us one more boost before the last leg. We load up our packs and set our again – quiet and determined, most of us trying a little stoicism. Then we come to the log jam. Even for those of us who have done this before, we think, “This is STUPID!” But our leader, with the stoutest of our group has already found a way across and taken our youngest member. We have no other choice. Let me describe the log jam. That’s just what it is. Old dead trees have fallen in the lake and drifted to clog up the narrow river that runs from Island Lake into Mystic Lake. There is a small soggy island in the middle and on the other side of the island another log jam only longer. Many of the logs are solidly wedged together, some are floating and some are rotten. It is slow going but even the most novice of hikers who have made it this far can make it across.. if they take their time and have some guidance from the braver and more well balanced… and especially if one of them helps carry their pack, even though their legs are shaky from exhaustion. The sun is getting low and thank God the cook has found the firepit and has started a fire when the last of us finally straggle across. We can set up our tents, air up our sleeping pads and lay out our sleeping bags…. Heaven.

Then we can join the others around the camp fire and enjoy the fajitas made from steak and fresh vegetables thanks to Andrew and Stasha Switzer.

Now, Mystic Lake, you can continue your magic promise to restore us so that some day we will actually come back.

                                                                                        Love from the hikers

Our Billing's hosts, Bill and Carol Ruff

Fishing lessons

The log jam

A beautiful picture

Camp

Ken's fish

The after picture

Today, a week has passed since we came down from the Mountain and I am sitting in my camper in Pierre (pronounced peer), South Dakota. We’ve met up with some of our friends that we made in Texas, Ray and Cyndi who live in Omaha and their friends Harvey and Doreen who live in Belle Fouche, SD. 

We are at the Fort Pierre Motel where our friends are staying. We have full hook-ups here in the parking lot.  The reason we are here is because of the Walleye fishing which is good. The guys caught some walleye yesterday and we took them to a restaurant where they cooked our fish and served it to us along with a salad and potato. They are fishing again today and tomorrow so hopefully we will have some walleye in our freezer when we get home. While the guys are fishing, I’m doing some sightseeing and shopping with Doreen and Cyndi. I’m also checking out the Little Spa on the Prairie for a massage. We are here for 4 days then we will stop by our “home” in Madison, SD, pick up our mail, renew my library card and take care of our vehicle registration before we finally get to go home to Minnesota and Edie.  

Pierre is the second smallest state capital next to Montpelier, VT. The population is 13,600. Around here they have the Missouri River dammed up creating lakes in which they have a lot of fish. State government and walleye fishing are the only reasons for this town to be here. Tomorrow, we will tour the capital building and I will learn more about my state’s government. It seems like the right thing to do. I have seen no evidence that the legislature is in session so I expect not much to be going on. The town seems to be thriving with small businesses and shops downtown. I guess that goes with politicians, lobbyists and walleye fishermen. Their spouses and partners need something to do out here in the prairie. It’s actually nice to be back in the Midwest with big thunderstorms and a little moisture in the air.

Before all this happened, we spent some time at Yellowstone Park and enjoyed some waterfalls in Idaho on my birthday. Here are some pictures.

The view from the river walk in Idaho Falls, Idaho

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone