Tag: Sun River

Another Road Trip With Becka – August 2019

Carol CarnicomLeave a comment

The next road trip with my daughter Becka is a whirlwind. She picks me up one afternoon in mid-August, while Clifford stays at Sloway Campground, once again, to hold down the fort. Becka and I head to Alberton to first visit her sister (my daughter) Merri for a bit and then out to visit her sister (my daughter) Ang. It is early evening by time we arrive, but we head on to the Lumberjack Saloon on the other side of the mountain for dinner.

Clark Fork River Valley

At the Lumberjack, we sit out at a bonfire for our steak sandwich dinner and on-tap Montana beer. By time we are done eating, the Lumberjack is closing for the night, so we head on back to Ang’s for another campfire. Although it is way past my bedtime, it sure was a fun evening.

  • Campfire with Ang…
  • & Becka

The next morning, Ang makes coffee for us and we have a bit of breakfast before Becka and I head to Sun River, a much longer drive over a much bigger mountain, to see her brother (my son) Matt. On the way, Becka stops so we can take photos of the Blackfoot River and the Birdtail Hills, important photos opps for me!

Blackfoot River
Blackfoot River
Montana prairie country
Birdtail Rock (toward the left)
Birdtail Rock (toward the left)

When we arrive in Sun River, we pick Matt up and head to Great Falls, where Becka buys roses and a Happy Birthday balloon for Aurora, Matt’s daughter, who just had her 21st birthday.

The birthday girl

After a very tasty lunch at a wings place, we go back to Sun River so Matt can pick up fishing gear. Then we head up to the Fairfield Bench where Matt knows all the secret fishing holes.

Secret fishing holes
  • The photographer entertains herself ….
  • while the fisher-people fish

After about the fourth stop at little creeks and irrigation ditches that meander across the bench, Becka scores and catches a whopper. Matt, luckily, had brought the big fish net and helps her land her fish. This really is the icing on the cake for making this long trip to hang out with her brother.

Square Butte view as we leave the Fairfield bench
  • Back at Matt’s, the catch is weighed & measured…
  • 9 pounds, 28 inches

Back at Matt’s place, the fish is prepared and fried up Matt-style for a delicious dinner. We sit around a campfire with Matt, his kids and their mom, happy to share this time and space.

Then Becka and I make the trip back to Ang’s place, which seem extra long traveling in the dark. We arrive about midnight and go to bed as soon as we can. It sure was a jam-packed day!

Fishing on the Sun River – August 2018

Carol CarnicomLeave a comment

Thursday August 30: Today will be the fishing day on the Sun River, but to start the morning, my brother Rollie and I have coffee in his motor home, parked in the town of Sun River, Montana. About a mile from here is the farm where I raised my family, and this little town was where my kids went to school and where some friends from those days still live. This area was my home for twenty years, and my son Matt and his kids still live here. Sun River has become more and more run down in the twenty years plus years since then, partly due to laws that limit rebuilding after flood damage. It is sad to see.

Matt and his friend Lexie join Rollie and me for breakfast in the motor home and we make our plans for the fishing trip. Rocky Reef on the Sun River will be our destination. We decide to forego a picnic and will just return to the motor home for lunch when everyone gets hungry.

Sun River Upstream from Rocky Reef
Sun River upstream from Rocky Reef

Rocky Reef is a rock formation that juts out into the river creating a deep pool at its base. Although the river is low this year, the pool remains deep. While the other three – Matt, Rollie, and Lexie – fish, I wander the banks and climb the rock formation to take photos.

Downstream looking toward Rocky Reef
The fishermen fishing at Rocky Reef
  • Sun River looking downstream from Rocky Reef
  • Sun River looking upstream from Rocky Reef
  • Rollie and Ninja catching fish
  • Rollie, Matt, and Pandora fishing
Rollie on the bank below Rocky Reef
Matt catches fish

Matt is an outstanding fisherman and he is the only one who catches fish. Three good-size trout will make a tasty dinner tonight.

Saying good-bye to the Sun River at Rocky Reef for now

After meeting Matt’s boss (Matt works near here and his boss let him have the day off for my visit), we head on back to the motor home for lunch. The fishermen will try a different fishing hole this afternoon, and a decision is made to just walk down to the river from here rather than driving somewhere else.

  • Matt and his chainsaw angel
  • Pandora, Matt, Angel, Carol
Rollie, Matt, Angel, Carol

Back at the river, fishing continues. Rollie has to catch his hat after it blows into the river and I stack rocks to amuse myself before heading back to the motor home.

Fishing for a run-away hat

In the early evening, my grand-daughter Aurora and her friend Alex come join the rest of us for baked trout dinner. As dinner is cooking, Rollie and I play a few of our bluegrass tunes for them, and after dinner we make tea and chat until late.

Grand-daughter Aurora; Son Matt, Aurora’s friend Alex, Carol, Brother Rollie

It was a good visit. Tomorrow Rollie and I will head back to Seeley Lake.

Trip to Sun River – August 2018

Carol CarnicomLeave a comment

Wednesday August 29: Early morning at the Seeley Lake Campground in the Seeley-Swan Valley of western Montana, I go down to the lake to take photos in the mist. The ambiance of mist and fog appeals to me.

Trees in the mist
Trees in the mist
Misty morning at Seeley Lake
Misty morning at Seeley Lake

I fix yogurt and fruit for Clifford and myself, make coffee for the thermos, pack a little bag of clothes, and wait for my brother Rollie to arrive with his motor home. He and I are going together to Sun River on the other side of the mountain from the Seeley-Swan Valley where this campground is located. Clifford will be staying at the campsite with Cougar, holding down the fort, so to speak.

Riding in the front of a class-A motor home is quite the vantage point for seeing the scenery, but it feels like a long drive from Seeley Lake to Sun River. There is certainly a lot of variety in the landscape and I especially enjoy seeing the rivers, something that I miss living in Utah.

Another lake in the chain of lakes in the Seeley-Swan Valley
Another lake in the chain of lakes in the Seeley-Swan Valley
Island in a lake in the Seeley-Swan Valley
Island in a lake in the Seeley-Swan Valley
Blackfoot River
Blackfoot River
Blackfoot River
Blackfoot River
Blackfoot River
Blackfoot River
Blackfoot River
Blackfoot River
Blackfoot River
Blackfoot River
Middle Fork Dearborn River
Middle Fork Dearborn River

Although I grew up in western Montana, I also lived within view of Crown view for twenty years, so there is a familiarity with seeing the scenes from the east face of the Rockies.

Birdtail Rock, the icon of the Birdtail Hills - East face of the Rockies
Birdtail Rock, the icon of the Birdtail Hills – East face of the Rockies
Crown Butte - East face of the Rockies
Crown Butte – East face of the Rockies

Once we arrive in Sun River, we find Matt and a fishing buddy, Lexie. It is good to see him. After Rollie gets the motor home set up, we all walk down to the river just to see the river. Tomorrow will be the fishing day.

On the bank of the Sun River
On the bank of the Sun River

I make dinner for all of us in the motor home and we visit until late. Rollie’s couch is my bed tonight.