loafing in Montana

[E.A.Y.]

(first time inserting images - hope they come through OK)

I spent a relaxing 6 days hanging around with friend of mine at her family's cabin in Montana, not too far from the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness (although we did not actually get into the wilderness area).




We drove in through Yellowstone and saw critters


I did nothing much useful (no splendid hikes or backpacks) and just sat around in my lovely hammock reading 18th century German philosophy (Schiller's Letters on the Aesthetic Education) and watching the wildlife wandering around the cabins.


For some reason only known to the gremlins that stole my brain while I was packing for the trip, I left my MacCat tarp at home. However, thanks to the same gremlins, I did bring two hammocks: my bright red and blue eno-double-type hammock and a kelly green homemade whipped end double layer hammock on a very long single-line-suspension.
Being creatively desperate (desperately creative?) to hide from the burning rays of the early afternoon sun, I un-whipped my spare hammock, found some rocks and, using the SLS suspension line and the pieces of whipping line, managed to rig a narrow but serviceable shade for my afternoon naps.


Got my dog in for a moment


We were in a green strip surrounded by burnt lodgepole forest. (This was in the area of last summer's big Custer NF fire.) We did hike a little way into the burnt area and stared in amazement at all the trees knocked down by a windstorm a few years ago.


And the spalled rocks.


And lots of wildflowers.




The drive home was looonnnnng (are we there yet?) but worth it anyway.

eay