A Montana Journal, ca July 2020

The air was a fine 48-degree and the dark morning sky cloudless and speckled with a swarm of stars as we lit off north through the valley. It were quite the impressive lightshow to precede sun’s participation in the day coming. Me and Ol’ Black Tahoe, my trusted steed, was heading up toward the Hellgate and then taking westerly track to the settlement of Superior. The path ahead was one I’d never afore traveled, which would regularly be reason enough to make the trip. Yet as calm is a commodity hard to come by these days, I was hoping there’d be ample trail to ride in high solitude to secure a small portion of that. After our arrival at Superior, we took off south and also heavenward into the Clearwater.

The North Fork of the Clearwater River rambles on through this territory and we aimed to find and follow it far as fortitude would allow. We come into these mountains making our way for many a mile along the Trout Creek, so we knew we was on proper course. Then, at old cabin on convergence of a few other of them small streams, the North Fork presented itself wide and swift and as clear as name did portend.

My aim, as always it seems, was to find a little spot of light riffle or diamond chop or soft current to lay out a fly or two and see what might be holding under that water. So was my best laid plan anyways. Turns out we was, instead, captured by the whole of nature’s glorious perfection and cast not fly line but rather gaze upon every residing thing under the Great Creator’s bright blue.

The reward was plentiful to this wanderer’s eyes as each turn revealed landscape of near unbearable beauty. Steep hills green with grass and tall pines spread out in some precise pattern as to make it all look like some painted museum picture. 

Deer bounding across mountain meadow without care but for us visitors what come to call in their country. Rock buttes and edges what was like castles carved by weather and time. We trailed along river’s edge and climbed up to ride ridgelines where others distant could be seen through treetops.

And there as track crossed into Idaho territory, we paused a moment for meal of bread and meat and sat in awe of them great vistas six thousand feet up.There is most certain a comfort and clarity and calm traveling here in these high places. And here also, I am fortunate to have found, there is no anger. I have not died today. And that is a fine thing. Yours truly…