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Benefits of Huckleberries
August 28, 2008

If you have ever been to Northwest Montana, you have no doubt heard about huckleberries; huckleberry pies, milkshakes, candles, chocolates, and pancakes are sold and advertised wildly just about everywhere. It is a natural resource that provides an economic boost to businesses. This year has been a great year for huckleberries. Huckleberry bushes have been dripping with berries just about everywhere. I can imagine businesses have been reaping the benefits.

Most huckleberry advertising display the purple berries in context with bears. In Glacier, bears do eat the huckleberries...pounds of them. The berries provide essential nutrients for bears, and if you have ever hiked trails lines with huckleberry bushes in Glacier, you have probably stepped over berry-loaded bear scat.

But bears aren’t the only ones who love to eat huckleberries. In Glacier, it is legal to pick and personally consume huckleberries, as long as you pick only 1 quart per person, per day. You’ll often see hikers grazing along trails as they hike. I know I did this year. It is a nice discovery and sweet snack in the wilderness.

I also picked huckleberries with my wife and sons in preparation for when my mother would come to visit. Don’t worry, we were legal in our picking.

This week, we pulled the huckleberries from the freezer and started making pancakes and pies with my Mom. The experience was one that will last with my children. They helped to pick the berries so Grandma could enjoy another wonder of Glacier, and shared stories with her of fending off mosquitoes for hours while picking and yielding the right of way to a black bear that decided to mosey on through our picking patch. We also had the opportunity to enjoy each other’s company as we made pies and pancakes.

Whether it is consumerism, bears, the discovery of a patch while hiking, the bonding experience huckleberries can provide, or the enjoyment of just plain eating a delicious pie or drinking a refreshing milkshake, huckleberries provide many benefits.

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August 18, 2008
Top of Glacier - Mount Cleveland

Over the weekend I went with a friend and another coworker to climb Mount Cleveland, the highest peak in the park. It is 10,466 feet.

We decided to take the Stoney Indian Route route described in J. Gordon Edwards' book, A Climber's Guide to Glacier National Park. I was told about exposure along that route (was that ever true!), but if done right, the route would be class 3 climbing.

We safely summited the peak in 6 hours from the Stoney Indian Lake campground, and made it back down just as safely in 5.5 hours. A long day for sure.

I won't lie, I was terribly nervous about the summit bid. I've climbed some challenging peaks in the park, but I guess Cleveland, since it is the largest, freaked me out.

Here are some lessons, actions, and rules I applied to myself and hiking that I believe made for a successful day for all of us:

• I had to know my limits. Any backcountry adventure, whether you are climbing, backpacking, or just dayhiking involves some physical and mental exertion. I had to know what I could handle physically and psychologically. This helped keep me focused (concentration is a must) and safe. It turned out that my alert level was cranked up to its highest. I also went into the adventure knowing that if things were dicey, or going to be dicey, I would say no and turn around. The mountain will always be there.
  
  
• Fueling my body. You need energy to be adventurous, and this means eating and drinking water more regularly. I know I need a lot of water when hiking, so I brought 3 liters with me. I found that I needed to drink constantly. As luck would have it, we found a water source along the way and were able to refill water bottles after treating it. This was critical since I consumed a little over 5 liters that day. I can’t say what “normal” water conditions are up there, though I have a feeling it is usually dry. I also ate every hour or so at planned rest breaks. All of this kept me going.
  
  
• Partner selection. I hiked with people I trusted, and I knew the abilities they possessed. Both of them knew mine too. We knew if a decision was made, it was done jointly. We also knew not to split up and to watch each other carefully. A real team effort.
  
  
• Weather. We kept an eye on the forecast since it can change on a dime in the mountains. We lucked out. Not terribly hot, a gentle breeze, and cobalt blue sunny skies. I wouldn’t even have attempted this if the weather was sour or if conditions looked threatening. Our eyes were constantly on the skies looking for pattern changes.
  
  
• Clothing and gear. I dressed in layers and wore clothes that wicked moisture away. This kept me cool and dry. Cotton doesn’t breathe well and when wet, takes forever to dry. Combine that with a drop in temperature, hypothermia could kick in. Though sunny skies were in the forecast, I brought rain protection, gloves, and a cap for my noggin. My knees are quite tender, so trekking poles were strapped to my daypack when I needed them.
  
  
• Homework. All three of us did our homework before this adventure. We read books, blogs, talked to people who have attempted the summit, and those who made it to the top. The phrase “Knowledge is Power” is so true.
  
  
• The “Try Inside Factor.” My sons’ piano teacher tells them all the time to, “Have the try inside.” Sounds silly and simplistic. While I was no doubt nervous, I tried. I didn’t want fear to overcome me to the point where I wasn’t going to have a good time. This goes back to knowing your limits and who you are.

August 8, 2008
Kids in the backcountry!

Last weekend I hiked into Granite Park Chalet for the night and witnessed the most amazing sight. Sure, the alpenglow was breathtaking on the Garden Wall, Heavens Peak was "in your face" the whole time, and the Beargrass was in full bloom, but it was the sight of children running around the chalet that made my trip.

That day, 5 children ages 2-7 (2 different families) hiked in for the night. Those little legs had enough stamina to hike 7.6 miles. I thought they would be completely wiped-out, but their energy at the chalet after that long trek was inspiring; playing tag, soccer, and scavenger hunts, and making new friends were the highlight activities.

As a father myself, I smiled a lot at the sight and applauded parents who made the concerted effort to not only connect their children with nature, but to use nature as a way of connecting as a family. I'm confident those memories will last a lifetime.

In the NPS, we're finding it more and more difficult to connect children with nature. We compete with a variety of stimuli that keeps children indoors. Knowing that children are the future stewards of our natural and cultural resources in the NPS, I found this inspiring.

It may seem like a daunting task to hike with children, but the rewards in the end are great. Give it a shot.