Let’s catch up with Bald Bigfoot!
This winter I spent the nights up the Yaak River Valley in a century old log cabin. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday nights I was able to enjoy a wonderful small cabin that was built in the early 1900’s.
After a fire in the early 1990’s the owner renovated and updated the small 20’x15′ cedar log cabin. Although small, this cabin held everything I could want. The main floor consisted of the kitchen / living room with a bathroom and wood stove. The loft held the bedroom. In the bedroom was my favorite area, a writing desk that looked out over the Yaak valley.
Starting in mid November I usually would arrive around six pm. My routine was as follows: start a fire in the wood stove, put dinner on the Traeger grill, split some wood while dinner cooked, eat and then retire to the loft to write. At midnight I would go downstairs and refill the wood stove with a fresh load of wood and turn down the damper. Next it was time for bed.
These four months of cold whiteness were amazing. From Thanksgiving until Christmas I spent on writing the grandchildren’s Christmas story. After New Years, journaling and continuing on other stories was my task.
I would explore the wilds of northwest Montana during winter. This is something very few have the pleasure to witness. How lucky am I?
The animals are unaffected by the cold. At -20 they wander through the crisp clean outdoors without showing signs of the cold.
In summer the Yaak River Valley is not busy by any stretch of the imagination. In winter it is barren of people but plentiful of inspiration and beauty.
Until next time. Stay safe and explore!
Bald Bigfoot 