Lead On Lucifer
©Bert Gildart: Several days ago my good friend Ed Anderson and I took a little time to pour a couple of drinks from a bottle of Yukon Jack that has lingered all too long. I’m to the right, Ed to the left.
As we sat there, we realized that we were on the brink of having to make a very difficult choice. Do we strike out across the fields of his Alabama farm and try and put in an hour or two of squirrel hunting; or do we listen to Lucifer and bask in the warmth of a brilliant fall day and conduct ourselves in the manner in which older gentlemen should conduct themselves?
First shot of Yukon Jack at Ed Anderson's
I’m proud to say that we allowed Lucifer to direct our activities. But the camaraderie was long overdue, and it has been over a year since Janie and I have visited my old college roommate (gathered poke salad) and his wonderful family.
BLOOD ON THE CEILING
Though I finished at Montana State University initially I attended the University of North Alabama. At the time Ed and I rented a small home that was once used as a Confederate hospital, and as we sat there several days ago on Ed’s farm we recalled that our old home had blood stains on the ceiling from the wounded.
We recalled, too, that we’d once been “detained” in Ole Miss; that we’d rendezvoused in Cincinnati to then drive to Montana for summer work; and that we’d spent many a great weekend hunting for rabbits on Ed’s dad’s farm behind a pack of baying beagles.
Yukon Jack at Ed Anderson's, second, or maybe it was the third shot???
Would we have recalled such memories had we gone squirrel hunting?
Reading the expressions etched on our faces in these two photographs that Ed’s daughter Anna took, and I’d say we made the right choice. The point, of course, is that every now in then it is perfectly alright to sit down, relax and simply let the world go by. My only concern is that this post might offend several family members, members who have become particularly sensitive about any habits that might suggest a lack of Christian values.
Lead on Lucifer; lead on.
Note: Tomorrow we continue our efforts to drive home to Montana, but weather is not working in our favor. Certainly we’ll make it to Albuquerque to have a little work done on our Airstream, but if snow continues to accumulate to our north, we may well drive to Death Valley and wait until conditions improve. Several days ago it was -17F in Bigfork, where we live. For those with poor math skills that means that it was almost 50 degrees below the freezing point of water!
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THIS TIME FOUR YEARS AGO
4th ed. Autographed by the Authors
Hiking Shenandoah National Park
Hiking Shenandoah National Park is the 4th edition of a favorite guide book, created by Bert & Janie, a professional husband-wife journalism team. Lots of updates including more waterfall trails, updated descriptions of confusing trail junctions, and new color photographs. New text describes more of the park’s compelling natural history. Often the descriptions are personal as the Gildarts have hiked virtually every single park trail, sometimes repeatedly.
Big Sky Country is beautiful
Montana Icons: 50 Classic Symbols of the Treasure State
Montana Icons is a book for lovers of the western vista. Features photographs of fifty famous landmarks from what many call the “Last Best Place.” The book will make you feel homesick for Montana even if you already live here. Bert Gildart’s varied careers in Montana (Bus driver on an Indian reservation, a teacher, backcountry ranger, as well as a newspaper reporter, and photographer) have given him a special view of Montana, which he shares in this book. Share the view; click here.
$16.95 + Autographed Copy
What makes Glacier, Glacier?
Glacier Icons: 50 Classic Views of the Crown of the Continent
Glacier Icons: What makes Glacier Park so special? In this book you can discover the story behind fifty of this park’s most amazing features. With this entertaining collection of photos, anecdotes and little known facts, Bert Gildart will be your backcountry guide. A former Glacier backcountry ranger turned writer/photographer, his hundreds of stories and images have appeared in literally dozens of periodicals including Time/Life, Smithsonian, and Field & Stream. Take a look at Glacier Icons
$16.95 + Autographed Copy
4th ed. Autographed by the Authors
Hiking Shenandoah National Park
Hiking Shenandoah National Park is the 4th edition of a favorite guide book, created by Bert & Janie, a professional husband-wife journalism team. Lots of updates including more waterfall trails, updated descriptions of confusing trail junctions, and new color photographs. New text describes more of the park’s compelling natural history. Often the descriptions are personal as the Gildarts have hiked virtually every single park trail, sometimes repeatedly.
Big Sky Country is beautiful
Montana Icons: 50 Classic Symbols of the Treasure State
Montana Icons is a book for lovers of the western vista. Features photographs of fifty famous landmarks from what many call the “Last Best Place.” The book will make you feel homesick for Montana even if you already live here. Bert Gildart’s varied careers in Montana (Bus driver on an Indian reservation, a teacher, backcountry ranger, as well as a newspaper reporter, and photographer) have given him a special view of Montana, which he shares in this book. Share the view; click here.
$16.95 + Autographed Copy
What makes Glacier, Glacier?
Glacier Icons: 50 Classic Views of the Crown of the Continent
Glacier Icons: What makes Glacier Park so special? In this book you can discover the story behind fifty of this park’s most amazing features. With this entertaining collection of photos, anecdotes and little known facts, Bert Gildart will be your backcountry guide. A former Glacier backcountry ranger turned writer/photographer, his hundreds of stories and images have appeared in literally dozens of periodicals including Time/Life, Smithsonian, and Field & Stream. Take a look at Glacier Icons
$16.95 + Autographed Copy
November 26th, 2010 at 7:28 am
Dear Sir,
I must let you know that this hear post makes one think that the aut tour might get pissed if’n he and he’s roomfate continues down the path of the dirt devil. So alls I can tells ya is mayhaps it’s otay to fall with the spirits on such a special like occasion but please do take care what ya’all say when yuckin on the slithery slide of Mr. Yukon Jack.
November 27th, 2010 at 7:25 am
Young men doing what you were doin’ are called “hooligans.” At our age, two older ‘gentlemen’ gett’n ’s—t faced’ together fighting old wars is quaint …. and well earned.
Besides, ….. What can anyone do about it as long as you leave the rifles in their cases.
Happy memories Bert and Lucifer.
November 27th, 2010 at 8:14 am
Dear Sir,
Is it the fact that you are drunk or just losing your marbles, you are pouring shots from an empty bottle! Talk about a cheap date!
November 27th, 2010 at 9:21 am
Sadly, I fear that my most recent correspondent has spent many an hour with Lucifer, else how might he be so observant? Could this scribe be a family member? For the record, the pictures were taken toward the end of our spree, not the beginning. That, however, is not to say the bottle was full when we began!