Someone to watch over us

Boy Wonder and I went on one of our favorite hikes the other day to one of our favorite places.

The walk to get there was longer than usual, about 5 1/2 miles round trip which is a pretty good hike for a kid that just turned eight.

I mean, I remember being 8 years old and at that age we thought the hike from the barn to the woods, which was maybe 200 yards, was a long way.

He's gone through a mini growth spurt lately, however and that extra couple of inches of legs has made a big difference.

What used to be a grind is now a pleasant stroll. In fact, I had to turn him around because it was getting dark and, while bear encounters in that area are very infrequent, the actual number of bears in there is quite high.

We got a reminder of that pretty fast. A big old griz had walked up the road and was heavy enough to leave tracks in the hard pan.

But despite the tracks, and they're always pretty numerous, we rarely see a bear.

My theory is, that for the most part, they're shy. Make enough racket and they'll just let you go past or they'll quietly get out of your way.

But that's just a theory. For all I know, we've just had a streak of great luck.

Whatever the case, it's a nice hike because it's always changing. There's a host of different critters to look out for, from mule deer to moose.

On this particular run we saw a set of moose tracks, but no moose, a host of different woodpeckers, a grouse and some deer.

And if you get bored with all that (and some days we do) there's a nice little creek with a fair number of fish to waste some time with.

Most of the fish aren't native - they're rainbows - but I throw them back anyway. I'm not much for keeping fish, primarily because I'm lazy.

I don't like to clean them. I don't want to lug them around in my pack and no matter how carefully they're filleted, I always end up with a bone or two.

I hate the feel of a fish bone in my throat.

So like I said, I throw them back.

It's such a nice place that I pretty much refuse to tell anyone where it is. Hemingway once said that unless people were of your party, they ruined it, and that is true.

I'm not all about secrets. If a guy asks me what's the best hike in Glacier I don't hesitate to tell him - the Highline Trail. Which is not a lie, by any stretch. But it's a well worn path and unless you pick the right time of day or right time of year, it's tough to be alone on the Highline Trail.

You can find solitude on the Highline. It's just that it's sort of elusive if you don't plan it just right.

This hike on the other hand, solitude is almost guaranteed, especially on a weekday in the evening.

OK, well, you're not entirely alone. There are those bear tracks to keep in mind, after all.

I mean, someone has to look out for you.