Stillwater Camping, Hiking and Whitewater Rafting!

We arrived at the Woodbine campground early Friday afternoon. Sitting in our chairs, we had a great view of the ROARING water...truly a gorgeous spot!

Ellen and Derek got there early in the evening and I fixed chicken tortellini, yum yum. We had wonderful visits! She's been my best friend since we first met...1984ish when our kids were just little and we were single moms.
We hiked up a short but steep trail Saturday morning. Here was a little haven along the way.



And here is Woodbine Falls. We could have bushwhacked all the way to the top, but this was far enough for us!

Smiles...

and more smiles!


Here's the view opposite of the falls. Custer National Forest and Wilderness Area.

That afternoon, we headed up the trail along the Stillwater River. TOTAL whitewater, and impossible with the raft...kayak? maybe...


We continues up the trail just to see what we could see. Can you believe what grows out of rocks and virtually no dirt?


And then we crossed the rock field. Don't feel sorry for us, the trail was cleared! lol
And no matter how bad your feet hurt, the view is always worth it!

We hiked back out. Scott decided to build a cozy fire before dinner. (I think his GARB is really cute, lol.)

Second night, Ellen and Derek made dinner. They brought some special ribs that were sent to them from back east...Dreamland "Ain't Nuthin No Better" is the motto, lol.

And they were so good good good! (and I look so bad bad bad with no makeup and hat head but oh well, I'm camping! lol)

And for the main course...STEAK...YUM.


with my favorite...fried taters and onions!
I provided the desert...Circus Animal Cookies. We were trying to figure out which prehistoric circus animal this was supposed to be...got any good guesses?


And finally...another night visiting by the fire.
No pics of us rafting today. LOTS of whitewater and my camera isn't waterproof...but believe me...we had a BLAST, got soaking wet, screamed a lot and laughed even more.

Love ya Derek and Ellen and husband and Gus! Thanks for a great weekend!

1981

RIP

Ed McMahon, Rubye's most precious employer and friend Bill. Farrah Fawcett,
Michael Jackson.

Sad, tragic week.

Last Leg of the Missouri Float

Thank goodness we brought the little Honda motor! It was WINDY on Sunday, upstream. Instead of working his arms off, like in the good ol' days, husband relaxed and cheated.
We went by more rock walls, this structure is labeled "7 SISTERS". They are nuns, with the first leading the last 6 up the mountain!
After 17 miles, we landed in a great little primitive camp spot known as THE WALL. It was so cozy and sounded like a bird sanctuary! Morning doves, some other sort of bird family, chattering...
then ahhh, I realized we were in the midst of a woodpecker haven! The cottonwood trees were FILLED with them (I watched through my binoculars) and really enjoyed the view!
Then Scott started cussing and yelling for a wet paper towel...I couldn't resist this shot! Naughty birdies! Great shot! lol

Now look close, and you will see the other visitor we had in camp. If you can't see it, check out the right side almost 1/2 way down and you see the rattles! The head is almost directly across on the left side.


Walking around the camp, I also saw this tree...It had suffered being struck by lightening, stripping it of it's bark and killing it. I've never seen anything like it.

Sleeping that night was interesting...between the birds fighting and chattering, the morning doves, the strange sounding toads that made a mooooooo-croak 1/2 the night, the close coyotes yipping at the ones far away (inadvertantly waking up the cow-toads) and then the peck peck peck...it was a short night!

Finally, after 4 wonderful days, we approached the landing dock and the first time we saw thunderhead clouds. It sprinkled about 15 drops after we landed.

Scott took the motorcycle and headed back to get the truck for the shuttle. I sat and watched the boat and waited. It was a fabulous trip and can't wait for August when we do it again!


(Last weekend and this weekend we are white water rafting! WOOHOO!)

Happy Father's Day, Scott!

and to my father who passed away September 13, 1981. I miss you and love you, dad!





I wished you would have gotten to know me as an adult.

Day 2, Part 2

After lunch and recovery from the slot canyon hike, we headed down the river once more.
Gus was a little tired from the hike! He had no idea what was in store for him...(thanks, Scott, for the pics!)

Our next jaunt passed more limestone cliffs and at the end you see Dark Cliff, an igneous intrusion.

We passed by a couple abandoned homesteads. (Most are in the lower section of the Missouri.)


After 17 miles, we settled into a popular camp spot of the Ellis family (for the past 45 years!). Just up the river from here is a campsite with bathrooms etc. but under this gorgeous cottonwood tree sits the best site of all!

Tent and portable outhouse set...


next the hike!
We trapsed up the ridge for a while and hiked up a "normal" trail. I wondered why the brochure said this hike was not for the beginning hiker...then we came upon this little section...about a 20ft grab-and-scramble! I've never encountered anything like it in all of my apprentice hikes!


It was scary, especially knowing the going-up part was the easiest...coming down would be the challenge...

But the site was so beautiful up top, it didn't matter at the time and we just enjoyed the ridge and the light of the gorgeous evening. This is standing on the VERY top of that hole you saw in the wall! Yeah, too chicken to go out to the VERY edge!

Light shining through the eye


Here's Scott climbing up to the eye...




Made it!

The base of the eye was as far as this apprentice went.


Now look down from the top...see the cottonwood in the middle? Squint and you'll see our tent, bathroom and raft. What a river, what a ridge, what an experience.


(The climbing-down part was scary, but I had a fine guide leading the way!)

Next up...Day 3 Woody Woodpecker's Sanctuary!