Fishtail, Montana

We pulled out of Bozeman yesterday morning ( BE SURE TO READ THE BOZEMAN POST BELOW!) and headed back east to Fishtail, Montana. Before leaving Bozeman we decided to try checking out the Montana scenery via four wheelers. We found an outfitter in Fishtail called Benbow ATV Rentals, which is actually located inside the Custer National Forest. We found a makeshift campsite on the side of a dirt road in a cattle field about a mile past the rental place and set up headquarters for our ATV adventure. We went back to the rental place, dropped off the truck and picked up our machines and headed into the forest with a very shady map.

The part of the forest where we set out for our adventure was actually an old chromium mining operation. As we traveled thru the woods we found the abandoned sub structure for the mill, several old mine shafts, the head frame that processed the raw mineral, and several other old buildings that supported the operation. On the first day we made our way 4000 feet up to the top of the mountain range and then rode 15 miles all the way into a valley and into a platinum mining operation that was active. Despite the signage advising us otherwise, we traveled into the territory of the active mining operation and checked out an active mine shaft and found a neat trail leading us all the way to the river at the bottom of the valley. As darkness was approaching we turned around to head back and get closer to the camper. We got pretty turned around a few times, but somehow managed to make it back to the camper in the dark. We explored a few more trails in the dark and ventured into the small town of Dean before heading back to the camper.

We fired up the generator and kicked on the water pump and got cleaned for the night and cooked up some good ole bachelor grub. Around 12:00 we decided to hit the rack and get some rest so we could be up at daylight to get the most out of our rental. After laying down for a few minutes, I yelled to Potts that I heard something scurrying around on the floor of the camper. We searched the camper and found nothing and laid back down. About 10 minutes later I felt something crawl across the back of my pillow and jump off the bed. I jumped up, turned on the lights, and saw a glimpse of a field mouse scurrying under the recliner! It was official; it was the revenge of the varmints! It was pay back for the slaughter we executed on the prairie dogs!
Potts rushed out to my aid and upon going back to his room to gear up saw the little fool scurry under his bed. Upon further examination of the camper, we found ample evidence that the critter had made himself at home for the whole day. We named the little mouse Ralph, got geared up with stomping boots and weapons, and then declared war upon his soul. We turned the camper upside down looking for Ralph and could not find him to save our lives. We reached a consensus Ralph had escaped however he got in and decided to go back to sleep. About 15 minutes later Potts yelled to me that Ralph was still present in the camper! Ralph somehow hid himself in Potts quarters, waited for us to turn the lights back off, and then got in the bed with Potts and ran across his chest and down his arm. Once again we were back at war. We turned the camper upside down once again and were totally at a loss. Here you have two full grown men in their boxers wearing slip on boots, one holding a broom stick and the other brandishing a stool, and we were totally dominated by this little mouse named Ralph. We were at a total loss feeling violated and totally helpless. We decided that our rest was more important because we had so much money already tied up in the rentals we needed to be on at sunrise. With our heads hung low, Potts and I settled in for the night with our new guest Ralph the mouse. Ralph taunted us off and on thru the night scurrying on the floor, but nothing too serious.

The next morning we did one last search and still couldn’t find Ralph the mouse. We said forget it and suited up for another day of four wheeling. We headed up the other side of the mountain and went thru some very rough terrain. After being beaten to death up the mountain by loose rocks and steep grades, we finally reached the top again. We rode a few more trails and ended up putting 115 miles on the machines! We turned the machines back in, grabbed the truck, and went back to the camper to get cleaned up. As we were breaking down the camper I saw Ralph scurry under my bed. I yelled for Potts and we finally had Ralph the mouse cornered. I got under the bed and flushed him out and he ran out to meet his death of Potts and a broom stick!
Fishtail was an awesome once in a lifetime experience. We saw some awesome scenery and got to ride four wheelers until we were beaten to pieces. Unfortunately this was our last stop in Montana, which we have grown to love very much. I honestly believe this is the most beautiful place God created and can’t wait to return to this state.

-Cheggy