MOUNTAIN HIGH I t can sound cliché to say that nature is a place for renewal and restoration of one’s self. However, like the best clichés, it is born from truth and hard to argue against. In the open air of a garden, a park or the wilderness, we can see nature recover from the cold winds of winter or the conflagrations of summer. Once blackened hillsides begin to grow green within weeks of forest fires. Frozen rivers thaw and rage in the spring and nearly dry up in summer before being replenished again. For some, all the renewal and restoration is merely background happenings; they are things which occur with such commonality here in western Montana that we rarely take note. Perhaps, then, it is the quiet of the woods that proves to be most beneficial to us. Quiet should not be confused with silence. Critters cavort in the trees. Breezes blow and crack branches. Leaves crisply fall to the ground. When it is quiet outside, whether you are near a lake or a falls, water is the most intense and persevering sound. It is rhythmic. It
laps. It drips. It cascades and roars. It moves and the earth moves with it, both eroding the soil and replenishing it with moisture. The alpha and the omega. Builder and destroyer. The Tamarack Grief Resource Center knows this, so they are holding a men’s river retreat for those men grieving the loss of a family member (parent, child, spouse, sibling or loved one). The group gathers for support, to share stories, to express emotions and to have fun, too, as there is fishing, barbecue, good old floating and staring at that big blue sky. –Jason McMackin The Tamarack Grief Resource Center’s men’s river retreat takes place on Fri., Aug. 3, from 1 PM to 8:30 PM. Outfitting and boats provided by Missoula Valley Outfitters and Lewis & Clark Adventures. $200 for a guided fishing trip/$100 to float. Scholarships and sliding pay scale available to all. To register, call 541-8472.
Photo by Chad Harder
THURSDAY AUGUST 2 For summertime learning and such, the Montana Natural History Center’s miniNaturalists Pre-K Program has moved to the Fort Missoula Native Plant Gardens. Bugs, dirt and explorations abound. 10–11 AM. $3/$1 for members. Visit montananaturalist.org. You’ll be climbing up a wall at Freestone Climbing Center’s Ladies Night. 935 Toole Ave. 5–10 PM. $6.50/$5 students.
FRIDAY AUGUST 3
The Comprehensive Bike Maintenance class at REI, 3275 N. Reserve, keeps the squeaks to a minimum and allows you to shift when you like, not when your bike wants to. Bring your bike; tools provided. 10:30 AM. $100/$80 members. Call 541-1938. The Big Hole Battlefield Summer Speaker Series features folks demonstrating the old school Native American stick game. Bring your sneaks, you may have to participate. 16542 Hwy. 43. Noon and 3 PM. Free.
SUNDAY AUGUST 5
The MT Chapter of the Sierra Club’s Women’s Hike up the Lake Dinah trail from Lake Elsina is a relaxing chance to walk five miles through the lush brush and grassy meadows of the Mission Mountains and gain only 700’ of elevation. Free. RSVP at janetfiero77@gmail.com.
Get back in shape and learn something new at Freestone Climbing Gym’s Intro to Bouldering course, which introduces basic techniques, safety stuff, ethics and more. Class includes 1.5 hours of instruction and two weeks of unlimited climbing. 935 Toole. Noon–1:30 PM. $40.
The Wilderness Institute Big Snowy Mountains Ridge Walk is chock-full of ice caves, creek canyons and walking. To join up on this four-day research expedition, call 243-5361.
MONDAY AUGUST 6
Active outdoor lovers are invited to the Mountain Sports Club’s weekly meeting to talk about past glories and upcoming activities. Swan River Inn. 6–8 PM. Free.
SATURDAY AUGUST 4 Paddle on my wayward sons (and daughters), the Epic Shore to Shore Race at Flathead Lake is a scenic bit of torture-riffic racing, with teams and solo participants paddling from 4.5 miles to 24 (!) miles. $45$75. epicshoretoshore.com. The Pioneer Festival running races take place up Potomac way and include distances of 1, 6 and 11 miles. Dudes, the 11-mile Gold Rush Trail Run has a gnarly elevation-gain profile. Barf city. 8 AM. Head to sites.google.com/site/pioneerfestivalruns/.
Over-the-counter and surplus licenses go on sale at 5 AM online, and the pickens is slim this year folks. Between death-by-train for the antelope two winters back and epizootic hemorrhagic disease thinning out the white-tailed deer last summer, freezers could be running light this fall. For more info., visit fwp-mt.gov. Basic Bike Maintenance at REI, 3275 N. Reserve, teaches you the difference between a schrader valve and a presta one. This is important people! 6:30 PM. Free.
THURSDAY AUGUST 9 Paddling Basics at REI, 3275 N. Reserve, ain’t about spankin’ the chillins, it’s just an overview of various watersports. Not the German kind, Coco. 6:30 PM. Free. calendar@missoulanews.com
Missoula Independent Page 29 August 2 – August 9, 2012