We all have those places we especially like to go to for lunch. Today I went to one of mine. It took three hours on foot to get there, but it wasn’t crowded and so there was no need for a reservation. The lunch was just a sandwich and a long drink from a canteen, but I’ll go back again.
Montana Outdoors 
I’ve been reading Colin Fletcher’s book about his trek through the Grand Canyon for the book discussion over at Shelly’s blog. He described a fairly simplistic stew that he cooked after he made camp, saying that there, in that place, it was a very wonderful meal.
I’ll be your sandwich became more spectacular in your special lunch place than it would have been at the kitchen table.
Malcolm
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Comment by knightofswords — February 19, 2008 @ 8:57 pm
In the beauty of the Grand Canyon or these Montana mountains, a very simple fare always seems to be sufficient, maybe even the simpler the better. The senses are all busy enjoying the natural beauty anyhow.
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Comment by montucky — February 19, 2008 @ 9:35 pm
Nature provides its beauty for a backdrop, an apple and cool water. Add a hunk of Wisconsin cheese and lunch is 5 star.
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Comment by barbara — February 20, 2008 @ 5:07 am
Yup, a hunk of cheese would have gone well. In the fall, when hunting close to this area, lunch is often from some apple trees that were planted out there nearly a hundred years ago by some of the first ranchers. They do go very well with the hike!
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Comment by montucky — February 20, 2008 @ 9:09 am
It sure looks like a wonderful spot to have lunch.
It amazes me how they build all these fancy restaurants with huge windows so you can see the view…then they charge an arm and a leg for you to have a bite to eat.
I would definitely prefer hiking in and having a sandwich in that beautiful spot -over having lunch in a fancy restaurant, any day.
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Comment by AK_Adventurer — February 20, 2008 @ 9:40 am
I most certainly prefer this spot too. There are those who prefer architecture and the atmosphere of the city and those who prefer the solitude and quiet of the wild country. As a bonus, there were moose tracks in the “parking lot” at this place.
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Comment by montucky — February 20, 2008 @ 9:55 am
I think that you had a better lunch than I did yesterday! Looks gorgeous. Do you have all that snow around your home too or is that just in the mountains? We here in Massachusetts have got bare ground now but a possible snowstorm on Friday. Again, beautiful scenics that you post!
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Comment by Janet Wilkins — February 20, 2008 @ 12:03 pm
This photo was taken about four miles from my house, but 1,500 feet higher, at 4,000 feet. The snow there is about three feet deep with a frozen crust on it that supports your boot about 75% of the time: the other 25% you’re in snow past your knee. I live at the river level and there the snow has melted in the areas that are exposed to the sun (south facing). There is still about a foot in the shady spots. The peaks in the background have much more snow, well over twenty feet in areas that don’t get much sun. Big Mountain ski area just out of Kalispell reports about 290 inches at the top.
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Comment by montucky — February 20, 2008 @ 12:44 pm
Wow! A window seat, and no worries over calculating tipping percentages! It doesn’t get much better than that!
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Comment by Pinhole — February 20, 2008 @ 2:04 pm
not a bad price for all the ambiance you get here! I’m not much into sandwiches, but with this as a side dish, not a bad meal at all! 🙂
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Comment by silken — February 20, 2008 @ 2:32 pm
Your blog just about makes me cry every time. It is so so so so so so so beautiful. Plus I was listening to John Denver today… “He was born in the Bitteroot Valley…” “Oh Montana, give this boy a home…” Then at work I received a job posting from a place in MONTANA… wow…
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Comment by winterwoman — February 20, 2008 @ 4:26 pm
Pinhole,
No lines, no waiting, flexible hours of operation. Think it might catch on?
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Comment by montucky — February 20, 2008 @ 4:28 pm
Silken,
It’s kind of serve yourself, so sandwiches aren’t required; whatever fits into your pack. Sometimes just some good trail mix will do it.
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Comment by montucky — February 20, 2008 @ 7:19 pm
Winterwoman,
The mouth of the Bitterroot valley is about 80 miles from here. I used to fish the length of that stream and you would love every inch of it. You might want to check out that job opening if it’s any good. Even coming up here to interview would be worth while! And don’t forget your camera!
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Comment by montucky — February 20, 2008 @ 7:49 pm
brilliant colors in this – which is no easy task in the middle of winter! Beautiful shot. I can see how the hike would work up an appetite.
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Comment by aullori — February 21, 2008 @ 12:24 am
When we have one of those crystal clear days in the middle of winter, it’s almost mandatory to get out somewhere with the camera: something will be worth shooting. This was a really tough hike because of the snow and the fact that I left my snow shoes back at the house. By the time I figured out that I could use them I was a mile into a very steep hike. Yup, one heck of an appetite!
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Comment by montucky — February 21, 2008 @ 8:49 am
Looks like a lovely spot! Substitute the canteen for a mini bottle of wine, and that sounds like a perfect lunch to me 🙂
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Comment by Adam R. Paul — February 21, 2008 @ 9:59 am
Adam, the wine would have been perfect! You should have been with me. There was a huge bird soaring overhead that I couldn’t identify, but was it ever fun to watch! I got a photo, but it was a poor one.
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Comment by montucky — February 21, 2008 @ 11:28 am