Notes from Montana
M. Schweitzer's Field Notes

Last night on the way to my tent, Bob stopped me (yes the Bob of ?B-rex? fame). He said there was a cowboy camped in the next draw, with his two horses (a paint and a bay) and his gun. He was hoping to catch some cattle rustlers, who so far had made off with about $150,000 in free range cattle. For a moment, I had to remind myself that this was the 21st century?but then again, some things just don?t change out here on the prairie.

I woke up after a couple hours sleep, to the sound of gentle raindrops on my tent. It was wonderful, and peaceful, but it was not long before the gentle rain gave way to gale-force winds and dry lightning. The wind came roaring down the draw where I set my tent like a pack of angry dogs, throwing their bodies full on against the sides of my tent, first on, then the other, then back to the first, determined to gain entrance.

Soon I was spreadeagled across my tent, trying to hold it down and wondering if my stakes would hold the rain fly down, and where I would find it the next morning. It was a long time before the wind died down, but when it did, it was utter silence, the kind you never ever experience in the city. Except of course for the coyotes yipping in the distance.

It is hard to describe?.

Breakfast this morning was bacon, eggs and sausage cooked over the griddle in the canvas cook tent. It was incredibly hot at 6:30 am in there. The heat is searing, but as they say it is a dry heat. You would not think this would make much difference when it hovers around 110, but it does indeed. It is more comfortable at 100 than when it is humid and 80. Sweat actually accomplishes something here. But there is always the danger of severe dehydration, because you forget to drink. It is more comfortable, so you are not constantly reminded of how miserable you are.

We are off to prospect, so I will write at days end to report any finds. I hope there are some new ones.