Lazy Birthday Blog

In the interest of turning into a total lazy slob on this 58th birthday, I'm going to insert my most recent column "Love Notes," which appeared in this week's River Journal newspaper. Enjoy, and have a great Saturday.

Hiawatha Biking Experience

for The River Journal

by Marianne Love

June, 2005

My brother Kevin and other rodent aficionados call them Golden Mantel ground squirrels. I’d always called ‘em chipmunks. Whatever they are, I can vouch that they’re plump, cute little buggers, and it’s easy to see why.

After all, each season when several thousand two-legged creatures donned in helmets, carrying well-stocked backpacks, and pedaling two-wheeled non-motorized vehicles, decide to stop alongside the trail to read the informative signs, there are treats aplenty in “them thar hills.”

The hills are part of the Bitteroot Mountains of Western Montana and Northeastern Idaho. The trail, where these squirrels nab such good eats, was once known as the Old Milwaukee Road, which was the route traveled by the railway with its fleet, steam-powered Hiawatha engine. I’m amazed at how many squirrels have discovered these rich zones for human hand-outs since my last Hiawatha bike trip.

Two years ago, while chaperoning a group of Farmin fifth graders who were cruising the Hiawatha Rail Trail, I don’t remember seeing too many squirrels. Instead, I recall getting acquainted with a lot of tunnels, trestles and magnificent views of the rugged Bitteroots where the Hiawatha once roared through on its route from St. Regis, Mont., to Avery, Idaho. A month or so later in 2003, our family members gathered at Lookout Pass to take the trip again. Still, no glut on the squirrel supply.

But, earlier this month, while again accompanying my sister Laurie Tibbs’ and her colleague Colleen Filipowski’s fifth graders on the 17-mile route, we soon discovered word must’ve gotten out to all Golden Mantels that rich wealth existed at those attractive U.S. Forest Service interpretive displays. The tiny, hungry mouths met with a sumptuous bonanza when several small groups of ten-year-olds with their adult chaperones happened by and stopped at the series of signs on June 10.

The kids’ assignment, while biking the old rail bed’s gradual downward grade, was to read all information at each stop. That time frame gives a hungry squirrel and all his buddies a great opportunity for begging. Admittedly, squirrel begging does distract a kid or two who’s supposed to be listening while a fellow classmate reads about gandy dancers, railroad ghost towns like Roland and Grand Forks, the meaning of train whistles, or about raging forest fires which burned off the area forests in 1910. While expected to digest these nuggets of fascinating historical information, some chose to share their trail mix with the adorable little critters who suddenly appeared from behind rocks and out of the bushes at most stops.

The squirrels, however, had manners enough to show respectful, polite appreciation for the kids’ education. Once they grabbed ahold of a fat cashew with their dexterous little fingers, most ate quietly as the reading continued. I’m betting that there must’ve been a mole among the ranks who passed along word to the nut-loving squirrels that even though this was meant to be a fun outing, it did fulfill an enriching educational purpose.

After all, Miss Tibbs and Mrs. Filipowski had been aiming toward this day in their respective classrooms for months. Their goal throughout the year had been to introduce their students to national and regional history. More specifically, the fifth graders were learning about mountain ranges, lakes and drainage systems, natural resources, native cultures, exploration and settlement along established trails. They also learned how transportation systems such as the railroad helped develop the region.

What better way to bring all this alive than to board a bus and head for Cataldo and Idaho’s oldest missionary church where “Black Robes” introduced Catholicism to the local Native American tribes! Add to that a trip to Wallace, along the Mullan Road (first Transcontinental military route) and through the Silver Valley. At Wallace, they would visit the mining museum and learn how the discovery of rich minerals played a role in the region’s settlement and its economy.

After a good swim in the Mullen Community Center’s pool and a night of sleeping in their bed rolls on a school-house floor, the kids, armed with lunches prepared by parent volunteers, were eager to head on to the Hiawatha Trail where they’d meet with the immediate challenge of biking 1.8 miles through the dark, drippy, and dank Taft Tunnel. Except for a few mud spatters and some occasional wandering mule deer, most riders made it through the Taft and several other Old Milwaukee tunnels without incident.

The squirrels added a nice touch to this culminating segment of their two-day field trip. As chaperones, my husband Bill and I also came away with very positive impressions about our assigned group of students. They enjoyed reading. They also cooperated with us and with each other, and they obviously had fun. Our group included Hannah Moseley, Travis Tolin, Katie Brent, Mike Morton, Joey Yanik, and Dillon Fitzpatrick. From what I’ve heard and observed, they appreciated the unique educational experience.

Hannah liked the breath-taking view while looking down several hundred feet to the artistic treetop patterns from the trestles, while Katie enjoyed riding through the tunnels. Travis told me he thinks he’ll persuade his family to go. Joey obviously liked riding shotgun next to me. Mike truly amazed Bill and me with his fine reading ability, and Dillon seemed to enjoy everything, especially sharing his cashews.

I’m confident that if that same messenger mole reads this column and passes along the word about Travis’ desire to return to the trail with his family, there’s gonna be some happy Golden Mantels welcoming their arrival.

I also have one educational suggestion after this year’s trip. Maybe the kids can learn how those little critters survive during the off-season?

For more information about the Hiawatha Rail Trail experience, visit (www.skilookout.com/bike_home_page.html).