TRAVEL - THE STORY OF RUNNING EAGLE

THE STORY OF RUNNING EAGLE FALLS – Glacier National Park, Montana
By Jim Foster

(When traveling to Two Medicine a stop to see Running Eagle Falls is in order. In the spring water rushes over the upper fall so thick that the lower fall is completely hidden. Later in summer, as flows decrease, the water seems to change course and flow almost exclusively out of the lower fall. This is why in later years the white man named it Trick Falls.)

Pitamakan or Running Eagle was a tribeswoman of the Piegan branch of the Blackfoot Tribe who lived in the early 1820’s.

Her days as a young girl were spent in learning her duties as a woman of her tribe. Pitamakan had no interest for this type of work but learned it well and cared for her family when her mother was ill.

Being a wise man with much insight into his daughter’s interests. Her warrior father tutored her on how to shoot a bow and arrow and encouraged her to practice. She soon became good enough she was allowed to go on buffalo hunts with the men and killed her share of buffalo.

On a later hunt, she and the hunters were attacked by a war party of Crow. Running Eagle's father's horse was shot from under him and he was killed. Running Eagle turned back, picked up her father, loaded the fresh buffalo meat onto her horse, and escaped back to her village.

Her tribe gave her great praise for her spirit and her bravery in the face of the enemy. Shortly after the loss of her father it is said her mother died of a broken heart. Pitamakan was now responsible for her brothers and sisters, and forced her to make some serious life choices.

Running Eagle had no love for woman’s work so she brought a recently widowed woman into the household to care for the family. Running Eagle was now a hunter, warrior, and the head of her family. For the rest of her days she carried her father's rifle with pride.

Crow warriors had stolen horses from her village and Running Eagle joined the party to recover the stolen stock. She and her cousin were responsible for reclaiming 11 of their horses. On the return trip she attacked two Crow warriors trailing her party. In the short battle Running Eagle killed one warrior, took his rifle, and shooting both rifles chased away the remaining Crow warrior.

Again she was praised for her bravery and was instructed by the elders to go on a vision quest and learn her true destiny. She is said to have stayed near the falls and did receive a vision and the power necessary to become a successful warrior. She was never questioned again by her people, and was given the respect of one who has received special powers from the Spirit World.

Running Eagle went on to become a mighty warrior taking part in many raids, and was permitted to tell of her adventures in the Medicine Lodge ceremonies. She became a member of the Braves Society of young warriors, and successfully led many war parties.

Running Eagle was killed during a battle with a large party of Flatheads near the Sun River. She died as she had lived. It should be noted that the Flathead who dealt her the killing blow did so from behind.

Originally named Pitamakan Falls in honor of the great woman warrior as her place of her Sprit quest it was later renamed Trick Falls in Glacier National Park was by whites. The name of Pitamakan/Running Eagle disappears from white man’s history until the Piegan storytellers passed on the story of this great Blackfoot woman.

Today, the falls once again bear her name and the area is Sacred to the Blackfoot People.
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Authors Note: The photo above of the Blackfoot story teller is of Curly Bear Wagner - Curly Bear runs the "GOING TO THE SUN FOUNDATION" formed to promote the Blackfoot and other nations in a good way. He has several CD's and a New DVD telling stories of his people. His contact information is 406-338-2058 or E-Mail him at vickip957@hotmail.com. JF

OUTDOORS - FOOD - "I ATE WHAT?"

ARE YOU WHAT YOU EAT ??
By Jim Foster

It has always amazed me that whenever “sporting groups” wish to raise money or do something outdoorsy inside they hold a wild game dinner.

Not wishing to break the law – you can’t sell wild game – most of the meat is donated by hunters. Many times these donations are because of a large amount of the "almost" outdated wild meat of various species in their freezers. This may be why some of the food has the flavor of an old saddle blanket after being removed from a sweaty Shoshone pony following a long bison hunt.

Having sampled what can be done with game in places like, Terlingua with a pot full of javelina chili or eating a large plate of beaver stew on the banks of the Yukon River, I do understand why some don’t agree with the adage, “you must eat what you kill”.

Let's admit here that stew is a dish that can cause a picky eater to ask questions.

In short, I have never – to my best knowledge - tasted prairie dog, muskrat, skunk, lemming, nuteria, pocket gophers, wolf, coyote, badger, or anything found on the road or on the grill of a pick-up. But, who knows what mislabeled package of questionable protein may find its way on the menue of the next wild game dinner.

Selecting what I have enjoyed best could make for a rather lengthy list. As far as mammals are concerned nilgai tops the list followed by elk, deer, moose, eland, ostrich, zebra, and pronghorn. All of these don’t last long in my freezer.

I will confess, I have eaten pheasant driven and shot from the Queens forest. These beautiful birds are hung by their legs - feathers on and with their insides still in place - outside on a building until the legs are about ready to part from the body, then cooked, and served.

It is common knowledge the British are not known for their cooking ability – although there is a certain M.D. friend of mine in Dallas who favors this treatment for his South Dakota pheasants.

As for fish, I dove love coldwater trout, salmon, halibut. The top saltwater species are, flounder, speckled trout, and my overall favorite, redfish on the half shell cooked over a mesquite fire. It’s quick, easy, and makes for some GREAT eating.

Here’s how – fillet your redfish leaving the skin and scales on, your grill temperature should be the same as when you cook steaks. Seasoning will be to taste but I like butter, lemon pepper, salt, and garlic powder. Place the fish on the grill scales down and cook for about ten minutes or when the top starts to brown. Serve with your favorite side dishes. The thick skin of the redfish makes a perfect cooking pan and the meat will be sweet and moist.

Eating wild fish and game is a true pleasure but at times when dinning at a wild game dinner a couple of questions directed at your host can save that old saddle blanket aftertaste. That is unless you like boiled muskrat.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please e-mail him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

BOATING - TIPS

SPRING CHECK UP TIME FOR YOUR BOAT & TRAILER
By Jim Foster

Spring is the time to give your fishing rig a check-up. Take it in to your marine dealer and let them give the motor a tune-up and check everything over. Then get busy with what you can do.

The most obvious place to start will be with the tires. Check them for cracks and breaks in the sidewall. Even if they are holding air pressure they may need some attention. If you have never changed a boat trailer tire on the side of the highway on a hot summer's day, all I can say is you don't want or need the experience. It's a good idea to replace worn out rubber.

It might also to be a good idea to loosen the lug nuts and apply a coat of oil or lubricant. Saltwater has a way of making those lug nuts hard to remove. If you can't turn them, take the trailer in to a tire shop and have them loosen them for you. Be careful not to break a lug.

An item that is easy to over-look is the trailer hitch and the ball. Check and see if the ball is rusted or has worn spots. A new ball is a small price to pay to protect the thousands of dollars you invested in your boat. Check the locking device. Don't forget a safety pin or lock.

A proven method of checking your connection between your tow vehicle and boat trailer is to crank the jack up as high as you can after hooking up your trailer. This will put tension on the ball and if something is loose it should pop off. This, like other checks, is not fool proof but can be time well spent.

If you are like many anglers, you will want to get an early start on your fishing day. This means leaving home before the sun comes up. The law requires that boat trailers have proper lights. The time to work on your lights is not in the dark on the morning of your trip.

Hook up your trailer and check the lighting system. Many times the problem is just a burned out bulb, a corroded connection, or a bad ground wire. These are easily replaced. It is always a good idea to keep a few extra bulbs and fuses handy.

Other items to check would be your winch cable or strap, check the grease for the trailer wheel bearings, and the boat plugs. I mentioned this last item because many boaters take them out while the boat is stored and can forget to put them back in before launching. Make sure the plugs are in good shape and the rubber has not hardened.

Some experts also advise to unplug your trailer lights before launching or loading your boat. I had not heard this one before but it makes sense. And speaking of getting your trailer wet, check your wheel bearing grease often and if they didn’t come with your trailer, install buddy bearings. They are a big help.

It might also be a good idea to check the running lights on your boat to make sure they are in good shape as is all the required safety equipment that the state requires such as, fire extinguisher, throwable life preserver, sounding device, and your boat papers.

Just as important are the mechanics of your rig. If you are a mechanic then just give it a look. If you are like the rest of us then it might be best to have a professional do the check-up.

If you are a new boat owner or a first timer it would be a good idea to take one of the boating safety courses. In some states these are required for the younger set but wouldn’t hurt us older folks to pick up a few safety tips and ideas. Check with your local Fish & Wildlife office for requirements and course dates.

Do your homework and avoid problems that may be prevented. Getting out on the water for a day of fishing is the idea.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please e-mail him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

TRAVEL - VACATION ON THE WATER

THE HOUSEBOAT
by Jim Foster

Relaxation and time away from our jobs is an important part of our overall physical and mental well being. If you are ready for a summer or late spring vacation, are tired of going to the same places, and enjoy boating and the outdoors you might want to consider something a little different this year.

The modern RV and its well-known use as a camping tool is not a new idea. The convenience of the modern RV is well known. However, this is about a floating RV - a houseboat.

Some of the early houseboats were nothing more that a RV camper loaded on a pontoon boat. Space was at a minimum and the craft was hard to maneuver and control – not so Today. The modern houseboat is a floating home away from home with comfort the key. Houseboat sales and rentals have risen and the big floating cottages are a common site on many lakes and even in saltwater.

Forever Resorts offers rental houseboats and other craft to those who are interested in something a little different.
While doing research for an article on Lake Amistad, I met the good people who operate the Lake Amistad branch of Forever Resorts; an Arizona based company specializing in houseboat and other recreational type rentals.

On a Friday evening, we loaded our gear, along with a well-packed food locker, on board number F-3 houseboat for a trip on Amistad Lake and up the Rio Grande River. Along on this trip was friend, and electronics and Boating columnist Allan Tarvid.

Our guide and operator was L.D. Clark who knows the lake like the back of his hand and told us a lot of history of the lake and surrounding countryside. The areas history included Native Americans, the first railroad through the country, the town of Vinegaroon, and later Langtry, home of Law West of the Pecos, Judge Roy Bean.

As we quickly learned houseboat camping is not really “roughing it” at all. The boats come complete with sheets, blankets, pillows and all linens needed for sleeping. The galley is equipped with coffee maker, blender, microwave oven, and toaster.
Two large refrigerators with freezers are provided as well as gas cooking. On the front deck a charcoal gas grill stands ready for burgers or steaks. Two large ice chests also located on the front deck offer more cold storage.

Our plan was to transfer to L.D.’s “Tag-Along” bass boat and make the 40 mile run to the end of the lake and then on up river to do some exploring. "Tag-Alongs" are boats towed behind the houseboat. If you have a fishing or small pleasure boat you can bring it along for short trips, fishing, or water skiing.

After a quick lunch we loaded our gear in the smaller boat and headed up river. We made several stops for photographs and to gather information on the scenic stops along the way. Twenty some odd miles later we entered Seminole Canyon.

Just inside Seminole Canyon we saw the rock remains of the old railroad right of way. This was the first railroad through the area - the Galveston, Harrisburg, and San Antonio Railroad. It was built to connect Texas with the West Coast by way of the Southern Pacific railroad being built from the west. The two companies would connect near El Paso, Texas.

Near the back of Seminole Canyon we made the climb up the canyon wall to Panther Cave. In the cave is an assortment of Indian pictographs, some dating back over 6,000 years. The climb was steep but rewarding. It is amazing that these drawings by ancient artists have survived throughout the millenniums.

This is one of the most interesting areas of Texas and one where you could spend your whole vacation exploring the caves, canyons, and historic sites of early Texas, not to mention some great fishing. The lake boasts black bass, white bass, striped bass, several species of catfish, and lots of bream and sunfish.

If you are planning your vacation and are interested in a houseboat excursion, Forever Resorts offers houseboat and other rentals on many U.S. lakes – the listing are on their web site. If you go, all you will need to bring is your food and personal items.

For information or to make reservations contact FOREVER RESORTS at 1-800-255-5561 or check them out on the internet at www.foreverresorts.com.

For information on the Del Rio Area and what is to be found there, call the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-889-8149. They are on the net at www.delrio.com/chamber.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please e-mail him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com