CAMPS 



103 



typical of hundreds of others around lakes, along streams, and in forested 

 valleys on national forests. 



Many families, mostly from Missoula, have spent their summers here 

 for more than 20 years. These people are a representative cross section of 

 western town doctors, lawyers, university professors, businessmen, and 

 their wives and children. Perhaps 30 summer cabins, modest structures and 

 simply furnished, have been built on selected locations near the lake, all 

 under permit from the Forest Service. As soon as school is out in June, the 

 people move in and often do not return to the city until the end of vacation. 

 The youngsters swim, boat, fish, ride, and explore together, while the older 

 people fish or putter about, or just relax. There are no formal social 

 duties to attend, no obligations to pay, just visit or receive company as 

 they wish. 



On a fine point of land jutting into the lake is a large public camp- 

 ground set in a forest of old tamaracks. Fireplaces, tables, and benches 

 are available for picnicking or overnight camping. People from distant 

 States sometimes come up to the camp for a day or week's outing in tent 

 or trailer camps; mostly the forest campground serves people from the 

 nearby valleys. There is an organization camp, used all summer by the 

 Boy Scouts, Campfire Girls, or other groups. Across the lake is a hotel under 

 permit from the Forest Service, and at the end of the lake, on private land, 

 is a store and cabin camp which also provides dancing for those who 

 desire it. 



Some of the summer cottagers keep saddle horses for riding on the 

 forest roads and over the back-country trails. Occasionally more ambitious 

 trips are made; once each summer a 2 or 3 weeks' fishing and exploring 

 expedition is taken into the high peaks of the Mission Mountains or to the 

 far reaches of the Flathead and Sun River Wilderness Areas. The boys, and 

 even a few of the girls, learn to throw the diamond hitch and to care for 

 themselves and their horses on the trail. When the duck season opens in the 

 fall, several of the cottage owners return to hunt migrating wild fowl on the 

 string of small lakes extending up the valley. In midwinter, after the snow 

 is plowed out of the road, gay parties drive up from town for a few days of 

 skiing and other winter sports. 



