Coming out of the mountains

This morning we handed out the final exams for the Traditional Ecological Knowledge section of the course and packed up camp to head into "civilization" for a rest day. By civilization we mean the tiny town of Choteau Montana on the Rocky Mountain Front Range.

We've all been looking forward to checking email, sleeping in an actual bed, a good burger, and some celebration beers - especially the students. Get ready for a wild night...

I snapped this shot of one of the innumerable braided rivers that spill out from the mountain valleys into the plains. Casey and I ended up staying at a cute little motel in town with a few of the more chill students. It was lovely to indulge in simple things. Like getting a haircut, washing clothes not in a stream, sitting down for a burger and some good Montana beer at a pub, and visiting local farmers Hutterite farmers markets to chat with old timers with funny old world accents. Meanwhile most of the students had their own ideas...drinking maybe one too many beers before before sun even set! I grudge them nothing though, they deserve it.