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Huckleberry Man
I have a story to tell about the Huckleberry Man. It seemed that all my sources from pickers had already sold out, and my only recourse was to buy from stores or other commercial outlets at a much greater price. So, I went to Hungry Horse and purchased one-and-a-half gallon of frozen berries from a grocery store. Some hours after the purchase, Kaylett called and said she found another source of freshly picked berries, one-and-a-half gallons for $45 less than from the store. So, I grabbed those up as well. So, I had three gallons of berries and wasn’t sure when Randy would arrive to claim them. I put the fresh berries in my freezer but Randy arrived about an hour later, and I gave him the fresh berries, as had no idea how long the other batch had been frozen or when picked.
Now, Kaylett’s friend decided berries were still in demand so he went back to Glacier Park where he thought there would be more berries, without the bears knowing where or other people for that matter. He did not find any more berries in a week’s searching, as it is about time for the bears to go into hibernation. It was at a high elevation and the bears go to bed for the winter fairly early. He was about to drop into a lower ravine to look for more berries but he saw three young men stop beside his truck and began to swarm it. He chased the young men away, but now is afraid to leave his truck, as he thought it would be stolen before he could get back to it if he left.
And to make a bad story worse, when he tried to leave, discovered his truck wouldn’t start. He did make it to a high ridge on foot, to text Kaylett, explained he was stuck out in the wilderness, could she get him some help. He gave her accurate coordinates so she could find him. However, it was 10 o’clock at night, she didn’t know the area, so she called the Sheriff’s Department for help. Her friend’s cell phone was not only out of a service area, but also had run out of charge, as he couldn’t start his truck to charge his phone. Two different sheriff departments, Glacier County and Flathead County, claimed they couldn’t ping him. And then claimed they couldn’t find him. One county claimed he was out of their jurisdiction, the other claimed they were too busy. Kaylett spent 48 hours trying to get him some help from the “search and rescue” units. Please Ricochetti, do not get lost in Flathead County MT, as you just may stay lost. Kaylett finally got another friend to drive her into the wilderness, two days later, and her Huckleberry Friend was exactly where he had said he was. Kaylett spotted him and his truck immediately. The poor man was about frozen, as well as had run out of food, as he had eaten what few huckleberries he had found.
Kaylett had her son bring a flatbed truck to bring his truck back to Kalispell. She then took him out to feed him and then brought him home to me. We talked for a time. He is an ex-pat, four tours to Desert Storm and other places he wouldn’t talk about. He sounds like Boss Mongo writes. Except he talks at 90 miles an hour, and I can’t understand most of what he says. He has an ex-wife that has been married two times since their divorce, with three grown children, two boys, ages 30 and 27, and a girl, 19, all in different states. He is tall, skinny as a rail, but that could be from starvation, and is extremely intelligent. And, because I have sheltered him in my home for a few days, next summer he is bringing me a gallon of huckleberries at no charge.
Published in General
He should get a hand crank generator plus enough paraphernalia to recharge the cell phone. Some canned goods/MREs. A few cans of Sterno. Matches (Blue Tip, not those things that come in paper folders). First aid kit. A bottle of whiskey (for snake bite, of course). One of those heat reflecting blankets.
A fellow could have a pretty good weekend in the middle of nowhere with all that stuff, to paraphrase Maj. “King” Kong.
You are so kind, Kay. He sounds like an interesting house guest. I hope he finds housing.
Yeah, but he mentioned dollars and condoms, too.
Oh, yes! I grew in a fairly out-in-the wilds kind of place, and a person simply needed to have a few resources with them at all times. Because….you never know. Even in the less wilderness-y places, it is a smart plan to have a few emergency items in the vehicle.
And, hey! @kayofmt–free huckleberries!! Yahoo!!
Kay, what an adventure! Bless you and Kaylett – and warm fuzzy Panda Hugs to share with your Huckleberry friend.
I think he had pretty much all that stuff except the hand crank generator. Hadn’t expected his truck to die on him, and then started running out of gear before he got rescued.
Now, tell me do, why would he need money and condoms in the wilderness?
I’m glad Kaylett saved the day! She’s a sweet lady. Just like her mom. :)
Thank you dear heart. She just got around to reading your near death of drowning, and the article nearly made her cry. She really likes you and just about every one else she met at the meet-up. We don’t want to lose any of you. I had a near death experience like yours only in the ocean. Even tho I was knocked unconscious by a wave slamming me into a bolder, the life guard stated he had to cut the seaweed off the rock to bring me back to shore. I had a death grip on that slimy sea weed and not about to let go.
Oh Kay, I thought I was reading fiction at first. Poor guy! God bless your dear Kaylett. Hubby is still asleep beside me and I’m gonna read this aloud to him to wake him up. It’s really scary that the professionals dropped the ball here.
I’m still getting goosebumps rereading this account! I don’t need a cup of coffee this morning.
Actually my experience was kind of humorous now that I think of it. I was in my teens and had the impression if I could see the ocean floor I could stand up on it. I don’t swim, but had dog paddled out to the rock and when I arrived discovered it was covered with slimy seaweed, ewu.. Since I could see the bottom, figured I could just stand up and rest a bit, then dog paddle back to the beach. Needless to say, when I stood up I sunk like the rock I am, as I struggled to the top of the water, a wave slammed me into the rock I had refused to touch a few moments earlier. Thank goodness the life guard had been watching me dog paddle and saw it all. Had no idea how strong my grip was even when knocked out.
For those who venture far afield…
It doesn’t send texts. It doesn’t make calls. It does one thing and one thing only. Raise the antenna. Remove the seal. Push the button. It sends an emergency HELP message with your coordinates to Search n Rescue authorities on both civilian and military bands. Don’t use it if you’ve locked your keys in your car at the trailhead or forgot the marshmallows for s’mores. But if you have a broken leg at the bottom of a ravine it’s your new best friend. Toss it in a pocket in your pack. Hope you never need it.
Looks like a good piece o’ gear. But I ‘ll have to save up for it: they are $250
Kay, what distressed and even depressed me about your story is that there were three young guys around his truck, apparently looking to steal it. I like to think that sort of thing is largely an urban, coastal thing – certainly I wouldn’t expect to have to worry about my vehicle when in Glacier National Park. Ok, I guess I’m naive…..
@painterjean, Thing is, there were actually seven young men and the part of Glacier he was in was part of/or near the Indian Reservation. The area very remote. Probably a part of the park most folks would never be in, no trails, etc. Some of the eastern part of the park is complete wilderness. Some of it is also in Canada. The part of the park where there are trails, and camp grounds are under the Forest Service Patrol. Part of the reason, HM is so successful at picking huckleberries is he knows the remote areas. He wasn’t lost, and told me just this morning he was about to hike out when Kaylett and her friend arrived 2 days after he asked for help. This Man was actually born and raised in Flathead County, and his parents own a ranch even more north and west of Glacier Park. Finding out more about him, he is an ex-Marine which should make some Ricochett happy. One of his daughters’ is an USAF officer in Colorado, another one in college, and his son is also USAF.
So, disgusting human behavior makes it into the remotest areas. Sigh….yeah, I know, human nature is what it is, no matter the location.
Huckleberry Man sounds like an interesting character.
Great article, Kay, and thank you again for supplying the huckleberries for the party. For those who weren’t there, this is what they were for. I just took a picture of one of them, but there were two large pans.
Mmmm, Huckleberry Cobbler.
Well, I am a bit sad, but grateful for meeting Huckleberry Man. Turns out his truck is truly dead and cannot be revised. So he has gone to his dad’s ranch in NW Montana to recoup his energies.