Montana Friday 08/09/2024

Hello,

My name is Gustavo Munoz. I am a 4th year Biology student at ULV. The day started with a small breakfast of nutella toast with some strawberries. The previous night, Mario Sabry and I had made dinner for the entire group for this day. I chose to make mac and cheese, while Mario made an Egyptian dish. We left Magpie Ranch fairly early and headed over to Phillipsburg which was about a 35 minute drive. On the way there we stopped at a museum and saw many statues of local animals made out of steel. Life size models. Stopping in Phillipsburg, we went ot Doe's Restaurant. As a group we decided to get many different foods and share. Between chicken strips, elk burger, bison burger, and rattlesnake & rabbit bratwurst. It was an introduction to new local flavors since in California it is rare to come across these type of meats. A local favorite was the huckleberry soda, which most of us tried. We chose to do some sapphire mining in phillipsburg after our lunch. As a group most of us found a good amount of sapphire crystals in the dirt that locals have gathered for tourists for their shop. Several of us found the tiny greenish clear crystals and we learned that they come in many colors as well but are rare. Our professor Pablo, gave us about 45 minutes of free time after for some shopping, which most of us did. We did go to local candy shops and ice cream shops where all the ice cream is made in house with old ice cream machines made of wood and steel. I had to pick up some huckleberry jam and barbeque sauce. We grouped up and started heading over to Georgetown Lake. Seeing several wildlife such as deer and even a bald eagle on the way up to the lake. We were greeted at the lake and welcomed with several paddle-boats, kayaks, canoes, and other several things to try out on this lake. I was excited to do some fishing and I stayed on the dock while watching several of my peers use the equipment on the lake. About 30 minutes into fishing there was finally a bite. My first Rainbow Trout(picture 1). I was filled with emotions as I was there with my friends Mario and Mathew on the dock just talking until the fish took a bite. We ended up keeping it. I ended up waiting about another 2 hours and nothing was hooking. I got into a kayak and got into the lake to fish. Again, nothing was biting and after about 40 minutes I got back onto the doc, everyone was eating dinner already that Mario and I had already prepared the night before. I skipped dinner so I could take in the beauty of the lake itself. My friends joined me back on the doc and we talked for about 20 minutes. During the conversation, the rod flew across the doc. My 2nd fish was hooked on(picture 2). I reeled it in and my friends were excited and very happy to see another, yelling and shouting when we brought it in. We put them on ice and took them home after packing up. The car ride was smooth and took a while to get home to the ranch. The fish were cleaned and eaten the next day where it was Pablos day to cook for us.

This is one of the days from the Montana trip that will forever be in my heart. From the new foods we tried, to mining for sapphire, and fishing on such a beautiful lake. I will always be grateful for my friends and my professors Pablo Weaver and Gail Tang for the beautiful memories and the opportunity to create bonds with my peers that I will forever treasure. 



 

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