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Summer Tour of Montana

6/19/25 – This past week Clare, Kit, Sig and HaHa (Cindy), took a rare summer vacation for a pilgrimage out to Montana. Since Clare and I moved back to Sawbill from Missoula 10 (!) years ago, we unfortunately have only made it back a couple of times, and our kids have not really had the chance to visit our old stomping grounds at all. The plan was born last July when I was tapped to chaperone a high school trip to Costa Rica. Clare figured that if I could take off for an extended time in the summer, she ought to do it, too.

A Hansen (now Shirley) summer vacation away from Sawbill has not really been a reasonable expectation due to our busy work schedules and need to be on-site to keep the lights on (literally). As most of you know, Sawbill was off the grid and generating our own power for 66 years. While a robust and generally reliable off-grid power set-up, things happened from time to time that required immediate attention to keep things operating. As a result, the Hansen’s (and then the Shirley’s) have always been a little constrained from leaving Sawbill for too long.

Getting connected to the power grid a couple years ago has enabled us to have a little more flexibility for being away. We’ve been taking advantage of little opportunities to go on more canoe trips and the occasional trip farther afield.

They started their trip in NW Montana near Glacier National Park where they had the opportunity to visit several friends and do some hiking in the Park.

Kit and Sig in Glacier National Park
Kit, Cindy, Clare and Sig at GNP

They then made their way to Missoula where they again connected with friends and did a tour of favorite restaurants and old haunts. They even got to show the kids our old house.

Kit and Sig hang out with Jesse, friend and former Sawbill crew member, at the Missoula farmers market.

They were able to make a pit stop in Helena where they visited with some of the extended Shirley family (some of my aunts, uncles, and cousins) before concluding the trip with a visit to Bozeman where Clare’s brother Carl has been living for 10+ years. Uncle Uncle as the Kit and Sig refer to him, is always a source of fun and joy. They visited Yellowstone National Park and got to see Old Faithful erupt!

Cindy, Kit and Sig at Yellowstone National Park
Kit and Old Faithful
Clare, Cindy, Carl, Sig and Kit on a hike outside of Bozeman.

The trip was a success and the lights stayed on at Sawbill.

-Dan