Believe this or not—I have a little brother!

Many years ago my brothers and I, along with one of my brothers-in-law, found ourselves laboring up the side of a steep mountain slope in search of mule deer bucks.  As with all the Willow Creek Free Trappers happenings we gather over a few cold ones and discuss who is going hunting and who is bringing what.  This back pack excursion into the wilderness area known as the Wellsville Range was no exception.  Back packing for extended time frames requires freeze-dried foods and minimum weight items.  Each of our packs was loaded comparably with our required items.

We labored up and down the steep mountains and set ourselves up a camp area as night befell us.  We made a “packs off” attempt at finding a deer just at dusk and found ourselves searching in darkness for matches to light the fire.  Once going, the firelight aided our search for the freeze dried supper packages and the small pot to boil water.  As the smell of supper began drifting through the crisp mountain air my brother-in –law “Tracker” (next print story) said—“Boy’s, I reckon before we eat we ought’ have ourselves a little cocktail.  What do ya think”?

Wapiti Dung spoke up just then and said, “You bet—it just don’t git no better’n this”.

“Good deal,” said I and our attention went to Ricky—the designated “bringer” of the “aiming oil”.  (We have named the Devil’s milk, “Grimace”, because of the horrid faces that are pulled after one swigs a drink straight from the jug).  Ricky turns to his pack in search of the jug.

After several unsuccessful minutes of searching and much harassment, Ricky dumps his pack out on to the ground—all of its contents scattered among the fallen leaves.  NO JUG!  Where is the jug? Ricky!!!  Where is the grimace??  “I forgot it”!! He squeakily said after several silent minutes.

Well—we ate in silence, listened to all of Ricky’s excuses and after we had cleaned up the dishes Ricky was officially given his mountain man name.  “From here and until all eternity shall be known among mountain men as “No Grimace”!!

Bears Butt

Nov-Dec1986