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Montana’s Spring Smith River trip requires gear, craft modifications

When we awoke to snow on the surrounding mountains following our first night of canoeing and rafting Montana’s fabled Smith River, I thought we had dodged the nasty-weather bullet.

There was no snow on our tents, which was a small victory worthy of a short, high-stepping, fishing-wader-clad Irish jig. Snow on the forested mountains is pretty and serene, whereas a sheet of wet, frozen water clinging to your sheer nylon abode is worrisome, even a bit threatening.

Looking back, I should have known better. Such celebrations of good luck can be short lived in the mountains. This was, after all, springtime in the Rockies, when 70-degree days can be followed by a sideways blizzard, when blue skies can quickly be draped behind dark clouds.

By Brett French

Full Story: http://billingsgazette.com/lifestyles/recreation/spring-smith-river-trip-requires-gear-craft-modifications/article_39c4f296-0716-587e-b5b8-1e421339a37a.html

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