Creative Cobblers and Backcountry Byways

Merri Ann and I did two things on Saturday: We worked on our creative cobblers and we traversed our favorite backcountry byway. (All backcountry byways are favorites but in the spring, when you're pushing the snowline, it's an adventure.)

But first, the creative cobblers. People love to create cobblers. They use our skillet cobblers. And they create cobblers with whatever fruit they have on hand, to make cobblers like:

• Purple Plum Cobblers
• Pineapple Cobblers
• Mango Coconut Cream Cobblers.
• Strawberry Rhubarb Cobblers

My favorite skillet cobbler this time of year is a strawberry rhubarb cobbler. Alas, I didn't have a picture of a strawberry rhubarb cobbler. (The cobbler at the top is Cherry Cream Cheese Skillet Cobbler, which is my favorite once the cherries come on.)

If you don't have a cherry tree in your back yard, consider our Chubby Cherry Filling which is our favorite bottled filling.

If you want to create your own cobblers, visit our skillet cobbler page which has lots of suggestions to get you started.

The cobblers are made with a mix so they're quick and they're on sale--stock up!

And now the byway.

This byway starts at Dell in Montana. Dell isn't much more than a gas pump. The road is very lonely. We didn't see another driver except at the ends of the road.

We're approaching 7,000 feet here. This is one row of mountains away from the Continental Divide. The canyon that you see to the right of center, has a road that slices through the mountains and climbs to a high altitude lake tucked high against the peaks. The Continental Divide Trail borders the lake.

You'll need some summer sun and a 4WD vehicle to get up those mountains but it's worth it. Here's the lake in July: 

If you're ever in western Montana with a long afternoon and a full tank of gas, find Dell and explore this byway.