Many Montanans are closely watching the ongoing debate over how
to get more timber and restoration work done on Forest Service
lands in Montana at a landscape level, while further protecting
clean water and wildlife habitat. But as that larger debate goes
on, it is important to take stock of the smaller success stories
already under way.

The Blackfoot and Clearwater watersheds are home to one of those
stories.

On the sixth and last stop of our Best Wild Places tour, Tom
Reed, of Trout Unlimited, spent a few days fishing and hunting in the
Yaak, situated in Northwest Montana. Here is Reed's report from day
one.

The Yaak. Never, "the Yaak Valley," or even, "Yaak, Montana." Always
just, "the Yaak." In Montana, it goes like this: "You ever been up to
the Yaak?"

"No, but I hear they've got some really good whitetail hunting. Always been meaning to go."