White Sands and Winch Lines: A Weekend at Whitetail Reservoir
If you haven't made the trek out to Whitetail Reservoir, just north of Pipestone, you are missing out on one of Montana’s hidden gems. It’s one of the few places in our neck of the woods where you can find actual white sandy beaches—a little slice of the coast hidden deep in the mountain
But as any of us who run these trails know, getting to paradise usually requires a bit of a fight. This weekend was no exception.
The "I Told You So" Moment
I specifically told Angas to follow my line. I warned him: "If you don't stay on this line, you’re going to sink into the mud." Well, look what happened. He sank. I’m going to take the high road and not make any predictable Rover comments here, but the photos speak for themselves. Even my LX470 wasn't immune; she ended up pretty deep in the muck before we cleared the section.
A First Gen Nissan vs. The Mountain
My brother’s SAS first-gen Nissan Xterra decided to retire one piece at a time on this trip. First, he lost first gear grinding up the hill. Then the clutch started acting up—chattering and slipping like it wanted a vacation. Finally, the brake booster called it quits.
This turned the descent into a high-stakes game of physics. We had to hook him up to the winch on the LX to lower him down the obstacles. At one point, I was acting as a tether, managing the winch line and driving down the hill simultaneously. Tricky doesn't even begin to describe it.
Backgammon and "Fishy" Business
When we finally made it to the beach and set up camp, the competition didn't stop.
The Losing Streak: If you see a photo of me looking absolutely devastated, it’s because I lost eight points in a row to Emma in backgammon. My face says it all.
The Angler: Whatever you do, please no one tell Angas there are no fish in that lake. He looks so incredibly cool fly fishing against that backdrop, and I didn't have the heart to break the news.
The Reward
Despite the mechanical chaos and the cold, cold night, the views made every broken clip and muddy floor mat worth it. The sunset over the reservoir was absolutely stunning—the kind of light that makes you remember why we do this. The dogs had the time of their lives running the shoreline, and spending that time with my brother, Emma, and Angas was top-tier.
Until next time, Whitetail. You were a handful, but we’ll be back.
