When we acquired our first cabin in West Glacier to manage, we knew we wanted to name it. We thought about everything it represented and we came up with StepsAway– it really IS just steps away from the village, the bridge, the river and Glacier National Park itself.
The next step was to get a sign but before we could decide upon one for “the little cabin” we also acquired another to manage – “the big cabin”. We knew we wanted to stay with StepsAway, after all, the big cabin is just steps away from the little one (they’re next door to each other!). We settled on StepsAway 244 and StepsAway 254, since those are the house numbers.
Now, what should the sign look like? What should it be made of -metal, wood? We looked at a lot of things on-line, but nothing really jumped out at us. Then one day Tom asked me if I thought “my bear guy” could make one. Really, we can ask him!!!??? Yes, I have a bear guy! But, maybe I should back up a little…
There was a time in our marriage that I had over 150 stuffed bears displayed all over the house. Once when we moved, and I went to unpack them, I not only could tell you there were some missing, I was able to tell you which ones were missing. I finally found the box of “missing” bears. I still have all those bears. Most are in storage bins in the shop, each of our grandchildren were given a special one when they were born, and a few are still scattered through the house.
Over the years I have also gotten a few chainsaw carved wood bears. But “my bear guy” has the best bears! Their faces make me smile and laugh. He makes other items – moose and sheep and other characters – but I love those bears. He even names them!
We’ve been going to the Glacier Park area for 11 years and several years ago there started to be an area in Columbia Falls that had chainsaw carvings set-up. I always wanted to stop, but we never managed to.
Three years ago, while in the RV, Tom told me he had a surprise for me. We got in the Jeep and drove into Columbia Falls, and he pulled into the lot of chainsaw bears. Really, I can get one?! Yes!
I must have spent two hours looking at all of them. They made me smile, and I finally settled on Cali. She cracks me up and sits in my back yard so when I look out she is watching me over her shoulder.
The next year we stopped again. We didn’t have our motorhome with plenty of room for bears. We were in a pick-up camper with two large dogs at the beginning of our 4-day trip. But, I was getting another one!
After looking at all of them I picked Waver on Stump. Ok, what’s up with this name? David, my bear guy, said after a long winter you run out of names. Waver stands about 4 feet tall and weighs a good 50+ pounds. He slid right into the area on the floor in the camper. He had to be removed every time we wanted to get in. He was set-up at each of our campsites. He now sits in our back yard and faces our open metal fence so people walking by can see him waving from his stump.
When we went to see him about signs for StepsAway, I picked out Harriett for 244. She looks like she is climbing over the sign.
He also makes beautiful benches with carved mountains for the back. We asked if he could make something like that with trees on the side for StepsAway 254. He could!
We received the StepsAway 244 sign last year and our Christmas card was a picture of us standing in front of it. This last weekend we were able to pick up StepsAway 254. We put it on the house right away and could not be happier with how it turned out.
If you are ever in Columbia Falls, MT or looking for a chainsaw carving, please take the time to stop and see Art of David Westberg: www.davidwestberg.com Don’t worry if you don’t have room to take your bear home, he can ship your order!