Ahhhhh, just ahhhhhhh. Love me some Vipond Park, Canyon Creek cabin, Gravelly Range, and Lemhi Pass!
In 2000 we did a fly-n-drive to and from Missoula. Two nights at Canyon Creek cabin were included. Our sons, then 17 and 13, went fairly bonkers over the mice/hantavirus warnings. To my shame I had not then had them afield enough to "get it" so their overall reactions were predictable. But they did enjoy bombing the outhouse with pebbles while their Mom was engaged in some backwoods R&R. At that time I was shamefully ignorant of Vipond Park and did not visit it until 2010. For our 40th anniversary in September 2018 we did a drive-through on the day of our arrival while enroute to Philipsburg and it was splendid as always. We also then did our first traverse of the awesome Gravelly Range Road.
Shame you couldn't spend more time along the GRR but good to know your canine friend is OK.
Thanks for the post!
Foy