Rain and snow create an opportunity. Rain, and an additional 35 inches of snow that had to be plowed delayed the scheduled opening of the Going to the Sun Road. It was our good luck that it turned out that way (if you call the opportunity to make your legs nauseous, lucky). My family and […]
outdoor adventure
Take Your Time at the National Bison Range
Although I knew the views would be lovely and the Mission’s spectacular, the thought of our annual drive to Moise and the hours and hours of driving around the National Bison Range didn’t thrill me. I hated to think that I was getting cynical about this national treasure, but then I realized it wasn’t the […]
What is Pond Skimming?
What is Pond Skimming? Pond skimming is an annual springtime event at ski resorts that dates back for decades. For the uninitiated – such as myself a few days ago- pond skimming involves skiing down a snowy slope into a pond while attempting to cross to the other side without falling into the icy […]
Muzzleloading: A Dream
Powder, patch, and ball, or it won’t shoot at all. Follow this and you’ll be okay, unless a dream gets in your way. I’ve been down more muddy Montana roads this spring than ever before and the narrow one-lane road to the muzzleloading range can be particularly scary because it is winding and steep. I am […]
In Search of the Elusive Hose Tower – Glacier National Park
Heading into the Clouds How would you feel if the sun was shining, your family was bored, and all you could come up with, for fun, was to take a ride to look for a hose tower? I mean…it was something I wanted to do, but, eventually. I didn’t think I wanted to waste a […]
The Route of the Hiawatha – The Dark, Cold Tunnels
A Moment of Terror on the Route of the Hiawatha – Dark, Cold Tunnels! Suddenly everything went dark. A sense of unease came over me. It was cold and I could barely see. I was afraid and wanted to stop but I had to keep moving for fear that someone would run in to me. […]
The Route of the Hiawatha – The Trailhead and Trestles
The Route of the Hiawatha is the “Crown Jewel” of the Rails to Trails System. With that said, the Hiawatha lived up to its reputation as a spectacular bike ride through the rugged Bitterroot Mountains of Idaho and Montana. After a pleasant stay in historic Wallace, Idaho, we drove out of town 20 miles on […]
Try to Remember the Advice of Mark Twain – A Dreary Day on Big Mountain
A recent Sunday afternoon found David, the girls, and I sitting in the truck – in the rain – on Big Mountain. Reluctantly, I waited for the rain to stop with the prospect of hiking the Danny On. When the rain stopped, I put on my pack and followed everyone up the sloppy trail.We were […]
Cycling Adventure in Glacier National Park – Hikers, Bikers, and Bears!
While plowing progresses on the upper reaches of The Going to the Sun Road, vehicular traffic is stopped at Avalanche. This leaves the road to hikers, bikers and bears!” This having been my first bike ride on the Going to the Sun Road, I wasn’t sure what to expect as the road can be deceptively […]
The Wild Mile – Bigfork, Montana
Kayaker battles the rapids. Bigfork was bustling last Sunday as people strolled up and down Electric Avenue for the annual Whitewater Festival. Along with dozens of other spectators, we were there for the down river race called the “Wild Mile”. After hiking down the nature trail that parallels the Swan River, we spotted a muddy […]