Glacier National Park & Flathead Lake

2010 Glacier Park Centennial

2010-03-27T04:29:00.002-07:00

If Glacier National Park or Flathead Lake are in your plans this summer, be aware that this is the Glacier Centennial and they are expecting a big year. Whether you plan to rent a motel room or find a place to park your RV, you'd better make your reservations early.

If Glacier is your destination and you want a rustic adventure, here's a great recommendation (I know the owner personally and can vouch for this great location). Stanton Creek Lodge offers cabin rentals, and RV sites as well as an old-time bar and cafe for guest's enjoyment and entertainment. They offer the most convenient location for access to Glacier National Park east or west entrance, and the Great Bear Wilderness.

In the area of Flathead Lake, check out these Flathead accommodations.

2010 will be a great year to visit Northwest Montana! Hope to see you there!

Whoa!

2009-12-04T16:06:00.001-07:00

Isn't it interesting that we can live day after day and NOT consider such important questions? Great head jogger... thanks,

Tom

in reference to: Internet Marketing | Getting Business Clarity | Internet Marketing (view on Google Sidewiki)

New Flathead Lake Video

2009-11-29T10:13:00.002-07:00

Join us for a cruise on Flathead Lake, Montana whhile we head down to Wood's Bay and enjoy dinner at the "Sitting Duck Saloon".

One of the best kept secrets on Flathead Lake are the restaurants and taverns that provide boat docks where you can tie-up and enjoy meals and excellent cocktails. Enjoy the trip! :-)

Flathead Lake Boaters Assistance

2009-08-28T21:20:00.006-07:00

Here's a handy tip for boaters on Flathead Lake. No matter how well prepared you are for a day on the lake, anything can go wrong with your boat. If you're not prepared or don't know who to call to get help, a day on the Flathead can turn into a fiasco.

If your battery is going to die, the gas guage lies or the engine decides to go on strike, it will only happen when you're three miles from shore. What to do?

There is a service called Flathead Lake Boaters Assist that will come to your rescue 24 hours of the day. If you float your boat on Flathead Lake, write down these numbers...
Phone: 250-1413
CH16VHF

If you need a jumpstart, gas or a tow to shore, Flathead Lake Boaters Assist is close by and ready to help.

Tourist Warning - MT Speed Limit

2009-08-14T10:10:00.003-07:00

As you drive through on the thousands of miles of Montana's scenic roads, be aware of your speed. After living in the Treasure State for all these years, I just learned that Montana has a 'default' speed limit of 25 mph.

A friend of mine received a speeding ticket traveling down the road from Big Mountain Ski Resort to Whitefish, MT. He was only traveling 35 mph, and was ticketed for 10 miles over. When he complained that there were no posted speed limit signs, he was informed that any road in Montana that doesn't have a posted speed limit is a 25 mph zone.

This may be common knowledge to many people, but it was the first time I (or my friend) have heard of this 'default speed limit' law. So... be careful out tthere and watch for posted speed limits.

A Perfect Flathead Weekiend Ahead...

2009-07-31T13:56:00.003-07:00

The forecast is for mid-90s, gentle breezes and a whole lot of fun on Flathead Lake. This weekend just may be the best days of summer for boating on Flathead Lake. We'll be there... hope to see you enjoying America's finest lake!

Oh and BTW, don't forget to stop and buy some of the world-famous Flathead cherries. They are being sold everywhere.

Cabin Lodging & RV Sites near Glacier

2009-04-08T16:52:00.002-07:00

One of the best kept secrets about lodging near Glacier National Park is Stanton Creek Lodge. Offering what is probably the most convenient location for access to Glacier Park's east or west entrance, and the Great Bear Wilderness. They Guarantee Guaranteed the lowest prices on Highway 2.

There is a full-service bar and cafe on the premises. Yearly events include the annual 'Show and Shine Car Show' on Labor Day weekend. Available for company picnics, family reunions, group campouts, weddings and receptions. Golfing, float trips, and scenic helicopter flights can be arranged for you. Family owned and operated.

Best travel tip of the season ;-)

Check out Stanton Creek Lodge!

Buy Local

2009-02-01T13:28:00.005-07:00

First, I must apologize for the l-o-n-g delay since my last post. I won't bore you with excuses or make-up a reason for this lapse. Suffice it to say that 'life' got in the way and priorities were shifted. But in the words of that famous movie.... I'm BAAAAAACK!

Talk about a way to make a comeback... have you heard about the new movement that is sweeping across NW Montana called "BUY LOCAL"?

This was started by a local businessman, the owner of Glacier Subaru, who took it upon himself to start an awareness campaign to help our community deal with this terrible economy.

His premise is simply that if we as consumers, make a conscious effort to buy local - we can literally change the economy of NW Montana. In less than one week, he has the attention of local politicians, the Chamber and scores of businesses and individuals who want to join this effort.

The idea is simple... before you buy anything - THINK - can I buy this through a local business? Be aware that spending our dollars locally means that 80% of those dollars will stay in the local economy. This helps to provide jobs for local employees and supports the communities of Northwest Montana.

I hope you will take the time to visit the Buy Local website and more importantly, make buying local a habit. It's good for Montana!

Salute to the Summer Solstice

2008-06-21T08:20:00.005-07:00

Good morning campers!

Happy "summer solstice" and welcome to the longest day of the year.... and, I might add, the local forecast calls for this to be the warmest day of the year (so far). If your plans call for a hike in Glacier National Park or a day on the water at Flathead Lake, it looks like you'll have great weather (if not a tad hot).

According to Answers.com, on this day in history...

524 - Godomar, King of the Burgundians defeats the Franks at the Battle of Vézeronce.
1665 - First soldiers of Le Régiment de Carignan-Salières arrive at Quebec to invade Iroquois territories.
1919 - Admiral Ludwig von Reuter scuttles the German fleet in Scapa Flow, Orkney. The nine sailors killed were the last casualties of the First World War.
1940 - World War II: France surrenders to Germany

And the I look at today's headlines and I think to myself... "we sure are slow learners". Okay, no personal political commentary or anything else that could ruin your day. Enjoy this longest day of the year because... soon we'll be preparing for winter! (did I really say that?... you know it did snow here last week!)

Enjoy the Flathead!

Glacier Park Pass - a Green Father's Day Gift

2008-06-05T10:18:00.002-07:00

Father's Day is almost here and I'll bet your dad does not need another neck tie, no matter how nice you think it looks. This year you can make Al Gore happy - and delight your father by giving him a "Green Father's Day" gift!

Here's a suggestion for an eco-friendly present he won't stuff in a drawer, or use as a dip stick rag. Give him a pass to Glacier National Park and/or all the National Parks for one full year. A year's pass to Glacier is great if Dad' a hiking-enthusiast or just enjoy's driving 'Going To The Sun Road', plus it supports the National Park Service.

These passes are valid for one full year from month of purchase. They provide entrance or access to pass holder and accompanying passengers in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle at Federally operated recreation sites across the country. It covers your Dad and three (3) accompanying adults age 16 and older at sites where per person entrance fees are charged. No entry fee for children 15 and under. Get Dad his "Green Father's Day" gift pass here!

Celebrate Glacier

2008-02-21T14:46:00.003-07:00

If you have been following the news around here you know that BP America was considering a coal-bed methane project in British Columbia. There was serious and legitimate concern that this project could damage the Flathead River Basin as a result of runoff and pollutants. The river flowing from this area empties into Flathead Lake.

The announcement of this coal-bed methane development in SE British Columbia triggered a major uproar by citizens in NW Montana. It has been in the news and discussed on talk radio for months. Today we received word that the BP America President, Bob Malone, told Senator Max Baucus that they would not be going forward with the project.

In a day and age when protecting the environment and adopting 'green solutions' to global warming is all the rage, this is a welcome decision. It is ironic that in any discussion of global warming, Glacier National Park is always mentioned as an example of one of the casualties of this phenomenon.

Anyway, this is very good news. Someone grab the Champaign!

Cabin Fever Days

2008-02-11T08:18:00.000-07:00

The Northern Lights have seen queer sights,
But the queerest they ever did see...
Are the 'Bar Stool Races' held each year
During Martin City's Cabin Fever Days.

I hope that Robert W. Service's offspring won't mind me borrowing a couple of lines from the author's famous poem, "The Cremation of Sam McGee". But the "Northern Lights and strange sights" seemed like a good way to introduce you to a winter celebration held here each year called 'Cabin Fever Days'. This year it was held during the Feb. 9/10 weekend).

Billed as a fundraising event for the communities, Cabin Fever Days is a reason for the locals to get out of their homes and cheer on their favorite (I guess you'd call them skiers?) for the annual 'Bar Stool Races'. Hungry Horse, Coram and Martin City are three tiny communities located just outside Glacier National Park and while the snow flies, there isn't a whole lot to do during the long winters.

The main street through town is blocked off and racers compete against each other for bragging rights that will earn free beers at the local saloons long into next summer. The "skis" are anything but... entrants create elaborate sleds mounted on skis that look like anything from 3-ski motorcycles to beds and busses. We saw lounge chairs, soap-box derby-type creations, metal beds, tractor parts and exercise machine frames bolted to skis and sliding down the hill. Watch the video...

Mostly, the event was a hoot. People enjoyed themselves, and the local saloons haven't done that much business since the Park closed and the tourists went home. Click on over to Glacier National Park and see more about Cabin Fever Days.

WInter in Glacier

2008-01-13T08:44:00.000-07:00

Winter in Glacier National Park and at Flathead Lake is a time reserved for fanatical outdoor enthusiasts. If you are in to ice fishing, snowshoeing or snowmobiles, there’s no better playground than here. Additionally, clear days provide some of the best photography opportunities you will find anywhere.

For those of us who love hiking, boating and such activities, we’re still hibernating until spring. With most of the park closed to traffic, we are limited to short hikes and wildlife viewing from the partially cleared road.

I decided to use this ‘winter break’ for a trip to visit my mother in Florida. I’ve been watching those exorbitant airline fares for a while and yesterday I had a chance to snag a great ticket for later this month. The funniest thing occurred only minutes after booking my trip. I received an email from a friend with one of the best ‘true’ stories I’ve ever read about an airplane experience. I decided to share this with you and bring a smile to your face. ~ Enjoy!

A man was flying from Seattle to San Francisco. Unexpectedly, the plane was diverted to Sacramento along the way. The flight attendant explained that there would be a delay, and if the passengers wanted to get off the aircraft the plane would re-board in 50 minutes. Everybody got off the plane except one lady who was blind. The man had noticed her as he walked by and could tell the lady was blind because her Seeing Eye dog lay quietly underneath the seats in front of her throughout the entire flight.

He could also tell she had flown this very flight before because the pilot approached her, and calling her by name, said, 'Kathy, we are in your Sacramento for almost an hour. Would you like to get off and stretch your legs?'?

The blind lady replied, 'No thanks, but maybe my dog would like to stretch his legs.'

All the people in the gate area came to a complete standstill when they looked up and saw the pilot walk off the plane with a Seeing Eye dog! The pilot was even wearing sunglasses. People scattered. They not only tried to change planes, but they were trying to change airlines!

True story.... Have a great day and remember....

THINGS AREN'T ALWAYS AS THEY APPEAR

Merry Christmas to all!

2007-12-25T08:29:00.000-07:00

Good morning and a very special Christmas wish... I know I should be hog tied and dipped in tar for spending time on the computer on Christmas morning, but my excuse is that I am the only one yet awake and I wanted to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas!

This is such a special day - and a significant day for people all over the world. It matters not if you are in Minsk, Melbourne or Missoula, Christmas is a day to reflect and celebrate. I have been lucky to have celebrated Christmas in a half dozen States and a couple foreign countries, but nothing seems as right as Christmas in Montana. Okay, yes... I'm a tad partial.

Yesterday morning it snowed, the air was brisk without being too cold, the sun shown all day and our family spent most of the day together doing what families do on such occasions. This morning I'm waiting for everyone to awake so that we can take-up where we left off last night... enjoying each other's company.

Regardless of where you woke up this morning, I hope your Christmas day is safe and everything you want it to be. From my family to yours, we'd like to wish you a very...

Merry Christmas!

Mack Days - They're Baaaaaaack!

2007-09-28T09:38:00.000-07:00

Calling all anglers and spouses of anglers who want their share of $81,100 in cash and prizes (and fish)! The annual Fall Mack Days fishing tournament on Flathead Lake, starts Friday, September 28th and runs through Nov. 11.

The purpose behind this tournament is not to promote Flathead Lake, Montana's jewell needs no help in this area. This is a joint effort by the tribes and the state to control the non-native predacious lake trout (Mackinaw) population in Flathead by fishing. The fishing contests are the key to letting anglers be the solution to the mackinaw problem.

Lake trout can be caught using spinning gear, flies, flat fish, spoons, jigs, and cut bait. Get the best fishing tips here.

Mac Days is sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and sanctioned by Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks. Get all the details on their official website.

Enjoy and good luck!

We are approaching my favorite season… Fall.

2007-09-23T06:11:00.000-07:00

Wait a minute, I have to be honest with you (and with myself), but I am inclined to say that with the approach of every season in Montana. Our very distinctive seasons offer the best of everything to everybody, but fall is different. I especially like fall because it follows the hottest part of the summer and our yearly “fire season”. By the time fall gets here, I’ve been waiting for it for weeks.

Not just a reprieve from the dog days of summer, fall brings those cool, crisp mornings and the most beautiful, vibrant sunsets of the year. The lawn doesn’t need any more attention – even the weeds are taking a breather. It’s a time when you can work outdoors and never break a sweat. Fall is the time to bring in the firewood, and get the house prepared for winter. These are chores I happen to like doing, much more than cutting grass.

Fall is an anticipatory time as we have so many fun and festive holidays in front of us. From Halloween and Thanksgiving heading to Christmas and New Years, fall is the harbinger of our traditional family fun season. When you throw in some football, cold beer and pig roasts, it just don’t get better than fall… it just feels good!

On top of this I look around and see snow appearing on the mountain peaks, the Aspens are starting to turn gold and vivid colors are dotting the landscape. A few days ago my wife and I watched a young black bear wander through our property foraging for food in preparation for winter’s hibernation. The Blacktail deer’s coats have already changed color seemingly overnight. I’m glad to be alive and living in Montana.

Fall is one of the best times to visit NW Montana and take in Glacier National Park and Flathead Lake. The roads are less crowded as most of the tourists have returned home. At this time of the year you can find yourself alone in the wilderness, soaking up nature’s majesty – yet civilization (beer, football and pig roasts) is just around the next corner.

PS: I feel the need to apologize for my hiatus; this was a surprise for both of us. Since I last posted I traveled to Florida for a family wedding and reunion, then a trip to Salt Lake City on business. Hopefully my wanderlust has been satisfied for 2007.

Oh and BTW, that photo of the buck above was taken earlier this week. This young fellow and three of his lady friends were hanging about in my front yard and I just happened to have my digital camera at the ready.

Going-to-the-Sun Road to close early

2007-08-29T08:50:00.000-07:00

It seems that we are still recovering from the torrential rains of last November's storm that dropped 11 inches of rain on Glacier National Park. Road crews were able to make enough repairs to open Going-to-the-Sun Road on time this year, but because of the extensive damage, more work needs to be done before the snow flies this season.

If you were not aware, entire sections of the road on the east side of the divide were completely washed out by the storms. It is always a delicate dance to perform road repairs around the tourist season and Glacier's unpredictable weather. To get a jump on things, officials have decided to close the upper portions of the road on September 16th.

The park will remain open, but visitors will only be able to drive as far as Avalanche Creek (approx. 15 miles from the west gate). On the St. Mary side of the road (east entrance), visitors will be able to drive to Siyeh Bend.

Fire News

Whew! This was a challenging fire season this year, but it appears that the major fires that were affecting the park are now contained. We would all feel a little better if we had a few days of drenching rain, but conditions have improved and the fire crews seem to have everything under control.

Planning a Trip?

Fall in the park is a magic time of year and fall begins at different elevations. If you are planning a trip, now is a great time to visit Glacier National Park. Remember, you need to get here before September 16th. if you want to travel to Logan Pass and drive the entire length of Going-to-the-Sun Road.

If your trip to Glacier is cut short due to the road closure, not to worry... the other jewel in the "crown of the continent" is Flathead Lake, which is a short drive to the south. Enjoy!

Glacier & Flathead Fires

2007-08-21T21:00:00.000-07:00

They say "it ain't over till it's over", and I'll not dispute that, but it appears the main fires that were affecting Glacier National Park area and Flathead Lake are at least under control. Yes, I know that a change in the weather and other variables can whip these fires into a new and even greater threat, but being the optimist that I am, I think (hope) we may be seeing the 2007 fire season wind down.

This is a photo of Hidden Lake about three weeks ago, prior to the rash of fires that erupted in our area. Below is a photo taken from the same observation point just last week when the fires were most active. Visibility was very poor.

A little rain, cooler temps, and higher humidity has finally helped the firefighters get control of some major fires. As of today, the Brush Creek Fire (west of Glacier) is now 90% contained and Skyland Fire (east of Glacier) is 51% contained. These are two of the main fires whose smoke was affecting Glacier National Park.

If you want to get the latest information on these fires, visit the InciWeb website.

Wildlife in their habitat

2007-08-13T13:50:00.000-07:00

On any given day, unique wildlife experiences can be had anywhere in Glacier National Park. On the other hand, you could miss seeing any of the more “exotic” creatures like Bears, Mountain Goats or Big Horn Sheep just by virtue of bad timing. The problem is they will usually see you coming before you see them and most critters will avoid making your acquaintance.

One way to be sure of seeing some creatures that are not afraid to show themselves is to park your car at the Logan Pass lot and head up the hill for the Hidden Lake hike. This is a pleasant hike where 90% of it is “paved” with a well-maintained boardwalk.

You can almost always count on seeing plenty of Big Horn Sheep and mountain goats are everywhere. The goats have no fear of people and will walk past you or share the view from the overlook as pictured above with a mama and her kid.

These pictures were taken just two weeks ago in the Hidden Lake trail. Note that as hot as it has been (July set a record as the hottest Montana July on record), there is still snow & ice in many parts of the park.

We are heading back to Glacier later this week and hope to have some great pictures and wonderful tales to share with you in my next post. Until then, stay safe and enjoy life!

Wildfires

2007-08-01T11:47:00.000-07:00

In my last posting I sounded like a restaurant critic (which I am not) and today I may sound like a Park Ranger (which I also am not). If you are in our beautiful area right now, you need do nothing but look out he window to know that there is a forest fire burning somewhere nearby.

Unfortunately, it does not mater where in the valley you are because we have a number of fires burning in different areas. Today I learned of a valuable online resource, which I was not aware of; Inciweb.org posts information on incidents nation-wide. Our family lives in the "West Valley" area and we are concerned about a fire that is raging to the north of us (Tally Lake area). The Brush Creek Fire, located about 29 air miles west of Whitefish, MT, is now estimated at over 4,300 acres.

The wind shifted overnight and thick smoke has come crawling down our draw and it is actually making it difficult to breathe and see. There is a mountain range in front of our home that is almost completely invisible this morning. According to Inciweb.com, there are 114,264 acres burning in Montana right this very minute in 12 "active incidents".

Last Saturday during a visit to Glacier National Park, we drove by the Skyland fire raging on he east side of U.S. 2, which has been closed a couple of times since then. Highway 2 is open to 2 way unescorted traffic with a speed restriction in the area of the fire. Travelers also can expect short stoppages on Marias Pass while helicopters are flying over the highway when dipping from a water tank.

One of the (few) downsides to living in such a beautiful place as NW Montana is the annual threat of wildfires. Unfortunately, they are inevitable and it can be argued that they are beneficial to balancing the ecosystem, but it is one of those things where the theory of any benefit is outweighed by the proximity of he fire.

There is no need to panic or even change your travel plans if you are planing to come to this area for a visit. Wildfires happen and are part of life here in Montana. Most important is the fact that the best firefighters in America are battling these blazes and we are in good hands. A mention of these brave men and women in your prayers just might be the thing that tips the scales a little quicker.

Oh and BTW, there's a campfire ban in effect so if you are planning to camp at one of the many campsites here, check with the locals to see what restrictions are in place.

Sitting Duck Saloon...

2007-07-30T09:43:00.000-07:00

What happened?

On the east shore of Flathead Lake in Woods Bay is a little tavern called the "Sitting Duck Saloon". It is the Montana version of the "neighborhood bar"... small, cozy, friendly, great food and the bartender and waitresses treat you like family. One huge advantage of the Duck is its dock that will accommodate a bunch of thirsty boaters. While you are out on the lake, you can turn into Woods Bay, tie-up at the Sitting Duck and have a great Montana experience. Well... it used to be like that, but of late, the Sitting Duck - just plain sucks.

Now THAT was hard for me to say.

My wife and I have been boating over to the Duck for years. It was always a wonderful afternoon on the lake to put-in at Somers Bay and cruise down the shore and hang a left over to Woods Bay. We'd tie up at the dock, order a frozen margarita and sit outside on their multi-level deck overlooking Flathead Lake. The food was outstanding for a small restaurant; our favorite meals were the fish & chips or the prime rib on weekends. Inside, the Duck is outfitted like a hunting lodge with moose, caribou and a mountain lion hanging on the walls, a roaring fireplace (in season) – the Duck just oozes ambiance.

Quite honestly, boating over to the Sitting Duck was one of our most cherished summer routines, which we tried to do a few times every week. Sometime last year, it all began to unravel. The Duck was sold, and it appeared that the new owner was going to make a bunch of changes. Some of these "improvements" were good like a new dock addition, new TV monitors placed around the bar, and some not so good - like price increases on the menu and for drinks. But hey... that's progress, right?

I don't know the whole story behind the sequence of sad events, but the Duck began to have serious problems. First the restaurant was abruptly closed (I heard it was shut down by the food police, but I do not know if that is true), then it seemed that the staff was changing weekly. No longer having a restaurant, someone had the idea to sell hot dogs and bratwurst cooked on a grill out on the deck.

I must tell you about yesterday and (what will probably be) our LAST visit to the Duck. Until we hear that something has drastically changed, we'll not be tying up at the Duck's dock (say that fast 10 times) again any time soon.

We found an open slip around 4:00 PM and walked up to the deck to order a couple of hot dogs. "SIX DOLLARS", I complained to the teenage-looking cook, "for a hot dog"? "You do get a bag of chips with that", he countered. Ah, well that makes it a bargain, I thought, and ordered $12.00 worth of hot dogs (for those of you who play the lottery regularly, that's $12.00 for 2 hot dogs).

Without boring you with the entire sequence of blood-pressure-building events, here's the short version... The bartender (another new one) had no personality, no smiles for paying patrons and he mumbled responses such as "the margarita machine's been broke for a long time". The $6.00 hot dogs right off the grill were cold - as in not cooked and condiments came in a plastic squeeze pouch. I had to hunt down the teenage-looking chef (who was smoking at the bar) to beg for mustard and it seemed like it took ages for him to loot through the kitchen before rewarding me with 2 additional squeeze packets of yellow mustard. The bathrooms were dirty... according to my wife; there was no paper in the ladies room.

Hey, I am NOT a restaurant critic and such comments are actually outside the purpose of this blog. However, watching one of the best establishments on Flathead Lake literally melt down in one season is truly a sad event. The Duck was one of our favorite haunts all year round. The restaurant used to close for a few weeks in winter so the staff could take vacation and we always drove down for a great meal when they reopened. Anytime we have out-of-town visitors, the Duck was always one of the places we took them.

This blog is about NW Montana's Glacier National Park and Flathead Lake and all the wonderful things to see and experience when you visit. The Sitting Duck used to be one of those places we liked to recommend, and I have done just that in this blog and on our website. Unfortunately, the Duck has been deleted from my to-do list. Hey, if all you want is cold beer, cozy decor and a great view of Flathead Lake... do the Sitting Duck. That's about all it has going for it these days.

BTW, I do not know the owners - they may be wonderful people, I have no axe to grind and mean no one harm. I guess I'm just so disappointed about the Duck's demise - and getting burned with cold hot dogs... I just had to tell somebody. If you hear that the Duck’s been sold again, or something has changed, please leave us a comment. I miss the Sitting Duck already.

Glacier Park - New Fire Alert

2007-07-29T08:25:00.000-07:00

Baby mountain goat above Hidden Lake

Old friends from out of state visited yesterday, and of course, it was my duty to introduce them to the splendor of Glacier National Park. They received the royal treatment. We drove Going-To-The-Sun Road from the park's west entrance to Logan Pass where we hiked the beautiful Hidden Lake trail.

I am still sorting through a remarkable collection of photos from our visit, and will post some here in the next day of two. I'd love to share them with you now, but my bride and I are about to tow our boat south for a day on Flathead Lake. Summers are short here in the Flathead and with upper 90's temps forecasted for today, we don't want to miss this opportunity. More to follow...

One word of caution regarding Glacier Park travel. There is a fire raging on the east side of the park. Official have already evacuated a lodge and closed a stretch of U.S. 2. The Skyland fire was burning about 400 acres early yesterday, but we learned that approx. 1,000 acres was estimated after the fire blew up in the afternoon due to high winds and our dry weather.

This is a picture of the fire we saw from U.S. 2 prior to the road being closed. I'm sharing this with you in the event you have plans to visit Glacier in the next few days. Either enter Glacier from the west entrance or call the park to make sure U.S. 2 on the east is open.

iPod Tour Guide?

2007-07-19T19:26:00.000-07:00

I just discovered the coolest thing...

There is a company called TourCaster, that is offering tours of cities and National Parks by way of a download for your iPod. I'm sharing this with you because one of their downloads is for Glacier National Park.

Whether you are driving Going-to-the-Sun Road or hiking, TourCaster can be your private guide! Their audio tour blends unique stories and experiences of Park Rangers and the Chief of the Blackfeet Nation with music and nature sounds, offering the most informative guide available. This is really a cool service where you will hear how the park's jagged peaks, sheer cliff walls and its lovely glacial lakes were formed.

Tourcaster is a service that provides downloadable audio tours for your iPod or MP3 player. Each downloaded audio tour comes with multiple mp3 files and a map. The audio tour is as entertaining as it is educational. 65 minutes in length.

Using this service, you can download to an MP3 player, or burn a CD to play in your car. If you're planning a trip through Glacier, check out this tour. Learn more...

PS: TourCaster offers this service for cities and attractions around the globe, so if you're planning a trip to Amsterdam or Yellowstone - or anywhere in between, this is a cool service!

Flathead Cherries

2007-07-09T09:47:00.000-07:00

They're baaaaaack!

The Flathead Valley is known for many exceptional things. There is of course, our world-class Flathead Lake, Glacier National Park, local wines, huckleberry products and of course, our famous Flathead cherries.

In a matter of days, the first batch of these cherries will be seen along the road being sold by residents and growers from their temporary fruit stands. Don't even think about passing one of these stands without buying all you can carry.

The president of the Flathead Lake Cherry Growers, Mr. Dale Nelson, says that growers are looking at three to four million pounds of cherries this season. Considering that we average 2.7 to 3 million pounds in a typical season, this is great news. Especially after a severe wind storm we experienced in June, there was some concern as to what impact that might have on this year's crop. The cherry harvest is expected to start next week.

My bride always comes up with new and tasty dishes and even some outstanding "adult beverages" she's made from cherries and vodka or brandy. Whether you want the best tasting cherry pie you've ever experienced, can preserves - or just eat 'em as God created them, Flathead cherries are another extraordinary feature of the Flathead Valley experience.

Reference...

Going-to-the-Sun Road is OPEN!

2007-07-01T07:13:00.000-07:00

They're finished plowing!

Today's the day! Going-to-the-Sun Road is officially open to vehicles today, July 1st. All 52 miles of this scenic highway is open. You can reach Logan Pass from the east (St Mary) or from the Highway 2 west entrance to the park.

Be aware that you may experience some delays as the road repairs resulting from last November's storm will not be finished for a while. With this in mind, why don't you consider letting someone else drive while you get to enjoy the scenery?

Also new today is Glacier Park's new free shuttle service. The new shuttle will provide two-way service along Going-to-the-Sun Road between Apgar and St. Mary Visitor Center. This is not a tour, although tour services are still available, the shuttle is a travel option and it is free. Park the car, grab your camera and let someone else watch the road. Get all the FAQ's about the free shuttle here.

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More Montana Facts & Trivia

2007-06-22T09:14:00.000-07:00

In my previous post, I offered some well-known (and some little known) facts about the state of Montana. There are few places on this planet that offer more to do, see and experience - and does it in such a wonderful way. Today I'll share some more MT minutiae that will cause you to appreciate America's treasure.

Whether you want to experience a world-class rodeo or ride white-water rapids, you can do it all in Montana. They call it "Big Sky Country", but not everything in Montana is big. Were you aware that we hold the title of the world's shortest river? Yup, the Roe River's (near Great Falls) length varies from 58 to 200 feet. The source for this small river is Giant Springs, the largest freshwater spring in the United States. And another thing, did you know...

Speaking of natural water, Montana's rivers and streams provide water for three oceans and three of the North American continent's major river basins.

Montana is the only state with a triple divide allowing water to flow into the Pacific, Atlantic, and Hudson Bay. This phenomenon occurs at Triple Divide Peak in Glacier National Park.

Glacier National Park has 250 lakes within its boundaries.

The Going to the Sun Road in Glacier Park is considered one of the most scenic drives in America.

Only one North American gemstone is included in the Crown Jewels of England and that is the Montana Yogo sapphire.

The highest point in the state is Granite Peak at 12,799 feet.

Montana's official animal is the grizzly bear.

The state motto "Oro y Plata" means gold and silver.

The name "Montana" comes from the Spanish word mountain.

The state flower is the Bitterroot (Lewisia rediviva).

The state tree is the mighty Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa).

State bird is the Western Meadowlark.

No you know why they call Montana the "Treasure State". Discovering everything that Montana has to offer could take a lifetime. From dinosaur digs to sky diving, you'll have a fantastic visit... I promise!

Travel Montana - Get the facts!

2007-06-21T15:24:00.000-07:00

Summer is a busy time for millions of tourists who flock Montana to see our magnificent scenery and experience things one can only dream about in most parts of the country. If you are planning to vacation here, you are already aware of many of the things that make Montana such a unique destination, but...

I'll bet there are a few more interesting things about our beautiful state that you didn't know. As an example, did you know that geographically speaking, Montana is the USA's fourth-largest state, while our population is fourth-smallest? The 2005 resident population estimate was 935,670.

Oh sure, we have Glacier National Park and Flathead Lake that I write about every week, but here's some more facts about our state that you may not know:

In 1888 Helena (state capitol) had more millionaires per capital than any other city in the world.
46 out of Montana's 56 counties are considered "frontier counties" with an average population of 6 or fewer people per square mile.
An average square mile of land contains 1.4 elk, 1.4 pronghorn antelope, and 3.3 deer.
No state has as many different species of mammals as Montana.
Montana has the largest migratory elk herd in the USA.
Elk, deer and antelope populations outnumber the humans.
Montana has the largest grizzly bear population in the lower 48.
Moose, numbering over 8,000 today, was thought to be extinct in the Rockies south of Canada in the 1900s.
Miles City is known as the Cowboy Capitol.
Virginia City, established in 1863, is considered to be the most complete original town of its kind in the United States.
The Old West can be rediscovered at the Charles M. Russell Museum Complex in Great Falls.
George Armstrong Custer and his troops made their last stand at Little Bighorn.
Montana is home to seven Indian reservations.
Montana only has one Area Code
Montana holds the world record for the greatest temperature change in 24 hours. In just a day's time the temperature rose a whopping 103 degrees Fahrenheit.

Come back tomorrow for part II of this posting. I'll bet there's a few more things about this Big Sky Country that you don't know!

Man injured by grizzly

2007-06-13T22:45:00.000-07:00

I know they look cute...

This video was filmed last week in my neighbor's back yard. A cute little black bear just begging for someone to come closer and pet it or give it food.

WRONG! They are bears... wild animals who can feed on YOU! Just this week another poor soul wandered too close to a grizzly and her cubs and was mauled. In Grand Teton National Park, a grizzly bear attacked a man today, causing moderate injuries, after the man apparently surprised a female bear and three cubs feeding on an elk carcass. Read the story here...

The message my friend is "don't get close to the bears"! They are magnificent, beautiful creatures, but they see you as food or a threat - not a friend who can pet or feed them. While you hike Glacier National Park's trails, remain aware - and if you do see a bear, give them a wide berth.

A Flathead Beacon?

2007-06-06T08:21:00.000-07:00

There are no lighthouses on Flathead Lake, but there is a "Flathead Beacon".

A new online & offline publication is available to Western Montana's greater Flathead Valley. According to their mission statement, "The Flathead Beacon is devoted to delivering thought-provoking news and commentary to the greater Flathead Valley. Printed every week in tabloid form and updated daily at flatheadbeacon.com, the Beacon encourages its readers to participate in discussions about their valley".

The Beacon was delivered to our home last month, which was how I first heard about it. Then this morning, I received a Google alert regarding a story about "Fishing Without Barriers Day", and the source was the Beacon.

Now that I had a link to their online offering, I spent some time visiting their site. I loved it! They do a splendid job of keeping up with what's going on in the Flathead and provide a quick reference for entertainment and things to do, along with light and interesting commentary. The seem to do a good job of following local news and stories of interest to citizens. I recommend you pay the Beacon a visit and add them to your Favorites - you'll probably find them a good source for what's happening in our beautiful valley.

Also, they encourage the community to get involved and comment on stories and add your 2-cents where you feel its needed. Visit the Flathead Beacon here...

Ponder this aside....
Why do we say "put your two cents in"?
But it's only a "penny for our thoughts"?
.....Where's that extra penny going to?

Boating on Flathead Lake

2007-06-04T10:16:00.000-07:00

Won't you join us...

Sunday was an absolutely beautiful day to experience Flathead Lake the BEST way... by boat. Readers of this blog know that I believe that Flathead Lake is probably the finest lake in America (and yes, I am partial). For any of you who might doubt that claim, I invite you to climb aboard our boat and join us for a day on the lake.

It was a magnificent day. The weather was perfect, the water was calm and the scenery breathtaking. Blue skies, puffy white clouds and snow still clinging to some of the peaks made for a photographer's delight. I am not a professional photographer and our movie was shot from a moving boat - AND we didn't do but one take as we cruised from Somers Bay to Woods Bay on the eastern shore. So if you find fault with some of the jerky film.... at least the price of admission was fair.

I made a few feeble attempts at fishing, but was not rewarded for my efforts. When the depth monitor & fish finder showed some activity, I dropped a line and hoped that a hungry fish would take my lure, but it was not to be. Fishing on Flathead usually requires more attention than I was willing to devote Sunday.

Read more about our weekend excursion on Flathead Lake...

We borrow Glacier Park from our children...

2007-05-30T09:53:00.000-07:00

Montana has many names. Our most famous nickname is "The Treasure State". You will hear Montana called, "Big Sky Country," "Land of Shining Mountains," "The Mountain State," and "Bonanza State."

Upon seeing Glacier National Park for the first time (or hundredth time), most people will remark about its supreme beauty, the majestic mountains, beautiful streams, wildlife, etc. and comment that they feel different - Glacier casts a spell on you.

I was doing some Montana research online this past weekend and as most projects go, I was led down many trails and diverted from my original mission. However, one click took me to a website that had a collection of Indian sayings and prayers. I thought of Glacier Park as I read the quotes and the most meaningful I share below...

Treat the earth well.
It was not given to you by your parents,
it was loaned to you by your children.

Ancient Indian Proverb

Humankind has not woven the web of life.
We are but one thread within it.
Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.
All things are bound together.
All things connect.

Chief Seattle, 1854

And while I stood there I saw more than I can tell, and I understood more than I saw; for I was seeing in a sacred manner the shapes of things in the spirit,and the shape of all shapes as they must live together like one being.

Black Elk, Black Elk Speaks

When all the trees have been cut down,
when all the animals have been hunted,
when all the waters are polluted,
when all the air is unsafe to breathe,
only then will you discover you cannot eat money.

Cree Prophecy

I do not think the measure of a civilization is how tall its buildings of concrete are, But rather how well its people have learned to relate to their environment and fellow man.

Sun Bear of the Chippewa Tribe

Glacier National Park has been revered by the Plains Indians for eons. Human activity in the Glacier Park area dates back 10,000 years; ancestors of the Blackfeet, Salish and Kootenai Tribes.This year millions of tourists will make a pilgrimage to visit Montana. If you are one of those lucky souls, remember the words of those Indians that came before us...

"We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors,

we borrow it from our Children."

Happy Memorial Day

2007-05-28T10:55:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day means different things to everyone. For some it is merely the official kick-off of the summer season, while to others it is a solemn day of remembrance. Back in 1982 on this day, the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, DC was officially dedicated. As a Vietnam Veteran, I was very pleased and proud to see my fallen brethren finally honored. That was a difficult war for America and seeing that memorial for the first time gave me comfort that I had not felt since returning in 1973.

Memorial Day is a time to give thanks for the brave men and women who gave their lives in the cause of freedom. They died so that you and I could live our American Dream. The History Channel has a great video about how Memorial Day evolved. I recommend you take a few minutes and watch this Memorial Day video... and remember.

If today finds you beginning your vacation at Glacier National Park or Flathead Lake... welcome to Montana, we're glad you came to visit. Take a moment today to give thanks for all the men and women who gave their lives so that you and I could enjoy this day in a free America.

Camping Suggestions

2007-05-14T16:20:00.000-07:00

If you are planning to camp during your visit to Glacier National Park, your first choice is probably to stay inside the park. However, spots get reserved early and sometimes getting a campsite where you want to camp is a problem. Click here to see Glacier National Park Campground Status - updated regularly.

Experienced RV'ers know that KOA is usually a good place to park the rig and their website stays up to date with vacancies and local information. So if the park's campsites are not available during your visit there are still many other options available to you. Another great website to check out is the Campground Owners Association of Montana (COAM). Each RV park or campground listed has a long history of great customer service and knowledge about the area of Montana.

If you are looking for camping facilities or motel accommodations near Flathead Lake, see these suggestions.

Think wine? Think Flathead...

2007-05-13T08:40:00.000-07:00

Flathead for wine?

When you visit Glacier National Park and Flathead Lake, you may want to plan some time to stop by the Mission Mountain Winery on Flathead Lake if you are a wine lover.

The American Wine Society recently awarded Montana’s Mission Mountain Winery a Gold Medal for their 2004 Merlot Reserve. The Merlot was selected for this prestigious award from field of over a thousand wines from around the world. Wow, this is BIG news for our sleepy little community!

Oh and BTW, Monster Red is the Flathead Lake Monster’s favorite red wine. If you haven't heard about the Flathead Lake Monster, better see this!

Glacier update...

Most roads are now open in Glacier National Park. Although they are still plowing towards Logan Pass, almost all other roads are open to vehicles or at least hikers and bicyclists.

Happy Anniversary to Glacier Park

2007-05-11T04:50:00.000-07:00

Today is Glacier Park's birthday... on this day (May 11th.) in 1910, Glacier National Park was formally established by the U.S. Congress. It was just a few days ago when we recognized that Glacier National Park and Canada's Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta formed the world's first International Peace Park (see post).

No one has yet informed me if we're having a party or handing out birthday cake, or doing anything to celebrate this occasion, but being reminded of this is a good thing. It is nice to be reminded that people long gone recognized that this was a special place and needed to be preserved for future generations. It is hard to think of many things our government does today that look that far into the future.

In a time when companies are judged by their quarterly performance and governments seldom look past this year's budget, it is refreshing to remember that forward thinking people - thought about us. Were it not for such decisions, Glacier National Park might be an exclusive gated community today available only to the wealthy. Instead, it belongs to me - to you - and every American citizen.

Okay, that almost came close to being a political rant, and that is not the purpose of this blog. This blog celebrates NW Montana's most cherished prizes, Glacier National Park and the beautiful and pristine Flathead Lake.

Come visit us and see what our forefathers protected for you!

Flathead Lake Cherry Festival

2007-05-04T08:38:00.000-07:00

If you want to experience a fun time for the whole family in the Flathead Valley this weekend, pack up the car (boat optional), and head to Flathead Lake for the cherry festival!

This weekend, the Flathead Lake cherry orchards should be in full bloom as the trees have blossomed a week earlier than typical. Most orchards on the south shore of the lake have been in bloom for about a week, but the northern orchards near Yellow bay will show an explosion of the white blossoms this weekend.

The annual cherry festival, which began in the 1940s, will be held at Yellow Bay on Saturday, May 12th. starting at 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Yellow Bay Community Hall. Food and a bake sale, raffles and various vendors and music music will all be part of this fun festival. Proceeds will help maintain the hall Yellow Bay hall.

Officials say that growing conditions for Flathead cherries this year are optimal and if continue, the Flathead should have a bumper crop this season. Keep your fingers crossed!

More about Flathead Lake...

Make it a Flathead Lake weekend!

2007-05-03T07:15:00.000-07:00

Get the jump on tourist season

Fish, Wildlife and Parks of Montana maintains 50 state parks throughout Montana. Most are open year-round unless snow blocks their access. The traditional opening day for eight of these state parks in the mountains of western Montana is May 1st.

There is no charge for Montana residents to enter a state park. All you need is a Montana license plate, but a $4 car licensing surcharge is voluntary. For nonresidents, there is a $5 per vehicle charge for day use. $15 per night to camp is the same for locals or out of state visitors. The parks that are open now include:

Beavertail Hill, off I-90 east of Missoula
Granite Ghost Town near Philipsburg
Lost Creek near Anaconda
Placid Lake, south of Seeley Lake
Salmon Lake, south of Seeley Lake
Finley Point, east shore of Flathead Lake
Thompson Falls
Lake Mary Ronan, 7 miles west of Flathead Lake will open May 31st.

Glacier National Park update... Snow is being plowed and good progress is being made repairing the Going-To-The-Sun road from the flood damage received in last year's late fall storms. Subscribe to this blog to get updates and news about Glacier Park.

PS: To see our local weather and forecast, bookmark this page for AccuWeather for the Flathead Valley.

Glacier Park Anniversary?

2007-05-03T05:29:00.000-07:00

...and maybe something else you didn't know!

Actually, this is a belated anniversary wish as it was 75 years ago (yesterday May 2nd.) that Glacier National Park and Canada's Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta were joined together to form the world's first International Peace Park.

Glacier Park was first created by earth's geologic upheavals about 17 million years ago and it took until 1910 for President Taft to establish Glacier as the country's 10th national park (what took them so long?). Evidence of human activity in the park dates back over 10,000 years; possibly ancestors of tribes that still inhabit the area today. Blackfeet Indians roamed the prairies east of the mountains. The Salish and Kootenai Indians lived and hunted in valleys to the west and east of the mountains to hunt buffalo.

More recently, Going-to-the-Sun Road was completed in 1932. The road is considered an engineering achievement taking 11 years to complete, and is a National Historic Landmark. It is one of the most scenic roads in the USA and one of the main reasons people flock to Glacier National Park every year. Glacier and Waterton Lakes have been designated as Biosphere Reserves and were recognized as a World Heritage Site in 1995.

If you are planning a trip to Glacier Park this summer, you may have missed the anniversary celebration, but you won't miss having the time of your life and a rewarding nature experience. There really is nothing quite like NW Montana when it comes to things to do and places to see on vacation. Experiencing Glacier National Park and points of interest like Flathead Lake will remain forever in your memory as the trip of a lifetime.

I promise!

Bears no more

2007-05-01T13:31:00.000-07:00

A hundred years ago, way back in the 70's, the National Lampoon magazine ran a spoof about the "Last Whole Earth Catalog", a hippie bible for living off the earth. The pun was that the Whole Earth Catalog was issuing its last edition. Then another last edition and so on... The Ntl. Lampoon called their piece the "Last, no S%$# Really, the Last Edition of the Whole Earth Catalog". I guess you have to be familiar with that to fully appreciate it, but I was reminded of that with today's post.

My last two posts were about bears - you'd think I was trying to scare people away from visiting Glacier National Park with all these bear stories. I promised myself that I would move on to other interesting topics and leave the bears alone. Then today I see a story about a man and his daughter who ran into a grizzly last year while hiking in the park. This was headline news around here and remains a remarkable survival story, as this fellow was severely mauled by a grizzly.

What I stumbled upon today was a follow-up slide show with audio narration released by the Los Angeles Times. This is a remarkable 'must see" story and I encourage you to spend a few minutes looking & listening to this amazing narration. Go here for the grizzly story follow-up...

Hopefully, this will be my "Last, no S%$# Really, my Last Story about Glacier Park Bears". Well at least until a new bear story comes to light :-)

Bears... (update)

2007-04-14T12:41:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I talked about bears being active now that their hibernation season has passed. In this area of the country, one must always be "bear aware", whether hiking in Glacier Park - or behind one's home. Just today I found a story of an Idaho man who was mauled by a grizzly in his back yard, just feet from his home.

It appears that the carcass of a moose was just out of eyesight and a grizzly was making a meal of the carrion. When this fellow went outside to get his Great Pyrenees dog, the grizzly was chasing the dog and turned on the man. He was badly mauled and bitten, but was able to reach his home and get medical attention. You can read the whole bear attack story here...

We hear of such stories every year and most of us always think "that can't happen to me". Well, it CAN and taking extra precautions in bear country is something that we just have to do. So when you take off down a path in Glacier National Park, stay alert for bear signs and treat every blind turn as if a mama and her cubs were standing there waiting for you. Make noise, let her know you're coming. Carry pepper spray and know how to use it.

My purpose in relating these bear stories is not to scare anyone or make you rethink your trip to Glacier. Quite the opposite... I want you to experience this marvelous place and remain safe while you're here. Millions of people visit every year and most never even see a grizzly, let alone have a bad encounter. So like the Boy Scout's motto says, "Be Prepared".

Bears... They're b-a-a-a-a-c-k!

2007-04-12T09:17:00.000-07:00

Around these parts, bears are plentiful. In fact, NW Montana has the highest population of grizzly bears in the lower 48 states. And now they have awakened from their winter slumber, and are on the prowl because they are hungry - very hungry. I has been my experience that bears only bother people when they are grumpy. Unfortunately, they are always grumpy.

They're beautiful creatures to see in the wild, but the are NOT cuddly and cute. Bears awe wild, dangerous, unpredictable creatures and common sense says that you give them a wide berth.

My family lives "out", about 10 miles from Kalispell, Montana. We have many homes, farms and ranches all around us, but we also get visits from bears quite frequently. They are such a problem that for seven months of the year, I have to keep my trash cans behind a bear-proof electric fence.

Just today, two stories hit the wire that illustrate what a problem bears can cause in our area.

Grizzly bear captured after livestock attack

A 425-pound grizzly bear, captured Sunday by a Blackfeet wildlife crew after attacking livestock near Kiowa, was released without incident in Glacier National Park near Polebridge on Monday, park officials said.
This was the 6-year-old bear's first capture and first known offense, officials said. Both grizzly and black bears have been sighted this spring, and officials are reminding visitors... see rest of story

Train kills two bears north of Whitefish

KALISPELL — A train struck and killed two young male grizzly bears about a mile north of Whitefish, state wildlife officials said Tuesday. The collision occurred early Monday along Whitefish Lake, said Tim Manley, a bear-management specialist with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.... see rest of story

The point of this post is to remind you to be bear aware. When you visit this beautiful area, remember to keep a clean camp. Glacier National Park regulations require that all edibles, including pet food, food containers and cookware, be stored inside hard-sided vehicles or in food lockers. Garbage should be placed in bear-resistant containers. A little awareness and preparation will ensure that your visit is a memorable one.

Only a few days left to get "Lucky"

2007-04-11T06:20:00.000-07:00

"Lucky" is the name of the Mackinaw Lake Trout worth $35,000 to a lucky angler if they catch him. Although other tagged fish are worth $100 and $500, even the freebies are fun to catch.

If you are new to this blog, I'm talking about the annual "Mac Days" fishing tournament now in progress at Flathead Lake. The lake's trout population numbers in the hundreds of thousands and they are not native to Montana waters. The purpose of this semi-annual tournament is to help reduce the Mac population. The emphasis is on catching huge numbers of fish.

For all the rules and to read up on who is catching what and where, visit the Mac Days website. Mac Days is sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

Good luck to all you fishermen on this last weekend. Save some for me!

Work at Glacier National Park?

2007-04-02T17:03:00.000-07:00

Are you kidding me?

I don't usually post PSA's (public service announcements), but if you or possibly your children are looking for something to do this summer... tell ya what I'd do... If I was a young man on summer break with no family or heavy obligations, I'd spend a summer working at Glacier National Park.

What a hoot that must be. Man, what I would have given to have known about such an opportunity when I was a young fella. Living and working at the park (IMHO) would have to be second only to being a park ranger.

Anyway, I received an email alert today about "Glacier Park, Inc. Properties" now hiring people for the summer season and that's what prompted this post. Maybe I'll reach a young person who would just love to spend their summer making a few bucks and living in Paradise.

If you're interested, or know someone who might be, visit their website at http://www.gpihr.com/ and complete a short online application. An application may also be requested by calling 406-892-6719.

I don't know the people doing the hiring and have no affiliation with the company. I just happened to see the message about them hiring and thought how much I would have loved such an experience. So there, they got some free publicity, but more importantly, maybe this will catch the eye of a young person who is looking for a unique experience this summer!

Maybe when I retire.....

Glacier Park in the spring

2007-03-28T08:15:00.000-07:00

Spring is my favorite season for visiting Glacier National Park because on the right day one can have the ultimate experience. What I'm about to describe is best experienced a few weeks down the road when more of Going-to-the-Sun Road has been opened for vehicles.

Picture a bright sunny day with a Montana blue sky and puffy white clouds. You gaze in any direction seeing beautiful snow covered mountains, but you are distracted by an unearthly roar. Looking below you see a raging crystal clear river swollen by the melting snow pack, racing its way down a path that was cut into the rock eons ago. As the river charges toward Flathead Lake, along the banks, you see beautiful wildflowers blooming in a sea of magnificent colors. This is no dream of heaven, this is Glacier Park in the spring.

Many of the most spectacular photographs you will see of Glacier National Park are captured during this time of year. This is when it all comes together. Although most of the park services including campgrounds are still closed, this time of year provides the ultimate Glacier viewing experience. This is also time for the grizzlies and black bears to leave their dens and because they are ravenously hungry, they are on the move and can be seen in more places.

Plowing Going-to-the-Sun Road begins any day now and the road is usually opened for vehicle traffic in late May or early June. It is too early to predict this year's opening, but I will update this blog and our website as soon as I learn more. Currently about 12 miles of the Going-to-the-Sun Road are open for travel. You can drive 11 miles from the west entrance to Lake McDonald Lodge, and 1 mile from the (east) St. Mary entrance to St. Mary Lake. The rest of the road is closed due to the weather. However, if you are up for a hike, or want to cross-country ski you can travel beyond the closed gates.

Whatever you do... if you visit Glacier National Park in the spring - don't forget to pack a LOT of extra film!

Montana Sucks!

2007-03-27T06:01:00.000-07:00

Are you kidding me?

Well yes, but I must tell you a funny story. My bride and I fell in love with Montana the first time we crossed the state line. Granted, eastern Montana is not as striking as the western part of the state with the mountains, dramatic landscapes, Glacier Park, Flathead Lake, etc., but as a whole, this is one beautiful state. Maybe that's why it is called "The Treasure State"... but I digress.

Soon after my bride and I moved to Montana we were out at a local restaurant and a young fellow walked into the restaurant wearing a tee shirt with the words "Montana Sucks" emblazed across his chest. We were appalled that someone actually felt that way about Montana, and that they would advertise such feelings on a tee shirt. However, as we were leaving, I got another view of that shirt and written under the bold headline were the words, "Now go home and tell all your friends".

I couldn't help laughing at the clever statement. We had been here long enough to know that if most Montanans had their druthers, they'd rather that things stayed the same and fewer tourists would choose this as a destination. For a state that gets a large portion of their revenue from tourism, this is a conflicting sentiment, but an honest one to be sure.

As it happened, I loved the tee shirt's slogan. It was the kind of thing that offers both a shock from the headline and then a smile from the caption. I just had to get me one of those. After doing a thorough Google search for such a tee shirt, I discovered that no one was selling such an item online, there were no copyright or trademarks associated with that phrase (yet). I had a brainstorm!

You can probably guess what happened next. Being a closet geek possessing an acceptable sense of humor, I created a website and partnered with an online printing company to create some tee shirts, ball caps, bumper stickers and other items I thought might be of interest to people of a similar mind. The Montana Sucks website was born.

I was not delusional about this little venture and did not expect that this tee shirt site would make me a wealthy man. In fact, I really didn't do anything to promote it except link it from a couple other related websites, but as a result, I did get that tee shirt I wanted. Over time, my website sold a few shirts and bumper stickers, but I was surprised how many people wrote to tell me how funny they thought my "tongue-in-cheek" website was and that it was probably doing more to generate awareness for Montana than what the state's tourist bureau was doing. I doubt that, but always enjoy hearing form people who got a chuckle from my site.

Two things happened this year that substantially increased the traffic on that site and caused me to sell a bunch of shirts and bumper stickers. A reporter from the local Hungry Horse News stumbled upon my site and wrote a story about it this past winter. You can read Cristal Jones' article here...

Then a few weeks ago an AP reporter researching a story about Californians moving to other parts of the country, found my site and interviewed me. The mention of my website in her story was a mere couple of sentences, but the article was syndicated and picked up by almost every newspaper and online news service in the country. USA Today, MSN, Google and newspapers from the Boston Globe to the Kalispell Interlake were running "my" story. See Angie Wagner's (AP) story here...

Wow!... the story hit the wire yesterday and the fallout I received would make you think this was breaking headline news. I received so many emails it took me until late last night to respond to most of them and I'm not finished yet. In addition, I sold more tee shirts and bumper stickers yesterday than I did since I launched that comical website. My 15 minutes of fame lasted all day! In fact, I'm now stretching that 15 minutes to day two... as I've already had more visitors this morning than I see in a typical month and its not yet 7:00 AM.

If you have ever visited Montana, or live here, you know how ludicrous such a statement is... "Montana Sucks". Montana is the jewel of the lower 48, boasting scenery and natural beauty that one never tires of. I brag to my friends in other states that I experience more beauty taking out my trash than most will see on a typical vacation. So yes friends, Montana does suck... now go home and tell all your friends.

Oh and BTW, you just must get yourself a tee shirt and a bumper sticker - help us spread the word! Visit my sleepy little website, Montana Sucks.

Calling all fishermen!

2007-03-25T12:51:00.000-07:00

In the event you just awoke from a comma, you must know that the first BIG event of spring is underway now. Mac Days is sponsored by the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes, we told you it was coming in an earlier posting here.

The good news is that $35,000 is still up for grabs! That specially tagged Lake Trout is still eluding fishermen. According to their website, tag number “985161000031890” is worth $35,000 if it is the first tag caught and checked into the contest. Get all the rules here...

A new local blog for following what's happening and finding out who is catching what, click on over to Mo Fisch's Fishing Report.

To our Irish friends...

2007-03-17T12:19:00.000-07:00

As a fitting tribute to our Irish friends on this Saint Patrick's Day, a few of my favorite Irish Blessings.

May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you wherever you go.

May the grass grow long on the road to hell for want of use.
May your day be filled with blessings
Like the sun that lights the sky,
And may you always have the courage
To spread your wings and fly!
Here's to a long life and a merry one;
A quick death and an easy one;
A pretty girl and an honest one;
A cold beer -- and another one!
May you live forever
And may the last words you hear be mine!
May you be buried in a casket made from the wood of a 100 year old oak...
That I shall plant tomorrow.
May you live to be a hundred
And may I live to sing at your wake!
May the Irish hills caress you.
May her lakes and rivers bless you.
May the luck of the Irish enfold you.
May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.

Our friends the Irish are indeed a colorful lot, and today is a special day to honor Saint Paddy and Irishmen everywhere. Enjoy and have a fun and safe Saint Patrick's Day.

Oh and BTW, best of luck to all the anglers on Flathead Lake this fine day who are competing in the "Mac Days" fishing tournament. May you all hook that Mackinaw trout that is tagged with a $35,000 prize!

Spring is in the air

2007-03-14T17:16:00.000-07:00

A couple of things today...

Spring hasn't quite sprung yet, but it sure seems that old man winter is on the run. Less than a week ago, I still had 6"-10" of snow in the front of my home and 4' snow banks. In a matter of days, the temperature rose and steady rain has virtually eliminated all but a few stubborn snow banks. I have never seen so much snow disappear so quickly.

This warmer weather will be appreciated by the hoards of fishermen who will descend upon Flathead Lake this weekend for the opening of "Mac Days". If you remember a few posts ago I told you about this bi-annual fishing tournament, but this year the grand prize is a whopper! There is one Lake Trout swimming in Flathead Lake with a tag worth $35,000.00! Oh yeah, that's enough to convince my bride that she needs to take up fishing.

Lastly - for you parents of teenagers, with the weather warming up and thoughts of spring... that also means that every high school in the country will be holding a prom in a couple of months. Many of those schools (or PTA/PTOs) are planning an after prom party. If you have a prom-age teenager, or know the parents of one - do them a favor. Prom night is one of the most dangerous times in a teenager's life and holding an after-prom party is one thing we can do to save some kids' lives. My wife wrote a book on how to plan and stage a fun, safe after prom party... check it out and send the link to every parent of a teenager you know. It just might save a life.

Thanks, that link is: http://www.after-prom.org/
After Prom Party Guide

Polebridge Iditarod Follow-up

2007-03-05T22:47:00.000-07:00

The race is over, but it may take weeks to wipe the smiles off the faces of those who attended the 26th. Annual Root Beer Classic sled dog race in Polebridge, MT.

My daughter and I put the truck in 4-wheel drive and followed the North Fork Road to Polebridge last weekend to attend this wonderful event. We had a marvelous time watching the dogs, talking to the mushers and seeing the teams cross the finish line.

If you missed it, be sure to put this on your "must see" calendar for next year. This is a fun event and worth the trip. Read more...

Sled Dog Race at Polebridge

2007-03-02T09:24:00.000-07:00

Did you see the movie "Eight Below?

Would you be willing to brave Montana's harsh winter weather at high altitudes riding atop an open sled for 15 miles to win a bottle of root beer?

Drop whay you're doing this weekend. Dress warmly and head to Polebridge! Because the 26th. Annual Root Beer Classic sled dog race will be held this Sat. & Sun. (March 3rd. - 4th.). The race will begin and end at the Polebridge Mercantile, who offers fresh pastry & a whole lot of fun! If you are not familiar with the area, Polebridge is north of Columbia Falls abutting Glacier National Park.

Mushers and their sled dog teams will race a 15 mile trail along North Fork Road and Hay Creek. The race begins at 10:00 AM and the grand prize is.... yep, you guessed it, a bottle of root beer!

As "dog people", my wife and I attended our first Polebridge sled dog race last year and we had a blast. This was a really cool (no pun intended) event and will give you a flavor of Montana you may have never experienced. There will also be skijoring races, so if you have no idea what that means... better come out to Polebridge this weekend.

Mac Days on Flathead Lake

2007-02-27T08:27:00.000-07:00

Photo compliments of MacDays.com

2007 Spring Mack Days Ahead

You may be wondering, what is a "Mac" and why do they have days named for it? Mac is what the locals call Mackinaw trout. The Mac Days are part of a bi-annual fishing tournament is sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and sanctioned by Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks.

March 16th. - April 14th. - and over $22,000 in Cash & Prizes will be given away at the end of the event plus an added $35,000 tagged lake trout prize. That's over $57,000 in cash and prizes!

Get all the details and see the rules page for more information. Believe it or not, you can win nice prizes if you catch just one fish. Equally as exciting is that there will be no entry fees charged for 2007 Spring Mack Days, but you do need to complete an entry form. Do that before March 14th. you will qualify for the Early Bird Prize of $100.

If you aren't a fisherman now, this might be a good time to start!
Get all the details here.

Geotourism?

2007-02-27T06:41:00.000-07:00

What makes Glacier and the Flathead Valley so special? This is a question posed by The National Geographic Society to the residents of northwest Montana via a story on Missoulian.com.

I couldn't resist responding to this question with the following excerpt, "All one has to do is gaze upon Flathead Lake and the answer to what makes this area special needs no words." Readers of this blog or anyone who has visited Glacier National Park or Flathead Lake know that the same can be said for all of northwest Montana.

Mere words fail me when I am trying to describe the natural beauty of this awe-inspiring part of the country. I think that is because there is a "feeling" that emanates from here that one must experience in person to fully understand. Beautiful photos and flowery words just don't complete the experience.
Back to Geotourism, in a story on Missoulian.com, they wrote, "The society - so well known for its colorful glossy magazines and detailed maps - plans on taking the information it gleans from local residents to create a new mega-map for the 10 million-acre transboundary area that includes the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park."

The idea is to create a “MapGuide” and interactive Web site that will help launch something the society is calling geotourism throughout northern Montana, southwestern Alberta and southeastern British Columbia. What's geotourism?

According the society, it is “tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place - its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and the well-being of its residents.” Read the whole story here...

I thought this was a fitting follow-up to my previous post, "Getting lost in Montana". Also, along the same lines, see "The essence of Montana".

Get lost in Montana and...

2007-02-16T07:10:00.000-07:00

Find yourself

"Until we lose ourselves, there is no hope of finding ourselves."

- Henry Miller

In this hustle-bustle high-tech world of ours, nothing helps us reconnect with ourselves better than revisiting nature. Leave your iPod, cell phone and worries in the car and take a trail into the woods. Discover wildlife, majestic trees, and flowing streams and rediscover - maybe for the first time - what the world is really about.

Meandering through Glacier National Park or floating aimlessly on Flathead Lake does this for me. Severing the ties to the rest of the world, abandoning technology and mindless roaming puts me in a place that has no adequate description - you must experience it for yourself. Like pictures in a magazine, no matter how beautiful, they do not compare with the experience of actually being there.

Okay, followers of this blog know that I am in love with NW Montana and specifically the two places for which this blog is named. If you have not yet visited this "Last Best Place", it needs to be on your list - high on your list. Few experiences in your life will equal the feelings you will experience the first time you glimpse Glacier National Park and Flathead Lake. No, I don't work for the tourist bureau... just thought I'd share the happiness, peace, tranquility and appreciation of nature that this "Treasure State" provides me.

Want to find yourself?

Lose yourself in Montana!

The essence of Montana

2007-02-14T08:59:00.000-07:00

Hey all, just a quick post today to point you toward an article that captures the feeling that Montana casts upon most who visit. I just stumbled upon a blog post that was most enjoyable and the author captured the essence of NW Montana in such a way that you must go read "Long Ago and Faraway The author begins by saying...

People who want to be philosophers or poets should come to Montana. The air, the water, the mountains, and the forests – at least one of these are bound to inspire reverence.

The rest of the post is equally eloquent and most enjoyable. If you want to hear about another person's appreciation of this beautiful part of the country, read this post. You will love hearing about the North Fork and Polebridge.

Oh and BTW, Happy Valentine's Day!

Global warming...

2007-02-09T12:17:00.000-07:00

If you live in upstate New York where they are experiencing a winter storm that has dropped 100 inches of snow, you might feel like shipping that white stuff to Al Gore's global warming adherents. Likewise, here in NW Montana, Glacier National Park's Lake McDonald has frozen over for the first time in 10 years. Brrrrrrrr, where's the "warming"?

McDonald Lake's ice is not very thick and I wouldn't go walking across the 460+ depths. My wife and I have commented to each other that this winter has seemed cooler than in years past. We haven't received a great deal of snow, but I believe our snow pack is about average. However, we haven't had that many over 30 degree days that help to clear the roads of ice buildup. Also, it feels like the humidity this winter has been higher than average. My comments are not based on scientific facts as we have not been logging the temps and humidity readings - and I am no scientist. We just feel that this winter was different than the previous 4-5 winters.

I have no idea if global warming is a man-made phenomena or as some claim, just another cycle in the earth's heating and cooling. And that is NOT a debate I wish to entertain on these pages. I'd prefer to let qualified and competent scientists battle that one, and hopefully an educated decision will be reached and we can do what needs done to help solve the crisis - if there is one.

The older I get and the more I have witnessed politicians and big business make decisions and life-changing announcements, the more skeptical I have become. IMHO, one of the most profound quotes from a modern movie was Tom Cruise's comment in Jerry Maguire where he said... "follow the money". Before I choose a side on the global warming issue, I plan to follow the money and see who benefits most from the PR, hype and ultimate decisions that will inevitably cost you and me tax dollars and future inconveniences. I truly am neutral on this "problem" and I identify with both camps.

If our planet is truly threatened by manmade activity, I'll be the first in line to volunteer a helping hand. However, my lack of trust in those that tell me something is for my benefit supersedes my blind faith. In the meantime, I think I'll go cut a hole in the ice at Lake McDonald and go fishing.... before it warms up.

See a webcam of the lake here.

Whitefish Winter Carnival

2007-02-05T13:20:00.000-07:00

Located to the west of Glacier National Park and north of Flathead Lake is the beautiful little town of Whitefish Montana. Whitefish is home to Big Mountain, one of the NW's best ski resorts (and best kept secrets - so don't tell anyone). Tourism is a huge part of the local economy and Whitefish caters to both tourists and locals who are devoted to all things Whitefish.

For the past 48 years, Whitefish has held a Winter Carnival and that event took place last weekend. This is always a great time with celebrations and events happening all over the area. Chainsaw carving ice sculptures, arts & crafts, a parade and a party happening at every saloon in Whitefish and on Big Mountain. If you're looking for some fun next winter, mark your calendar to attend the Whitefish Carnival.

My bride happens to be the Administrative Director for the NW Montana Humane Society and her group decided to walk some of their dogs in the Winter Carnival parade. Translated, that means that yours truly was conned into walking in the parade also. Apparently there was a sufficient number of dog walkers for the event, so I was instructed to walk our dog and pretend I was part of the group.

The picture above shows my bride (middle) and our Great Pyrenees "puppy" loitering about before the parade began. The lady she is speaking with was from the local Great Pyrenees Rescue organization.

Related Resources:

Wolves, Elk & Grizzlies

2007-02-01T08:55:00.000-07:00

My last two posts were disturbing and there is still no official word on what caused the death of the missing 3yr. old. According to the press, we will have more information in a few days.

As heart wrenching as that story was, today I discovered a heart warming story about life in the Flathead and hunting the Bob Marshall Wilderness. It is about a man who decided not to shoot a wolf.

Here in Montana, Wyoming and other western states, there has been a federally mandated wolf management program in place, which has been used to reintroduce the wolf to our area. Wolves are not welcomed by most ranchers and farmers and such programs are not popular with many people. I take no sides on this issue as I think wolves are beautiful looking creatures, but I also know that they are destructive carnivores. If my livelihood depended upon livestock, I'm fairly sure which side of the fence I would stand.

Regardless of your opinion, the Bigfork Eagle newspaper has a story about hunting in the "Bob" and one man's encounter with a wolf and a grizzly. A remarkable story, read "A wolf not shot"

Amber Alert (UPDATE)

2007-01-26T09:46:00.000-07:00

Amber Alert Canceled for 3 Year Old Montana Boy

The State of Montana and the Flathead County Sheriff's Department canceled the Amber Alert on Saturday morning after the boy's remains were found. No further information is available at this time.

We received word last night that the boy's body was found. There is no additional news as to an accident or foul play. Our hearts go out to the family who must suffer this tragic loss and we are grateful to the hundreds of citizens who assisted with the search. Our prayers are with you all.

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Local readers take note

We may live in Montana, one of the most beautiful parts of America, but living here does not shield us from the realities of life. One such example is this alert issued yesterday. Posting this message here is one little way we hope to do our part in helping to locate this little boy. Below are the details...

Amber Alert Issued for 3 Year Old Montana Boy Posted: Thursday January 25, 2007: 7:24 PM CST

The State of Montana is looking for Loic Rogers. An Amber Alert has been issued. The event occured at , Evergreen MT on Wednesday, January 24th at 7:00PM. Subject missing from relatives residence on Maple drive in Evergreen, Montana. Subject was outside residence awaiting parent. Parent went inside momentarily and when returned child was missing.

Search commenced soon after and is ongoing. Victim 1, Loic Rogers is described as being a 3 year old White male, Blonde hair, Blue eyes, 3'0 40lbs Wearing: Last seen wearing red, white and blue jacket, blue jeans, yellow,green and orange beanie hat, tan leather boots. There is no suspect or vehicle information available at this time.

If you have any information on this incident, please call 911 or contact the MT Control Terminal - Justice Help Desk at 1-877-ambermt that's 1-877-262-3768 or dial 911.

Amber Alert website
Kalispell Newspaper story

Thank you, and our prayers and good wishes go out to the family of this missing child.

East Glacier and more...

2007-01-14T05:56:00.000-07:00

If you are planning a visit to Glacier National Park, although the park is a destination unto itself and worth the trip, there is so much more to see in the vicinity of Glacier. Places like Polebridge and East Glacier (and of course Flathead Lake) need to be included on your itinerary. There is a lot of history in this area that most tourists never hear about.

Today I discovered a great blog entry about East Glacier Montana by a Mary Scriver in Valier, Montana. Mary gives some history about the area and Marias Pass and how these places came to be used by the people of their day. I encourage you to visit this blog and learn more about this beautiful part of the country.

Oh and in the event this is your first time reading this blog, be sure to subscribe as we keep this updated with information about our two favorite places in northwest Montana, Glacier National Park and Flathead Lake.

Grizzlies & lions, oh my!

2007-01-04T07:41:00.000-07:00

All of us can snap a photograph. Today's feature-rich cameras permit any novice to take a great photo now and then. However, the difference between a professional photographer and the rest of us is that they know how to create great photos every time. Additionally, they see things that others miss and they know how to capture that something and present it for others to admire.

Recently, I had the opportunity to meet such a professional who has an eye for nature and has succeeded in capturing some of the best wildlife photos Glacier Park has to offer. Some of her wildlife photos are now available, and these photos have been added to the Glacier Naional Park website here.

PS: I showed this picture the other day in a post about being a friend to the bears. This and other shots of mountain goats, black bears and an American bald eagle are included in our wildlife photo portfolio.

Flathead Lake Monster?

2006-12-31T11:30:00.000-07:00

Ice fishing on Flathead Lake can be dangerous!

In addition to the weather and concern that the ice is thick enough, other dangers exist in the dark, cold waters of Flathead Lake. The legendary Flathead Lake Monster has been recently sighted (again). Learn more about this threat to your ice fishing vacation here...

Oh and BTW, I want to thank everyone who has visited our humble blog this past year. It is my most sincere hope that you will add this blog to your 'Favorites' (or subscribe via email by clicking the envelope at right)and feel free to participate by asking questions about Flathead Lake or Glacier National Park. We'd love to see you come for a visit to "The Last Best Place"! Oh, and one more thing...

Happy New Year!

From my family to yours, we hope that 2007 is everything you want it to be, and that you enjoy good health and sufficient wealth in your chosen pursuit of happiness. Stay safe and live life today to its fullest. Heck, let's agree to do that every day and make 2007 the best yet... that's my New Year's resolution - and one I intend to keep!

Montana Bears

2006-12-27T20:49:00.000-07:00

I consider myself a friend of the bears. Don't get me wrong, I'm not the type of fella who feeds the bears or thinks they are "cute". I have the utmost respect for bears and fear them in a healthy way, but I sure do love seeing bears - be bears. Bear lovers received some promising news this week. Here in NW Montana, we have the largest population of grizzlies in the lower 48 states. In fact, a new study just confirmed that our local area grizzly count is a minimum of 545 and Glacier National Park has the largest number.

A DNA project led by the U.S. Geological Survey and supported by other federal, state and tribal agencies over a 12 week period in 2004, collected 34,000 hair samples across almost eight million acres stretching from the Canadian border to state Highway 200 on the NCDE's southern border and from U.S. Highway 89 on the eastern edge to U.S. Highway 93 in the west. Advances in genetic technology were used to estimate population size. The hairs were caught on barbed wire at 2,500 "hair corrals" put up as part of the study. Bears investigated because of scent placed at the corrals. Read the whole story...

We live among bears. For most of the year I have to keep my trash bins behind an electric fence to keep the bears at bay. If my battery dies, I'll find my garbage scattered over two acres. I've seen bears in my yard and even came face to face with one two years ago when I surprised him while dining on the overflow of a bird feeder in my front yard. I don't know who was more surprised, me or the bear. You can bet that when my Great Pyrenees begins to howl and acts agitated, there is probably a bear in the vivinity. Our Pyr is the best bear alarm one could have.

Part of the enchantment of the Flathead Valley is being so close to such an impressive creature as a grizzly or black bear. If you plan on visiting Glacier National Park or Flathead Lake areas - bring plenty of film and some pepper spray. But mostly, bring your childhood wonder...

BTW, that picture above was taken in Glacier National Park by Cristal Jones, a reporter for the Hungry Horse News.

Christmas in the Flathead

2006-12-18T11:07:00.000-07:00

I have been blessed with more than 50 Christmas holidays (don't ask). I have celebrated Christmas in Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Arizona, Montana and even one lonely Christmas in Vietnam 33 years ago. Wherever I am, Christmas is always a special time, but I have to tell you my friends, that there is nothing like Christmas in the Flathead Valley.

The Flathead Valley would remind you of those traditional holiday cards with pine trees, snow and glorious mountains - truly, a winter wonderland. The peaks of Glacier National Park are now covered in glistening white snow that touches the heavens. A drive by Flathead Lake at this time of year is a feast for the eyes. Yes, there is nothing like Christmas in Montana's Flathead Valley. If you can't be here this year, at least enjoy this special time with your family - because that is what makes Christmas so special.

From our family to yours,

we would like to wish all of you a very

Flathead Lake Threatened

2006-12-14T08:03:00.000-07:00

For the love of money…

It seems that every news story we see these days about global warming mentions Glacier National Park’s receding glaciers. Concerned, well-meaning people want to do something to halt this process, which may or may not be a natural phenomenon. Personally, I don’t have a fixed opinion on this yet because I believe we just don’t know if this is a manmade problem or a natural, cyclic occurrence. Also, it could be argued that there isn’t much we can do to change the weather, but melting Glaciers is not what I’m writing about in this post. Today I’d like to make you aware of a potentially serious environmental threat that we can control… if we choose to do so.

In Canada, a company named Cline Mining Corporation wants to begin a 20 year coal mining operation 22 miles north of Glacier National Park. This area is part of the Flathead River drainage in British Columbia, which means that all runoff from this operation will flow down the North Fork river into Flathead Lake. How cool is that?

In case you didn’t know, coal mining produces pollutants like toxic heavy metals, and such an industrial operation will have no beneficial impact on the already threatened grizzly bear population.

So, let’s make sure I have this right… in the interest of one company’s bottom line, we can potentially destroy the grizzly bear population of this area, the fish ecosystem of the Flathead river and possibly destroy one of America’s last pristine lakes, Flathead Lake. How does that sound to you?

I’m not a political or environmental activist and I don’t see the mission of this blog to involve itself in such public debate, but people P-L-E-A-S-E, can we just once do the right thing? A mountaintop strip mine that will produce toxic runoff is just a bad idea. Period.

You can learn more about this proposed mining operation at http://www.eao.gov.bc.ca/. If anyone asks you. . . .
Just Say NO!

No Pilgrims in the Flathead

2006-12-05T06:09:00.000-07:00

Those of us living in the "colonies", just finished celebrating an annual holiday called Thanksgiving. During the days that preceded this anniversary of Pilgrims and Indians coming together, blogs and websites were crammed with facts and falsehoods about this occasion.

There were no Pilgrims in Montana in 1621, but there were Indians making pilgrimages to sacred places for ritual, and to secular places for hunting and fishing and gathering of plants. The relentless movement westward of a foreign people with their exotic religion, foreigners currently struggling to survive in New England, was not known, not even in rumor, in Montana, in 1621.

Richard Sims is the director of the Montana Historical Society and had a wonderful article about Montana in the year of the first Thanksgiving.

He says that the people who were living in Montana in 1621 were the Kootenai, the Pend d’Oreille (Kalispell) and the Salish, long-established around Flathead Lake but roaming to the east; the Shoshone coming up periodically from the Great Basin country; and the Crow just arriving from the Dakotas. When examining the early histories of these early peoples, recall that no horses were in sight. No horses would appear in Montana for nearly a century. Read Mr. Simms’ complete article here…

Montanans celebrating Thanksgiving

In the event you missed an earlier posting, you need to see this... you just gotta love the people (and bears) in Montana.

I hope your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration. Here in the land of Flathead Lake and Glacier National Park, some people dined with “strange” guests. Check out how the Montana Grizzly Encounter celebrated this special day.

Winter has arrived

2006-11-27T05:54:00.000-07:00

Amazing... it seems like we were just talking about the beautiful fall colors and last weeks "rain of biblical proportions" and now we're buried in snow. It began to sneak in on Thanksgiving evening and the following day it snowed for most of the day. I think it has been snowing or flurrying ever since. As Montanans, we LOVE the change of seasons - even if they do seem to be accelerated at times.

The mountains are now covered with snow and there is more in the forecast. This is a good thing as the typical early snows that reach the higher elevations never arrived this year. As a result, our two large ski resorts had to delay their opening because their base was insufficient. Big Mountain has reschedule their opening for the weekend of Dec. 2nd. Oh and if you happened to be in the Flathead Valley area last week, you may have joined other skiers and snowboarders celebrating the 34th “Pray for Snow Party” held at the world-famous Bierstube in Big Mountain Village. And if you were there, it looks like your prayers are being answered.

Well, there's more I want to tell you, but it looks like I need to mount the plow on my ATV and push some snow off the driveway. Until next time... pray for more snow!

Update 11/28/06

You know the roads are bad when snowplows get stuck — sideways — on a state highway. Sunday night’s storm hadn’t let up by Monday, leaving drivers stranded in drifts, igniting fires and hostilities between neighbors, and frustrating plow drivers who opened roads only to have them drift shut again. Read story in the Daily Interlake here...

Thanksgiving Wishes

2006-11-22T20:24:00.000-07:00

The picture above is real. It is from the The Montana Grizzly Encounter, a grizzly rescue organization in Bozeman Montana that provides a home for rescued grizzly bears that can't survive in the wild. And you thought your brother-in-law was hard to take... how'd you like to dine with a 7 foot, 700 pound dinner guest? Pass the turkey, please.

Living in NW Montana is reason enough to be giving thanks, but the Thanksgiving holiday has always been one of my favorites. It is my fondest hope that you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

H a p p y T h a n k s g i v i n g!

Glacier after the rains

2006-11-18T16:01:00.000-07:00

NOTE: Update to this post at bottom...

The relentless rain and wind storms that wrecked so much havoc on Glacier Park last week are gone and the clean-up and repairs began before the roads were dry. Before anyone could completely assess the damage, there was speculation that the Going-To-The-Sun Road may not be ready in time for its traditional opening in May next season.

Damage to the park is estimate is at approximately $5 million, and most of that was on Sun Road. Repairs are under way on Going-To-The-Sun Road and in the Lake McDonald area. A number of washouts between Siyeh Bend and the East Tunnel involve areas were the road has been undercut and damaged. In one 100' section, both lanes of the road were completely carried away.

This is not the most ideal time of year to be facing such a job as high winds and heavy snow continues to hamper efforts. Park officials said emergency repairs on Sun Road will not interfere with scheduled reconstruction work that is planned for next summer.

So, although we don't yet have a definitive decision yet, people are optimistic that the road should be open near schedule (next spring). Due to these repairs and previously scheduled construction, there will be one lane delays as we saw last year. If you are planning a vacation to visit Glacier National Park next season... don't let a little rain spoil your plans. Come on up - visit Paradise!
______________________

News Update

WEST GLACIER - “It could've been much worse,” Amy Vanderbilt, spokeswoman for Glacier National Park, said of the park's Nov. 7 flood. “We were lucky.” The image: In a narrow river canyon, flanked steep by icy walls of rock, debris is piled high, trees twisted and stripped of limbs, bark peeled away. The old horse bridge is splintered to rubble, railings blasted downstream, decking stripped, even the stout metal girders bent, mangled, pushed downstream by the onslaught. And again, the words: “We're moving ahead, and it's looking good,” said park superintendent Mick Holm. “At this point, it shouldn't impact our future schedules.”

The storm has passed.

The people are quickly rebuilding.

And the park, well, it hardly noticed.

Read this entire article from The Missoulian News

Rain of Biblical Proportions

2006-11-11T15:18:00.000-07:00

Glacier National Park made history this past week. The park received somewhere in the neighborhood of eleven inches of rain over a couple of days. At times there were torrential downpours that wrecked havoc throughout the park.

Going-to-the-Sun Road suffered severe damage at a number of locations in the form of washouts. In one area, both sides of the road for an eighty foot stretch have completely disappeared. Historic Many Glacier Lodge suffered damage on the bottom floors (pic below). Officials are still trying to assess damage throughout the park.

Swiftcurrent Creek flowing over Many Glacier Hotel access bridge
Courtesy of the National Park Service

See more photos of flood damage in Glacier Park.

Glacier Park on a DVD

2006-11-06T17:11:00.000-07:00

As a visitor to this blog, I assume that you either live here in the Flathead Valley (luck you), or you are researching our beautiful area as a potential vacation destination. Whether you're local or planning a visit, you will never get enough of Glacier or the Flathead. There is just too much to see and experience.

With that in mind, I have a recommendation for you. There is a DVD available that captures the beauty and majesty of Glacier National Park and makes a remarkable presentation of this national treasure. The DVD offers a great overview of the park's magnificent panoramas and towering rock formations and mountains. This is your amicable guide through the superbly pastoral landscapes, lakes and streams provide refreshing sustenance for the senses.

The DVD also includes some extra features that include building Going-To-The-Sun Road In what would become a model of landscape engineering, the story of this historic landmark is told through fascinating and entertaining archival footage. A Symphony to Glacier National Park A musical tribute to over 1,000,000 acres of North America s most breathtaking and dramatic parkland. The sights and sounds on this Glacier National Park DVD will entertain even the most familiar visitor to Glacier National Park.

Why Montana?

2006-11-03T11:09:00.000-07:00

A question I get from friends all over the country is... "what ever possessed you to move to Montana?

A clarification is needed here. We didn't move to "Montana", we moved to NW Montana. Our state is as large as a dozen smaller states and the terrain ranges from dry praries to 10,000 ft. mountains and deep clear lakes. NW Montana is the jewell (IMHO). Before I give you my stock answer, understand that Montana is NOT for everyone, especially the less populated areas of Montana. We happen to live in the northwestern part of the state, which is not what one might call 'over populated'. If you were to consider moving here and your lifestyle demands:

To dine out at diverse restaurants
To frequent nightclubs
To browse large shopping malls
The convenience of a convenience store
Attending pro sports games
Earning a big salary
Warm weather most of the year...

If any of these things are important to you, Montana should not be on your list of potential relocation choices. If on the other hand, you are weary of the big metro scene, hate traffic, concrete and rude people, love fishing, hunting and beautiful scenery... you could fall in love with Montana. We did.

Years ago, my bride and I visited the Flathead valley while on vacation. I remember my first drive up Rt. 93 on a beautiful summer day with magnificent views of Flathead Lake on our right as we followed the road over mountains and weaved our way through incredible scenery. I remarked to my wife, "can you believe people actually live here year-round, not just on vacation?"

I won't bore you with the twists of fate that resulted in our moving to this valley, but suffice it to say, we have never looked back. We cannot conceive of the thought of living anywhere else. Neither I, nor my bride are native Montanans, but we got here as fast as we could. And as I like to say, I'm leaving here boots first (to the uninitiated, that means I'll be carried out of here).

We share our homestead with dozens of deer that migrate through our property every day foraging for food. We've had bears in the front yard and even an occasional mountain lion will drop by to check us out. Bald Eagles and a variety of other birds are common sights, and pine squirrels and other woodland creatures are constant reminders that this isn't really our land.

We live "out". Translated that means we live far enough from town to be considered rural, but close enough that we drive to town 3-5 times per week for shopping, or to eat out, or to enjoy a cocktail at one of our favorite saloons. The taverns around here have colorful names such as the Sitting Duck, the Deer Lick, the Bull Dog and the Stillwater Saloon. The people you'll meet here become your friends quickly, and for the most part they're not looking for anything from you except maybe a smile and a kind word.

I began this post with a question as to why I moved here. Harley-Davidson riders have a saying that goes...

"If I have to explain -

you wouldn't understand."

And that pretty much answers that question.

Scuba Flathead Lake

2006-10-31T08:53:00.000-07:00

I read a very interesting article in today's Missoulian News online about 'diving' in Flathead Lake. I have never dived (that is with oxygen and a wet suit), so I hadn't considered that Flathead Lake offers scuba divers an exceptional experience. With water as clear as Flathead, I would imagine that it is a hoot! The article mentioned...

“When you dive and live in Montana,” Mackaman said, “that's what you got to do - dive in cold water.”

Although there is no tropical splendor to explore beneath the water's surface in Montana, there are plenty of other mysterious and intriguing discoveries to help divers forget the frigid water temperatures.

Flathead Lake, for instance, has a sheer wall that drops from 30 feet to 150 feet, and when you swim along it, it is like flying, said Bonnie Stelzenmuller. In Lake McDonald, she said, there's a underwater forest with standing trees. According to Stelzenmuller and her diving companion, Ken Clizbe, in Flathead Lake there are lake trout so huge, they weigh over 50 pounds. The fish are so bold and so curious, they dash around and rush at divers like miniature sharks, she said. (Now that's more my style of enjoying Flathead Lake).

So my friends, if you're into scuba diving, here's one more reason to visit Montana - Dive Flathead Lake! See the entire story here...

Snow on the Flathead

2006-10-30T06:34:00.000-07:00

Winter has arrived!

Last night (Oct. 29, 2006) the Flathead valley received our first snow of the season. Although technically it is still Fall, Winter has now been formally announced. The valley floor only saw an inch or so of the white stuff, but higher elevations may have received from 6 to 12 inches. This will be welcome news for the ski resorts (Big Mountain and Blacktail) as they usually open by Thanksgiving, but have no appreciable snow as of yesterday.

Flathead Lake does not freeze over most winters, although the bays often cover over with ice. This is due to the sheer volume of the lake and dynamic wind patterns. According to the University of Montana's Flathead Lake Biological Station, the lake did freeze over in the winters of 1978-79 (all winter), 1987-88 (all winter), 1988-89 (March only) and 1989-90 (January only).

What makes this snow and cooler weather such an anomaly is that on Saturday we experienced a perfect Montana Fall day. Beautiful blue skies, sunshine and the thermometer climbed all the way to 60 degrees. Twenty-four hours later, the temperature had dropped 40 degrees and snow began to fall from the sky. I LOVE Montana!

Going-To-The-Sun Road Closed

2006-10-25T05:19:00.000-07:00

It was announced yesterday that the upper stretch of Going-to-the-Sun Road has officially been closed for the season.

From the Loop on the west side and Jackson Glacier Overlook on the east side of Glacier National Park, the road is now closed as a result of icy road conditions. This closure is earlier than the planned Nov. 1st. date.

The lower portions of the road, 23 miles from the W. Glacier entrance to the Loop on the west side and 13 miles from St. Mary to Jackson Glacier Overlook on the E. remain open to motorists.

K-9 Cop Found

2006-10-21T08:19:00.000-07:00

In my post two days ago I mentioned "Eddie the K-9 Cop", a Border Patrol dog who was lost. Great news... Eddie was found Wednesday, ending the Border Patrol's search for their search dog.

Border Patrol agents found Eddie close to where he had last been seen and his leash was tangled in brush. Eddie was found in good condition and is now back with his handler.

Personal note: Our family is a dog and (multi) cat family; we adore our animals and feel terrible when we hear of a story like Eddie's. COnversely, when the story has a happy ending, we share in the joy. Our 4-legged family includes a Great Pyrenees and our adorable cats, Puff & Pooh.

Flathead Photos

2006-10-20T08:59:00.000-07:00

The editor of the Bigfork Eagle newspaper wants your photos (Bigfork is a community at the NE corner of Flathead Lake).

The newspaper plans to start featuring a space for reader submitted photographs. Each week, they will choose the best photograph and run it in the paper with a caption and a photo credit for whoever took the image. Any person of any age can submit whatever he or she wishes. Submit photos to editor@bigforkeagle.com.

So, hit them with your best shots, and share your photos with the community.

Going-to-the-Sun Road Update

2006-10-20T05:10:00.000-07:00

Status: A portion of Going-to-the-Sun Road will close to vehicle traffic on 11/01/2006. Glacier Park officials will close the alpine section of the road from the Loop to Siyeh Bend to vehicles for the season so that crews can prepare Sun Road for winter. Removal of guard rails at numerous locations to avoid avalanche damage and road signs, exhibits, and trash bins will be removed while crews install snow poles and clean culverts. Going-To-The-Sun Road will remain open to hikers and bicyclists as weather conditions permit.

Thirty-nine miles of the road will stay open to vehicles in the fall. Including 23 miles from the West Glacier entrance to the Loop on the west side and 15 miles from St. Mary to Siyeh Bend.

Hunting Season

2006-10-19T13:58:00.000-07:00

The general hunting season starts Oct. 22, this Sunday, and it "should bring a bumper crop of nice bucks and bulls", according to Jim Williams, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks wildlife manager. If you are planning a late season visit to the park, you don't have to wear bright orange clothing. Hunting is not permitted inside the park and Glacier National Park reminds hunters it is illegal to transport game through the Park except along U.S. Highway 2 (lawfully taken and tagged game only). All other roads are off limits.

Lost dog (Polebridge area)

Not just any dog, but a Border Patrol dog got lost in the woods earlier this week. Eddie, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection “K-9” pooch, was on patrol when he was reported missing. Eddie was last was seen in the Trail Creek area, near the Canadian border on the western edge of Glacier National Park. This is a wilderness area where grizzly bears and mountain lions roam.

Eddie is a black and tan German shepard that weighs approx. 70 pounds. A "?” is tattooed inside his right ear. If you find Eddie, U.S. Customs and Border Protection would like its canine cop back; call (406) 862-2561.

Fall in NW Montana

2006-10-18T09:09:00.000-07:00

Although most of the tourists are now in hibernation, this is the time of year when bears are very active in the park. They are gorging themselves and putting on fat to get them through their long winter nap. In addition, this is a time of year when - if the sun is at the right angle - the mountains look like they are on fire. Fall colors, crisp weather and active wildlife make for an excellent time to visit Glacier Park before the snows close Logan Pass.

And don't forget to drive down to Flathead Lake while you're in the area. Personally, I love the Flathead at any time of year, but I really like seeing it in the Fall. These are the views you see on postcards... snow-capped mountains dotted with fall colors overlooking a serene and beautiful lake. With the tourist traffic gone, you will see sights that you miss when fighting to survive in traffic. For a special treat, drive down the eastern side of the lake to Woods Bay and stop at the Sitting Duck Saloon. You'll meet locals and can enjoy dinner out on the deck overlooking the lake.

There just isn't a more beautiful part of America than NW Montana in the fall. Fall comes early to the higher elevations and new snow is already appearing on the mountain peaks, so pack up the family, bring plenty of film and head over to Glacier National Park and Flathead Lake.

Global warming?

2006-10-16T12:16:00.000-07:00

Maybe - maybe not...

Glacier National Park was carved from the earth by huge glaciers during the last ice age. As recently as 100 years ago (a blip in geological terms), photos and maps show that there were approximately 150 glaciers in the park, but today most have retreated or vanished. As we all know, warming and cooling of the earth occurs from time to time. Today we are alarmed about the "global warming" trend that is now affecting the earth.

It is not the purpose of this blog to argue pro or con of this subject; my goal is to just talk about "what is". To share what I have learned about this beautiful part of Montana. If the earth is indeed warming to a degree that may affect life as we know it - I am helpless to affect that. I have hope that scientists will discover the true reason for this phenomena and advise us as to what we should do to avoid disaster.

In a similar vein, Flathead Lake faces issues from an expanded population and potential pollution problems. We have issues with non-native fish overtaking the less aggressive indigenous species. And we are challenged by many of the same problems that every community in America is facing. My point is that I do not wish this blog to become a forum for the global warming discussion, or become a platform to argue local growth policies. This is about Glacier National Park and Flathead Lake, and what you might want to know before you pack-up the car and head north.

Trust me, there is "love at first sight" because I fell in love with Glacier and the Flathead the first time I visited here. I was fortunate enough to move my family to the area a few years ago and my love affair with Glacier and Flathead motivated me to begin this blog. If you are planning a trip to this part of the country, I think you will discover enough information on our websites and this blog to make your vacation memorable and fun. THAT is my goal.

Welcome to The Flathead

2006-10-15T08:02:00.000-07:00

Glacier National Park is located in the Flathead Valley region of NW Montana. The goal of this weblog is to provide you with enough information to make your visit more meaningful. Glacier has been called the "Crown of the Continent" and Flathead Lake is a jewel in that crown. Anyone visiting this part of Montana must see the Flathead along with Glacier. These two natural attractions are certainly two of the most beautiful places in this wonderful country of ours. If you are planning a vacation to Montana and have some questions, or want to share your experiences with others, please add your comments.

On our website, it says that Glacier National Park and Flathead Lake are the best kept secrets in America. We invite you to explore these sites and see why we believe that Paradise is located in NW Montana. Clicking the picture above will take you to our Glacier National Park website where you can view other photos of Glacier Park we have captured during different seasons of the year. Enjoy!