Berry, Beary Wild Montana

Hi Everyone!

We are doing well and are still enjoying our travels. We stay very busy and time sure flies on the road! It has been a while since our last post, and we wanted to give you an update on our recent trip to the great state of Montana.

We came here to experience the landmarks and nature this state has to offer, and particularly to see Glacier National Park. Glacier Park is a 1,500+-square mile beautiful wilderness area in Montana's Rocky Mountains. Craig was really looking forward to going across the park by way of the famously narrow and winding 50-mile, Going-to-the-Sun Road. Unfortunately, this primary feature was closed and we did not get to make that drive, nor see the glaciers there, because of the abundance of unmelted snow that remained on the road. We hope to come this way again sometime and experience many features of the northwest that we’ve missed for one reason or another. But we’re not complaining because wherever we go, we always find fun and exciting things to do.

After crossing the state line, it did not take us long to learn Montana is huckleberry country. Huckleberries grow wild all over the state, much like blackberries do in many other states. They're delicious and like blueberries or many other fruits, are used to make everything from jams and jellies to lip gloss, salad dressing, beer, and gin. Bears are known to love huckleberries, and there just happens to be more grizzlies here than anywhere else in the lower 48 states, which brings us to our next story.

We didn't get to see glaciers, but another experience at Glacier park may have made up for it—the bear encounter. One day while leaving the park, we spotted the bear pictured above, walking in an embankment beside the road. As we slowed to look, the bear came our way, right in front of the truck. Craig slowed more to let the bear decide where he would go. To our surprise, he didn't "go" anywhere, but continued to walk on the pavement in front of us. We eased along behind him for a while, but with traffic starting to back up, we decided we should pass him. However, when we did, the bear began to run. When we slowed down, he began to walk, and when we sped up, he ran again. It was clear he didn't want to be passed. This cycle went on a few more times, and at one point, he even ran back and forth across the road in front of us. Not wanting to frustrate the bear, we continued to creep slowly. We then decided we must pass the bear, and as we got closer, he stood up by a tree stump and seemed to take his frustrations out on the stump, clawing quickly and aggressively, causing wood chips to fly as we passed. The bear was annoyed, but we didn’t know what else to do.. On our way out, we let the ranger know that back behind us, a 300-pound, ticked-off bear was destroying a stump right beside a traffic jam. Since everyone, including us, is delighted to just get to spot a bear, for even a second, this was quite an experience! We were exhilarated and were the envy of our RV camp neighbors when we returned with our story and pictures! 😂 Be sure to watch the video below for more of our bear footage. 🐻

Below we've shared a few more highlights of our time in Montana. And our video shares even more. Next, we will continue to travel west to Washington and Oregon. We are excited about this part of the journey because we will finally reach the beautiful Pacific coast and because our children, Kevin and Rachel, and Curtis have scheduled trips to come and see us! 

See you soon! 💗

Here are the very popular and abundant huckleberries of Montana. Did you know bears eat about 30,000 berries a day? When bears go into hibernation, the berries in their stomach ferment and work as a form of sedative. Who knew all the sleeping bears were drunk?

Our first stop in Montana was Bozeman. Craig took this picture at the peak of one of his many hikes.

In Bozeman, we visited The Museum of the Rockies, a division of Montana State University. This museum is one of the most sophisticated research and history museums in the world, with one of the largest dinosaur fossil collections in the world.

In the dinosaur complex, this Fossil Preparator had a whiteboard posted that read, “Today I am working on a 66 million-year-old thescelosaurus tail vertebrae section. I’m also working on a 78 million-year-old hadrosaur limb bone and jaw bone.” Wow! What did you do at the office today? 😊

More dinosaur bones are being found in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and Montana in the last 120-150 years than ever before. This is due to a complex 70-million-year history of landform changes, fossilization, and recent erosion of rock. The erosion is surfacing some dinosaurs that are found in-tact, up to almost 90%!

This full adolescent triceratops skull was found in 2017 in Colorado. Sixty-six million years ago. 😲

The Museum of the Rockies also had an impressive reptile exhibit. More creepy things are in our video.

At the American Computer & Robotics Museum, we learned many fascinating things. I especially found enjoyment in this original 1892 sign, posted in hotels for patrons to know how to use electric light bulbs, and instructing them not to “attempt to light with a match"“.

In the city of Great Falls, artwork of Lewis, Clark, and Sacagawea stands along the Missouri River. Sacagawea accompanied Lewis & Clark on their expedition to the Pacific Ocean. Scholars say while Sacagawea was highly regarded by Clark, the portrayal of her invaluable efforts in assisting the expedition may be exaggerated or even fiction. Either way, the art is fun.

Over 150 million gallons of water a day flow from Giant Springs and fall into the Missouri River in Great Falls. Expedition member William Clark first documented these springs in 1805. “…[the largest fountain I have ever seen, and doubt if it is not the largest in America, this water boils up from under the rocks and keeps its color for a mile which is immensely clear and of a bluish cast.]” This area is now Great Springs State Park.

In our last post, we showed you some various ways people travel and live on the road. Here’s another one; although these are not an unusual sight, they are always impressive; a full 18-wheeler tractor trailer carrying an extra-long fifth-wheel. Toward the back of this tractor, are doors that open with a hydraulic pad to lower their Harley Davidson to the ground.

It was unusual for us to sit in jackets and blankets on July 4th to watch fireworks. It also does not get completely dark out here until around 10:20 pm, so the fireworks were done while it was still partially daylight. This picture was taken at 10 pm.

We may have booked our stay in Great Falls a day or two longer than we should have. We had to get creative on a few days for things to see and do. Taking pictures is always fun. And Clay seldom minds modeling.

Craig took this picture of Great Falls with his drone. The Great Falls of the Missouri River was an incredible challenge for Lewis & Clark in 1805. Upon arriving at this river bank, Lewis logged in his journal “…the river was one continued scene of rapids and I readily perceived could not be encountered with our canoes”. I also perceive I would not want to travel down these rapids in a wooden canoe. 😲 On another note, this picture always causes me to crave a Cinnabon.

This is Goat Lick near Glacier Park. The area was named so because the mountain goats have come here in May-August for years, to lick the rocks. Scientists speculate when the goats shift to green vegetation each spring, their chemical balance is altered causing them to seek the nutrition of the salts and minerals found in these rocks. It can be hit or miss seeing a goat, but today was a hit; Craig spotted through the trees this rock-licking goat family. The baby is just above the dad, and mom is on the ground.

This picture of Stanton Lake in Essex is an example of one of the many beautiful crystal clear lakes we have seen while hiking.

Simple beauty everywhere.

A picture Craig took along the Apgar Lookout Trail in Glacier National Park.

Twenty-two miles south of the Canadian border, is Polebridge. It’s only public establishments are a saloon next door and this mercantile store, which has been in full operation since 1914. With less than 10 full-time residents, one source said people are much rarer than the endangered species in the area. Remote as it is, it’s popular with those visiting Glacier Park; especially on July 4th, when the town’s celebration draws around 2,000 people.

We’re always in awe of the turquoise water in the Rocky Mountain states and the multi-colored rocks in Montana. So beautiful!

These rocks are all around Glacier National Park. The iron content in the rock changes colors based on the depth of the water they have been in for millions of years, and the amount of oxygen they were exposed to. Variations in conditions results in the endless shades of red, green and brown rocks you see here.

Trail of the Cedars, Glacier National Park

Here the grizzly bear claws at the tree stump as we pass him in Glacier National Park.

While driving in Columbia Falls, we noticed the 10 Commandments Billboard Park, on the side of the road. This unusual attraction had a billboard for each of the 10 Commandments and other billboards with faith-based quotes from past presidents. It was quite a sight.

I believe Ronald Regan might have been on to something.

This unmistakably bright yellow crop is canola. Canola farming is a fairly new, but profitable venture for Montana farmers. Canola oil was “invented” in Canada and is traded on a Canadian commodities exchange. With Canada being so close by, it is easy to sell canola to them. Canada is also home to the crushers used to make canola oil. In addition to the profitability of selling canola, it also serves as a “rotation crop” to interrupt the pest and disease cycle in the soil, experienced when the soil doesn’t get a break.

Did you know the name, “Canola” comes from the words “Canadian Oil, Low Acid”?

The town of Kalispell is self-described as the new American West, and we agree it is a perfect balance of city conveniences with an abundance of outdoor activities. We enjoyed visiting the notorious Moose Saloon, and taking pictures of canola fields, but especially delighted in Craig’s encounter with the mountain goats while hiking one evening.

Whitefish is known as one of the “Top 25 Ski Towns in the World” by National Geographic, but like Kalispell, it has old west charm coupled with miles and miles of beautiful farmland. On our way home from dinner, the sky grew moody with pink and blue clouds, and we stopped to capture a few pictures.

We have laughed sometimes that everything we see is “beautiful”—even the gas station has a certain charm on a warm, windy evening when you’re free and happy.

After falling in love with Bryce Canyon in Utah, we purchased this puzzle. 1000 pieces. Our first puzzle ever. It was so hard. We thought we may give up. We carried this project through four states and almost 1500 miles before it’s glorious completion in our last stop in Montana—St. Regis. Also an appreciation shoutout to Jennifer Behlmann for making these fun camping coasters for us to bring on our trip!

On our last day in St. Regis, Craig spotted and captured this impressive bald eagle picture. This is also where I insert a corny reference to “flying” off to our next destination, the state of Washington! 🍎😁 See you soon! 🧡😄

ThreeHappyCampers go to Montana