We start out tired -- usually before a vacation
we're as high as kites overflowing with energy, but with an unusually hectic
spring/early summer, on top of the usual work woes, we're hurrying to get
ready -- even for an afternoon flight. We arrive at the airport in
a hurry, forgetting our new NorthWest frequent flyer numbers, and prepare
for the long cross country haul. The flight was pleasantly uneventful,
everything was on time, and we arrive in Missoula in the bright evening
spared from further road wear. After checking in the hotel, grabbing
a snack at the 4B's (they have a homemade tomato soup to die for!), and
stopping for some supplies at Albertson's, we crash.
Wednesday, after a good night's sleep, excitement
rises in us, and it's just a short, pleasant drive to the National Bison
Range on a bright and truly beautiful morning. The Bison Range
is administered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the National
Wildlife Refuge System. After getting info at the visitor's center,
we take the 20 mile drive through the park on "Red Sleep Mountain Scenic
Drive." The brochure describes it as "A one-way gravel road with
switch backs and steep grades - no guard rails." As we begin our
ascent, we're immediately greeted by a prairie falcon before the first
(of many) twists and turns. Around the next turn, some mule deer
are hiding in the tall grass. After another hairpin turn we find
a bison shaking the dust from his bath in what looked to be a familiar
wallow. The drive over the rolling hills is pleasant, and near the
top of the mountain we stop for a couple of short hikes where the main
performers are birds -- a loud meadowlark at one stop, and some red-winged
blackbirds at the other. Coming down the steep hill, and back around
to the visitor's center, we're treated to a white tailed deer with fawn.
True to it's name, Antelope Ridge is full of pronghorn antelope.
Finally we pass the Bison Corrals and prairie with a view of one of the
bison herds.
Back on the road, we stop for lunch at Polson,
overlooking Flathead Lake, and then take the pretty drive along the west
side of the lake, with the Mission Mountains in the background. We
stop a few times along the way, looking at the pretty scenery, but even
on "Wild Horse Island," have no luck in spotting wildlife. We get
to Kalispell mid afternoon, giving us time to take a nap before dinner.
Prior to our trip we had exchanged emails
and phone calls with Dave & Debbi Parker, who reside near Kalispell,
and this evening we got to meet them in the flesh & blood. We
first went to Moose's Saloon, quite an interesting local hangout, but finding
conversation impossible, we adjourned to the Montana Nugget for prime rib
and lots of storytelling. We really enjoyed meeting them and talking
about what to do in Glacier, and, of course, exchanging tales of Y_ll_wst_n_! |
