CROSS COUNTRY TRIP 2010 - MONTANA

The drive through Idaho into Montana was one of the most scenic areas we've seen (I think I've said that about a number of other places, but the West is just breathtaking). Our first stop was Rich Ranch, 

to visit with Tony's friend from Campfire Club, Jack Rich and his wife Belinda.

They offer wilderness tours, including hunting and fishing expeditions, and also dude ranch activities for families. The kids who visit must have a ball - they camp outdoors in teepees and cabins, and have plenty of outdoor activities to keep them busy.  They get to wear cowboy hats and ride horses.

Tony hasn't seen Jack in over 18 years, since his last Montana hunt, so they had a lot of catching up to do.

After our visit, we drove north, and passed an unusual sight: How would you like to live in this home, which occupies almost an entire island in a lake?

We eventually arrived at our next destination, and another National Treasure - Glacier National Park.

We drove through the park on the famous "Going to the Sun Road", and if you were ever there, you'd understand the meaning of the name. The ascent up is a one of a kind drive, with the road cut right into the side of the mountain.

Clearly, there are driving restrictions - no vehicles over 21 feet are allowed on this road.  The West Tunnel is 192 feet long - imagine the time and manpower it must have taken to bore through the mountain, using 1926 technology.

The Bird Woman Falls cascades 492 feet down a mountain.

Although the weather today was dismal - cool and rainy, at one point, the clouds broke, and the sun peeked out to reveal a stately mountain top.

It looked a little spooky!
At Logan Pass, elevation 6646 feet, we crossed the Continental Divide, and we were treated to sleet, snow and very cold temperatures.

Here are some of the other beautiful sights in the park:

There was an extensive area which was burned, and although it was disheartening to see the scorched trees and barren slopes, if you look closely, you'll notice new growth at the base of the trees - it looks like grasses, but its tiny new pine trees which one day will tower above the slopes.

Unfortunatley, fires are inevitable, but that's Mother Nature at work, replenishing the forests.
During our ride through the park, I was reading the brochure and Tony was driving (he's only allowed to drive the Jeep), and apparently he was looking here and there - A park ranger who was following us, flashes the lights and pulls us over.  It seems, TZ was doing 54 in a 45 mph zone, and he was weaving in and out of the lane. No tickets, but guess who had to take over the driving?  As if I don't drive enough.  I did over 6,000 miles in the motorhome this trip (so far), and Tony did 40 feet - he pulled it up after a fuel stop to allow a truck to move in to gas up.
On the way home, we were treated to a rare double rainbow:

We needed the heat on through the night, and the next morning, when I walked over to the showers, it was so cold that I saw my own breath!  
We went south to Darby, pop. 700, to visit with another of Tony's Campfire friends, "Jimmy, the Hat Guy", who happens to be an internationally renowned western hatmaker, who makes cowboy hats out of beaver. He is one of an exclusive club of only 50 people in this country in this trade. Tony calls him "Doc Holiday", because he comes to the outings at the club in full western wear.

Darby is a quaint town, where the storefronts look like something out of a western movie.

After we left Jim, we went on a wild goose hunt to locate other friends of Tony's, Billy and Cody, who run an outfitting business out of Billings, Montana.  Tony hasn't seen them in over eight years.

Driving east out of Missoula brought us up and over yet another mountain.At a rest stop, there was a huge warning sign about fatal accidents from the sharp descent and tight curves ahead:

We got through it just fine, in second gear and 25 mph all the way down the mountain.  There was a gravel runaway truck lane - a steep uphill lane to quickly stop the truck.

As usual, the scenery was stunning - 

Here's a great shot of Tony Z in his typical position during the drive:

You had to see it!  He was out cold, and practically falling out of his chair. I don't see a seat belt, do you?
Tomorrow, we'll make it out of Montana, and into North Dakota.