Montana: Resistance is Utterly Futile

Beautiful Montana. So perhaps I loved this state because it was the first one on our journey that I had not yet ventured to previously in my life. However, I’m convinced it has been the most beautiful by far and we got to spend time with locals, which was also a pleasant change from the previous few stops.

After departing Yellowstone on Thursday afternoon, we took the quick hour and a half drive north to Bozeman. We stayed at Montana’s house – her brother and mom were so hospitable and it was nice to see them again. Dylan showed us a good time in Bozeman on Thursday night – there was a small street festival downtown with live music happening to we strolled down there and started the night off with some pizza and beer. We just wound up staying downtown all night – met lots of locals, drank beers and learned out to country dance. It was a fun night and the people there were all so friendly. It was cool to see where Montana grew up and it was a fun, young town. Thanks Dylan and Mrs. Mogk for having us! (Montana, your bed was comfortable, just wish you were there too!)

We departed for Glacier National Park pretty early in the morning (a tad bit hungover but bearable) with about a 7 hour drive ahead of us. After receiving advice from locals the previous night, we decided to head to the west half of the park. Generally, we would have started on the east side and traveled west on the Going to the Sun Road which is considered to be the most beautiful highway in the country. However, due to excessive snow fall this year, the middle of the road was still not cleared of snow – making it difficult for us to see both ends of the park in just a day and a half. We set up camp in Apgar campground which is right near the west entrance to the park. Then we drove up as far as we could go from the west side (16) miles and it was absolutely beautiful. The mountains were still covered in snow above us and Lake McDonald was gorgeous. We decided to do a short 5 mile hike that only climbed 500 feet to Lake Avalanche. The trail went along Avalanche Creek and had lots of great mini falls on the way. Once we got to the lake we could see six or seven small waterfalls in the distance coming down the face of several huge peaks. It was an awesome, awesome view. Also a nice easy hike – a little busy, but not steep so it didn’t tire us out. We saw the rest of the sites back down the Going to the Sun Road and returned to Apgar to see an awesome sunset from the south end of Lake McDonald. We couldn’t actually see the sun since it was beyond the mountains, but the colors were awesome. We both slept pretty well that night – bearspray right next to us in the tent.

After waking up early and seeking some advice from a volunteer who worked at the park that morning, we decided it was worth it to trek to the part of the Going to the Sun Road that was closed off to cars. They had shuttle buses taking visitors up an additional 10 miles to what is known as the Loop where views were said to be more amazing and there were a couple trailheads. We were told the hike to the Granite Peak Chalet – the only information we received from the volunteer was: ‘I met an Irish guy yesterday who said he did the whole four miles in two hours and it was awesome. He said there was some snow, but he had tennis shoes on and said it was fine. A short and steep hike.” With that information, we set out – luckily we had several layers because it was freezing in the morning (around 40 degrees) and we were wearing our hiking shoes. I had a granola bar and an apple and about a liter of water. GOOD THING. When we got to the trailhead (after taking up the shuttle with our packs), it said the trail would climb 2200 feet. I rationed that it would have to be a terribly steep trail to climb 2200 feet in only two miles. I soon realized that the guy only told the volunteer about the ascend – and that indeed the hike would be 8 miles round trip instead of 4. We planned on doing a long hike that day, but we thought it would be a different one in the afternoon. Oh well – here we were. It turned out to be an amazing hike – lots of deer along the way (one who guided us up the trail for about 15 minutes), amazing views and we met a lot of awesome people along the way. We soon realized that the majority of the people on the trail who were more than 2 miles up were either planning on staying the night at the chalet, or were coming down after staying up there for a night or two. After 3.2 miles in, the trail turned to snow – so that last part took a little longer, but the snow was soft and easy to grip. The final view was absolutely worth the hike up there. Absolutely breathtaking – it felt like I was standing on top of a mountain ready to ski down. And it was equally as cold – and exceptionally windy. We were as bundled as we could be but just sat on a bench in the sun and took it all in. Talked to a few families up there who were staying and it looked like an awesome side trip while at Glacier. The rooms were primitive – metal framed bunk beds and quite pricey ($89 for the first person, then $79 for each additional person in the room). But you are paying for the view, which is spectacular. We allowed about an hour and a half to get back down to catch a shuttle and by the time we sat down on the shuttle we were exhausted and starving. It took about 5 hours round trip with the stop at the chalet – so it took up most of our day. We drove around the west side of the park for a good chunk of the evening seeking out grizzlies and taking a hiatus at Lake Bowman, but nothing too exciting. Back at the campsite we wrote some postcards, organized the car, and read in the tent for a bit. It was an early, early night – but we figured we would be able to get up early to start the drive down to Oregon in the morning.

Which is what my status is now! Currently in Washington state, which is barren as can be. We had no idea – but it was been flatter than many of the Midwest states (we are on 395 running south from Spokane). Idaho was uneventful – not even any potato stands to be found.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Dylan attempting to teach me how to dance to country music – lots of spinning and dipping, but for those of you who know the story – NO DIPPING!

Drinking two dollar PBRs with a guy named Ezra who gave us so many good pointers about Glacier and what to do/where to camp/how to get there

Entering a $2 raffle for a Rifle at the Legion – of course I wrote Emily Mogk’s name and address down on the ticket, but my phone number

A guy at a bar attempting to hit on Aly but asking her if her necklace was made out of elk teeth.

The drive from Bozeman to Glacier was absolutely beautiful

The hike along Avalanche Creek and the view of Avalanche Lake with many huge waterfalls in the distance.

The sunset on Lake McDonald (and eating Ramen while watching)

The view from the Granite Peak Chalet and the fun people we met and talked to along the hike

The good night’s sleep on Saturday night

The neverending casinos that line the roads of Montana and Idaho (never knew these existed) – all computerized slot and poker machines. We figured we gambled enough in Montana by entering the rifle raffle.

NOT SO GLORIOUS HIGHLIGHTS:

Montana not being home when I was visiting her hometown =(

The middle of the Going to the Sun Road being closed, but it actually worked out since we were only there for a short time, we got to see a lot of the west side of the park.

The Glacier Park volunteer giving us inadequate information for the Granite Peak Chalet hike, but having a great time nonetheless with no casualties (we were some of the only hikers without hiking poles and crampons for the snow section)

Once returning to the car, Aly was getting out contents for lunch and she said, “Ari, do you want Cheez-Its or Roadkill with sandwiches?” She literally meant to say goldfish. We were clearly delirious from barely eating all day. Maybe you had to be there? Maybe not. We were dying of laughter.

All in all Montana was awesome. Had highly successful hikes and met awesome people. Thank you to our gracious hosts the Mogks for showers, food, beds, and great company. We had fun in Bozeman!

We are looking forward to showers and a home cooked meal at Chad’s house. It will be a few days of rest and relaxation – laundry, cleaning the car (LilMoos is DIRTY), getting an oil change. Also heading to Portland for a day and going up to Mount Hood. Then to Crater Lake!

PS along with planking in each visit, we also added buying a lottery ticket (or some type of gambling) and trying local beers in every state. We broke even in Illinois! And my favorite beer was actually in Cleveland at the Market Bier Brewery. Oregon will be some good competition.