Montana Journeys of 2020
Hello, all my family, friends, and neighbors. It’s the middle of November. Thanksgiving is only a little over a week away. I know for many; it will be hard to give thanksgiving this year. So much has happened, first with the COVID-19 pandemic and then all of the lawlessness that has happened across our nation. Add to that a presidential election of epic proportions and all that has been left unresolved. This has definitely been a year I would rather not remember. However, there have been a few bright spots along the bumpy road. After being shut down and forced to remain behind closed doors for extended periods of time, I was able to finally see some of what I have always called, “God’s greatest creations,” the Rocky Mountains. I took four short trips, starting the middle of last month: the first two by myself and the last ones with my brother, Doug.
The first of those trips was a three-day excursion down to the small town of Dubois, Wyoming to see the newly-opened National Museum of Military Vehicles. I left this military setting by way of Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, so I got a brief glimpse of them. I never tire of seeing those magnificent peaks, and of course, if you go to Yellowstone, you must visit Old Faithful Geyser, but with smoky skies, the view of the Tetons were not so “grand.” A couple weeks later, I took a day trip along the Beartooth Highway to the northeast boundary of Yellowstone National Park at Cooke City, Montana, before traveling down the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway and ultimately back home. Again, however, as in my first trip, the skies were hazy with smoke coming from the forest fires that have been rampaging, throughout the summer, all along the west coast.
The other two trips were longer, one a four-day jaunt to see the Wind River Range. The other a six-day expedition to the western side of Glacier National Park. Both of these were with my brother. We saw a lot of great fall foliage color, but it was tempered by events beyond our control. The region we most wanted to visit, a trip that was snowed out last year by the September blizzard that dumped over four feet of snow along the Rocky Mountain Front, was the east side of Glacier National Park. Our friend Becky flew in from Tennessee, but the white stuff timed its arrival to coincide with hers. The aspen during the fall are absolutely breathtaking if you can time it right, and we were looking forward to seeing them in their magnificent glory. Those plans, needless to say, were changed. We were hoping Glacier National Park would open up sometime later in the summer or early fall this year, and it did, on the western side. The eastern side of the park, however, has remained closed and will do so until at least next spring. You have to cross the Blackfeet Reservation in order to inter the park, and they have refused to allow outside visitors. With the virus running rampant all over the world, you can’t blame them. For many years now, Glacier National Park has seen its visitorship rise. Over a million tourists arrive and travel through the park during each of the months of July and August. That is a mind-boggling figure.
So, Doug began planning, several months ago, how to get the most bang for our buck in regard to seeing fall foliage this year. We decided to visit the Wind River Mountains, an hour south of Grand Teton National Park in northwestern Wyoming, first. We left on Sunday, the 4th of October and returned home the following Wednesday. Then, we had planned to visit Glacier, leaving the next weekend, but Saturday October 10 didn’t work out as a major snowstorm moved in. Nor were we able to travel the following weekend, as, once again, the weather conspired against us. Finally, we were able to take a chance on Monday, October 26. Billings did not receive nearly as much snow as they forecasted, and according to the forecasts, the snow had moved out of the West Glacier side of the park. That, plus a forecast for sunny days and warmer weather helped our decision to go on the 26th. I’m glad we did.
Over the next few weeks, I intend to share the photographs, as well as my thoughts on these drives. I hope they will bring a little cheer into your lives. Thanks for indulging me, and may I send an early Thanksgiving greeting.
