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.All Trips / Central USA / Montana / North America
Butte, Montana’s Hole in the Ground: A visit to the Berkeley Pit
When most people think of Montana, images of mountains or “Big Sky country” or wildlife spring to mind. Usually you don’t think of a massive hole in the ground, but a destination of interest is the Berkeley Pit, a now closed open-pit copper mine in the historic town of Butte.
By the end of the 19th century, mines around Butte had yielded a lot of gold, silver and copper, earning the town the nickname, “richest hill on earth”. As electricity demand across America increased and more wiring was needed, the growing demand for copper made Butte a boom-town in the early 20th century. Copper mining in Butte historically had required a complex network of underground drains and pumps to lower the …
Tagged Berkeley pit, Butte, mine, mining
“Pic of the Week”, October 10, 2014: Pronghorn Antelope, Montana
Pronghorns live on the open plains of western North America, like Montana (where these photos were taken). They’re the fastest animals in America and, on a global basis, only the cheetah is faster. Pronghorns can sprint at speeds of more than 50 mph (86 kmph), and can travel for long distances at half that speed. No predators can catch them when they hit their stride.
Pronghorns are quite small, only about three feet (one meter) tall at the shoulder. They are reddish brown, with white stomachs and stripes on their throats. They have backward-curving split horns that in mature animals form prongs (hence their name). They can survive about a decade in the wild.
(Click on thumbnails to enlarge, right arrow to advance)
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Oct 9, 2014
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.All Trips / Central USA / Montana / North America
National Bison Refuge
The National Bison Refuge provides an excellent opportunity to see bison in their natural setting — the hilly grasslands of Montana. The Refuge is located just under an hour’s drive northwest of Missoula and is close to the road one drives from Missoula to Glacier National Park. The refuge includes a small visitor center, picnic area, limited hiking trails (walking in the refuge is regulated and mostly prohibited as the animals pose a danger to tourists), and a one way drive. The National Bison Refuge was established in 1908 and is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; there is a modest admission fee of $5.00.
Highlights of …
.All Trips / Central USA / Montana / North America
Missoula — Home of Grizzlies
While most Americans have no idea what’s inside the great state of Montana, I LOVE this state! It’s breathtakingly beautiful, home to my favorite National Park, Glacier National Park, and is filled with (mostly) independent minded people I enjoy interacting with. The state is varied and has several small interesting cities each with its unique charm; the closest to these to my home is Missoula, located on the western fringe of the Rockies and centered on the lovely Clark Fork River.
Missoula’s history reads like that of many western towns. Indians lived in the area for centuries. White settlers came in increasing numbers after a trading post was built about 150 years ago and especially when the Northern Pacific Railroad passed through the town in 1883. …
.All Trips / Central USA / Montana / North America
Montana’s crown jewel — Glacier National Park
“Far away in northwestern Montana, hidden from view by clustering mountain peaks, lies an unmapped corner – the Crown of the Continent.” George Bird Grinnell (1901)
It’s hard for someone who loves being in nature as much as I do to pick a favorite National Park. There’s so many great ones from which to choose — the Grand Canyon, Bryce, Yosemite…you can see the dilemma. My three favorite National Parks are Glacier, Yosemite and Yellowstone, two of which are in Montana. While both Yosemite and Yellowstone are unique, my heart belongs to Glacier National Park. I love the rugged majesty of Glacier! I love it so much that I talked about the area with Chris Christenson of the Amateur Traveler podcast; if you want to hear that episode click …
.All Trips / Central USA / Montana / North America
Rafting the Clark Fork River
The Clark Fork is the dominant river in western Montana, curving its way through the flat-lands, mountains, hills and forests from its headwaters near the Continental Divide towards Lake Pend Oreille in the Idaho panhandle. Named after William Clark (of Lewis and Clark fame) the river is a popular venue for recreation — rafting, floating in inner tubes, some canoeing and, of course, lots of fly fishing opportunities. The river has good flow throughout the summer and moves at a good pace. There are a few impressive rapids (Class III — with such ominous names as Boateater and Fang) that offer a thrilling bucking ride, but mostly the river moves along smoothly and you can lean back and enjoy the fresh clean air, beautiful …
Tagged Clark Fork River, Montana, rafting
