Montana

Thursday, October 17, 2013

I sit here writing this after our first house showing. We put our house up for sale before we left for Maine in May and it hasn't shown once....well until today. A few things have happened in the past weeks that I feel may be signs that our future is going to go through a big change from the past. I know, the future is always unknown and usually changing, but we have put forth many efforts within the past few years to prepare to move out of state (hopefully out west!) and obtain new jobs. We'll keep our fingers crossed...

NOW....onto our time in amazing Montana!

As I've said before we have friends that moved out to Missoula about 5 years ago. We drove out last June for their wedding and fell in love with this portion of the state. So, first stop, Missoula! After getting in early evening, we all sat around, relaxed (they had just gotten home from work), chatted, had a few brewskies, and grilled out.

The next couple of days, we did laundry, cleaned the truck really well, and hung around town.

Downtown Missoula.










That weekend, we decided to do a short hike up to Glacier Lake to fish. Even though the hike was short (a mile or so) Pete had it a bit harder than the rest of us due to the fact that he had to carry Dewar halfway after D stepped on something (maybe a wasp/bee and was stung?).















































After descending the one mile back to the vehicle, we drove out to another smaller lake to tent camp for the night. It was real dry, but our dinner plans included a small fire to use the Dutch oven. Pizza, burnt pizza, but hey it was food. We had a pretty fun, entertaining night to say the least....

Another fabulous sunset.

























After this awesome weekend, Gretchen and Ian had to get back to reality. We stuck around a few more days. Pictures below are of LoLo Creek Complex Fire. The smoke got pretty bad within 24 hours.

















Relaxing before dinner.





Alpacas next door to Gretch and Ian's.







Sushi dinner downtown Missoula!




Got a late start the next morning after our sushi date....

We sadly said our goodbyes and headed south down 93. We had done this drive the previous year and wanted to see it again. The previous year we had gone down to Bannack to see the ghost town, then had taken Bannack Pass over into Idaho. We were told that the Lemhi Pass was pretty cool too. Therefore, that was the plan. The drive is still as gorgeous as we remembered, and it was as though we had just been there yesterday. Everything looked familiar and so inviting.

Due to our late start, we figured we'd get set up early in Idaho and relax. Found Twin Creek CG just south of Lost Trail Pass, off of 93. When we arrived we found it very strange that the campground was empty except one other vehicle which looked as though it were parked for day use. There was no sign up saying the grounds were closed, nor were there any fire restrictions. We set up and I took a nap while Pete collected some downed wood. While I was asleep, Pete talked with the owner of the vehicle (who was there filling jugs of water-"best drinking water around") and verified the fires were at bay and to near this site. So, we were the lone campers in this campground for the night.








The next morning we continued down 93 and stopped here, at the Salmon-Chalis ranger station to gather info on fires and the Lemhi Pass. The woman working the front desk started telling us that the pass definitely required 4WD and could be hairy.....then ended telling us she's done it multiple times in her 2WD Honda. Hmmm.....are we in Maine?





Smokey and dry....but still pretty amazing.

























Here we go....







Does this road look hairy?








































Mama cow with a lame youngster. Poor thing gimped up the hill on three legs.




Heading down.
















And out.