KO and the Turk: Montana: mountains, beer, folf and Tulin!

We finally make our way out to Missoula Montana, home of U of Montana, and of Tulin who is in her last year of school there. Tules put together some great ideas for our visit - Yea! We started at our cabin - rented for the Missoula part of the trip.

That evening we headed to downtown Missoula, next to the river (which is the actual 'river runs through it'movie river) where there is a gathering of food vendors, music and people just hanging out on a summer Thursday night. We went Thai and Vietnamese with our dinners, and pure Montana for the beer.

We wanted to see where Tules goes to school, where she practices and learns her physical therapy and what her school day looks like. Lucky for us, the school was open even though classes had not yet started. We got to meet some of her teachers, see the sports center and the physical therapy room. THEN we got the challenge of hiking up to the 'M' on the side of the mountain overlooking campus.

At the M! stadium is off to the right.

Later that day - we headed to Snowbowl ski slope to play Folf, short for frisbee golf.

Folf hole #4 amidst a bunch of trees

Chipmunk summer resident of the ski lift hut

Playing on a ski slope was beautiful, and a workout. The course was spread across the whole mountaintop. Challenges included trying to find the 'hole' we were supposed to hit with the frisbee, finding the hole was surrounded by trees and straight uphill, keeping the frisbee from flying over the edge of the mountain.

The Turk was a natural and hit par most of the time. Tulin and I found the wild berries growing everywhere on the hill and started using the frisbee toss as a way to find more berries. By the time we were done - 12 of 18 holes - we were also full of berries!

power throw

On the way down on the ski lift, my backpack took a nosedive - with camera, wallet, etc. So, when we got to the bottom, we had to hike back up the mountain to reach it. Tules and the Turk scampered up the vertical part to finally reach the pack. Whew! Wood fired pizza and beer were now necessary.

The adventure for the next day was to check out

a deserted mine where the Turk could find semi precious gems, or gold, or dinasaur bones for all I knew. Little did we know that this would be a crazy adventure that led us into the back woods and mountains. When we reached a point when we were sure there were no other people and certainly no cell phone connections - we found a group of people hanging out with their ATV's and hiking. Since the surrounding grounds seemed straight up and straight down - we werent too sure how they could be hiking. But in that kind of situation, you just dont ask.

We did ask however, about the mine. They had heard there were old mines on the other side of the mountain and told us to just keep driving. We did. And the road got more and more narrow. We came to a clearing where there were trailheads splitting out from the road, and an outhouse. More signs of civilization out in the middle of nowhere! By our calculations, we should have reached a more obvious point for the mine, but we just werent seeing it.

Then a pickup truck shows up with a family, grandparents and dogs. I asked them about the mine. Sure, they said - we are on our way there! Just drive down this dirt road, park when you get to an open area, and start hiking. When the trail splits, take the lower one. OK...hmmm. So, we ate lunch first.

We used our tracking skills and followed their truck tires until sure enough, a clearing where they left their truck. We started hiking and eventually, caught up with this family who guided us to the mine.

Alas, no diamonds

We climbed around the mine area but found quartz, not diamonds. It was interesting to see where the miners had blown open parts of the mountain to search for whatever they hoped to find.

During the trip back, on dirt roads that werent as wide as our SUV, around mountains that looked really remote, I kept thinking - I felt like I was in the middle of nowhere. But we found people scattered along the way who were just on a Saturday outing. They didnt wonder if they were going to make it back to civilization - but I sure did!

blown out cave

All of this hiking required some sort of reward. Tulin steered us to the Big Dipper for great home made ice cream. With temperatures in the mid 90's, this was just what we needed.

Cherry orchards with Flathead Lake behind

Then it was time to go to Glacier National Park - a 3 hour drive. Along the way, we followed Flathead Lake which is huge. So huge that it creates a microclimate near the lake where there is an abundance of cherry orchards.

We stopped by Dayton to get Tulin's hiking boots and say 'hi' to her boyfriend Michael. We got a growler so we could visit a brewery along the way. And we found one in Lakeside MT - Tamerack Brewery. Our tastings showed us that we have good 'taste'. The brews we selected were ones that are made in very limited amounts and not available for growlers. So, we got the Yard Sale Ale to go.

Typical tourist picture

on Flathead River - beside the bridge

We got to Glacier and headed to the Flathead River for a picnic lunch and a chance to put our feet in the cold mountain water. It was so cold, my feet turned numb after just a couple minutes. But people were jumping off the nearby bridge into the river to cool off from the 95 degree heat. This bridge was the original entrance into Glacier when it opened. A larger entrance road was built after a few years and in the 60's, this bridge was washed out by a flood. It was gone except for the concrete semicircle that is now the base of the new foot bridge.

at the Trail of the Cedars

Tree creatures

on the trail, a tree fell, fully exposing its roots

waterfall along the trail

I'm a tree creature too!

We hiked a beautiful, and flat, trail called Trail of the Cedars where we could view the beautiful forest and streams. The park is beautiful, with something interesting around every corner - which we were to validate the next day while driving the Going to the Sun Road - one of the most beautiful drives in North America.

We started out in the morning ready for a full day of scenery, driving and hiking. The Sun Road is quite busy, but we found that by pulling off for pictures and exploring, we could lose some of it. the Sun Road is the first American roadway designated both a National Historic Landmark and a National Civil Engineering Landmark.

At the Loop-looking at Heavens Peak

Our view as we waited for road work

still waiting

Lets walk to the waterfall while we wait

Jackson Glacier - the glacier is the grey ice, not the snow.

The glaciers are rapidly disappearing and it is estimated that they will be gone in 30 years. So we were excited to see them.

Red Bus tour

The Red buses were built from 1936-1939 by White Motor Company of Cleveland, OH, and then refurbished in 2001 by Ford Motor Company. They now run on propane gas for environmental purposes. These buses provide tours of the Sun Road throughout the season.

Lake St Mary's

lake St Mary's and tourists

We progressed on to Lake St Mary's. A beautiful lake fed by mountain snow and waterfalls.

More Lake St Mary's

the hikers

a hike to waterfall near Lk St Mary's

a Waterfall new Lk St Marys'

Hiking up to Hidden Lake

Despite 90 degree temps, there was still snow at 7000 ft.

What's not to paint? on trail to Hidden Lake

Mountain goats on the human trail.

Hidden Lake - what a jewel!

We crossed the Great Divide near Logan Pass and found a 5 mile round trip hike to Hidden Lake.

At the top, we found mountain goats wandering around the trail. After a while, a park ranger showed up - after hiking the 2.5 miles from the ranger station - to move the goats off the human trail, and move the humans off the goat trail. I'm sure all was straightened out with his efforts.

mroe snow creating streams along the trail

summer wildflowers

We drove and hiked and tried to soak in the beauty of the area. Our parting stop was Lake McDonald. We looked around the grand lodge and then found a quiet spot on the lake beach to relax, sip some beer and reflect on the amazing trip.