June 11 Idaho to Montana

 Monday, June 11

We wind our way down the dirt road this morning and come to a huge yellow grader which is grading our road! Well, I guess it wasn’t a HUGE grader, it just seemed that way on this tiny road flanked by tall trees. The driver manages to maneuver to the side, so we wave to one another and continue on. 

We see several deer along the way to Bonner’s Ferry and the Welcome to Montana sign.  The pretty visitor’s center is closed, so we just make coffee and breakfast in their parking lot before moving on.

Beautiful countryside as we are in and out of mountains and valleys dotted with ranches.

We’ve decided to check out a few places near Libby, Montana.  First is Ross Creek Cedars, an area of old growth cedars with some well over 500 years old.  They are named after a prospector of the 1920’s who first brought them to people’s attention.  

We are the only people there this morning and walking the trail does inspire awe! Makes you realize what a tiny part of the world man is. The Blackfeet Indians believed that man was the last creature to be created and therefore we are like the little brother to all of nature and other creatures. These Big Brother trees certainly make us seem small, young and insignificant.

 The forest is cool and moist and a gentle mist falls now and then as we walk. Lots of ferns and mosses.

From here we head to Kootenai Falls and Swinging Bridge on the Kootenai River.  The Kootenai are a Montana tribe that ranged over northwestern Montana. Their oral histories go back as far as glaciers and they still struggle to preserve their heritage.  As we will hear later, they and other Indians of Montana, suffered and lost much of their lands to encroaching white men.  

The Falls are another example of nature’s power and beauty, cutting a canyon through the rocky terrain which is dated to 1.5 Billion years ago.  Feeling even more insignificant in time….

Yep, that's Greg.

We hike downriver to the swinging bridge, which I am happy to see is made with solid planks and metal cables and while it does move and sway it is not the swinging bridge of my imagination.  Thank goodness! (Too many Tarzan movies as a kid?)

 I don’t know whether it leads anywhere, actually, as we just walk a short way on the other side and come back. (Why did the tourist cross the bridge?  Because it was there.)

 Greg wonders how they determined that that 6th person would be disasterous.

After visiting the National Forest Regional Office along highway 37, we stop at McGregor Lake Campground. 

 Greg gets a campfire going, but it is short-lived as the rain returns, with even a little hail thrown in for good measure.

Then the sun returns  long enough for Greg to grill some burgers for dinner.  It rains again later and Greg catches this rainbow over the lake before calling it quits for outside adventures today.   Temperature is a cool 47.