Whitefish Mountain Resort, Montana

This beautiful Montana ski area was previously named "The Big Mountain" which didn't really tell anyone where it was located.  It has been around for about 62 years and was always kind of a "local" ski area up until just recent years, when it become a full-fledged "destination resort."

As of today, November 19, there is a 23-inch base. Opening day is December 5th.  Below you can see that the autumn colors were pretty spectacular up at Whitefish. 

The photo below was shot by Brian Schott and is featured as one of the Shots of the Day on the Whitefish Mountain Resort Website

The Whitefish Mountain Resort webpages include a Ski Whitefish Blog too. (Click on photo to open large size view.)

The City of Whitefish, Montana is also famous for the Whitefish Winter Carnival.   Join us on February 5, 6, and 7th, 2010 for the time of your life!   Here is the official Whitefish Winter Carnival website.

Ross Creek Cedar Grove is a Montana Hobbit Forest

The Ross Creek Cedar Grove is in Northwest Montana.  The area features giant Western Red Cedar, a wonderful hiking path, lush undergrowth and many birds, including woodpeckers.

To the left is the view that my wife referred to as "like a little Hobbit forest."

And the Ross Cedar Grove is so untypical of most of Montana's flora.  Here, with a lower elevation and greater rainfall, the old growth cedars thrive, with ferns and moss and green water creating a scene that could be the setting for a hobbit movie, (I guess).

Some of the old trees are said to be nearly 500 years old.  I've seen a giant tree that must have been eight-feet across.  It did remind me of the giant redwoods.

(Click on photo to open large size view.)

You travel here east from Spokane, Washington, or northwest from Missoula, Montana.  The area is adjacent to the Cabinet Mountains and near Bull Lake in Montana. Take State Highway 56 north from State Highway 200 which runs through Thompson Falls in Montana.  We tried to stay at a nearby campground called "Bad Medicine," but we actually felt the bad medicine and hurried away.  We eventually camped along the Bull River, which has a very nice campground. 

 

Montana Snowbowl Ski Area

Time is near. We have a little snow on the Mountain. Montana Snowbowl will be ready!
Tentative Opening Day is November 28, 2009. Are YOU ready?

Photos from Montana Snowbowl website link

(Clicking on Trail Map will open larger view.)

Bannack State Park and Ghost Town Beautiful Still

I know it may seem late in the year to be visiting a Montana Ghost Town, but, in fact, the tourists are gone, and the little territorial capital of Bannack is still here.

I would certainly encourage the locals to visit the park during autumn, as this is a beautiful time of year, particularly along Grasshopper Creek, which was the gold-bearing creek that attracted all the miners so many years ago

(Click on photos to open large size view.)

Grasshopper Creek still flows around the edge of town. There is a nice little campground alongside the creek, just west of the town itself. It is within walking distance. I've never caught a fish there, but that didn't really matter.

One other benefit of a late autumn visit is that there are NO bugs. None!

These photos, of the town, and of Grasshopper Creek, are from the Bannack State Park Homepage. Be sure to visit.