With Montana, it is Love Part 2

Next up was the Avalanche Lake Trail, a six-mile hike that starts at the Trail of the Cedars and winds past Avalanche Falls and Avalanche Creek Gorge. The falls, dropping 45 feet into the gorge, was both awe-inspiring and intimidating. Reading a sign that warned of fatalities in the area brought home the reality that nature is as dangerous as it is beautiful and should be respected. The trail ended at a stunning lake surrounded by several cascading waterfalls, but we realized we were running out of daylight and had to race the sunset back to the trailhead. It was a close call, but we made it just in time! We had a lovely backpack dinner on the pebble-lined shore of Lake McDonald to end our day.

We spent a lovely morning exploring the quaint town of Whitefish.  It is reminiscent of a scene from an old western.  You feel as though a gunslinger could burst through the doors at any moment with a six-shooter in his hand. It is easy to see why many celebrities have been sighted here such as Justin Bieber, Tom Cruise, Kiefer Sutherland, and Julia Roberts. In the summer tourists commute from Whitefish to see Glacier National Park, and in the winter, it is a poplar place to ski on Big (Whitefish) Mountain. This is where we stayed during our trip, in a condo overlooking Whitefish. Each day we encountered deer wandering about the grounds without fear. The woods surrounding us were filled with huckleberries which were in season and many locals could be seen carrying their buckets in hopes of finding the berries before the bears did!  You could purchase huckleberry EVERYTHING, from pie, to honey, licorice, gummy bears, and anything in between.  We decided to try our luck at picking some and were moderately successful.

Wanting to immerse ourselves into the culture and explore everything Montana had to offer, we spent the evening at the Northwest Montana Fair & Rodeo. Experiencing a rodeo for the first time, with all its bull riding, barrel racing, and cowboy hats, felt like stepping into a different world. Yet, as I sat in the stands, I was struck by how similar it felt to my own community’s gatherings back home in Pennsylvania. It reminded me of race night at the Speed Palace in Port Royal with the locals cheering on their favorite competitor. It was a vivid realization that no matter where you are, people take pride in their roots and come together to celebrate their way of life.

On our final day, which happened to be my birthday, we decided to attempt one last hike—Logan Pass and Hidden Lake Trail, a trail we had struggled to find parking for all week. This area, located along the Continental Divide at an elevation of over 6,600 feet, offers spectacular views and is known for its abundance of wildlife. We set off with our backpacks and bear spray, and soon encountered both mountain goats and big-horned sheep. The view of Hidden Lake was breathtaking, a 360-degree panorama of pristine wilderness. As we were nearing the end of the hike, I looked to my left and suddenly spotted a grizzly bear in the distance. To our astonishment, it began moving toward us at an alarming speed. In awe and disbelief, we stood rooted to the spot as the bear came within 30 feet of us before veering away. The bear spray never left its holster, and we were left speechless, wondering if what we had just witnessed was real. It was a close encounter, but certainly left us with a story to tell.

As we packed our bags and prepared to leave, we knew we had just experienced the trip of a lifetime—one that left us changed forever. My nature-loving soul had been fed to the point of gluttony, and I knew I would never be the same. If you’ve ever considered visiting Glacier National Park, I urge you to do it—you’ll be glad you did! As a reminder of this incredible adventure, I brought back a shopping bag from Whitefish with the words, “I am in love with Montana. With other states, I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection, but with Montana, it is love.” Pennsylvania will always be my first love and home, but Montana, you are a very close second.

Rhonda S. Kelley, Executive Director

Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce