Blue Mountain Bed & Breakfast - Missoula

A couple of year s ago or so I started a conversation with Elaine at Blue Mountain Bed & Breakfast on Twitter, although at the time I didn't know it was Elaine I was chatting with. We found each other because Montana people like to meet and support other Montana people, we're funny that way. If it's made in Montana we're for it.

Anywayz, Elaine thought we should come down for a visit but we usually travel in Clementine, our RV, because I'm a dog. Good news! Blue Mountain BB has a dog friendly room! So, I said we would do just that. It took me a couple of years to get Kinsey on board but this week we made the trek and are glad we did.

The home sits high up on the mountain over looking Missoula off to the north and Bitterroot Valley off to the south. The Bitterroot River flows along directly below.

Entrance to Blue Mountain BB

Everywhere you look it is clear that this is a home where animals and all things natural are welcome guests. Oh, people are welcome too but can only to speak from my perspective.

We had a lovely room with lodge furnishings and playful bears hanging around everywhere.

Elaine and Brady run the place. I have to take Kinsey's word for it but she said the breakfasts, Brady is the chef, were to die for, real gourmet fare. Kinsey wishes she had taken photos of them. You can find lots more photos and info on their website.

Dining and living area

If you are coming to Missoula and the Bitterroot area you should check this place out for sure. If you do, tell them Molly Montana sent you. I'm not sure if this will get you a warm welcome or a boot in the butt but I did try to be a good guest!

If you are looking for good old fashioned Montana hospitality you couldn't go wrong at Blue Mountain Bed & Breakfast. If you have never been to the Bitterroot Valley, take it from me, it's a hikers paradise. More on hiking in the next episode.

Until next time,
Molly Montana

©Kinsey Barnard

Hiking the Blacktail Trail

We had an awesome hike this morning, before the heat arrived.

The first thing we saw was a young black bear. I barked, jumped up and down and scared him away. Did not make myself popular with you know who. I do admit for such a little person I put out a heck of a deep bark. Poor little bear went flying off through the trees.

Kinsey saw this fungus growing on a tree trunk and thought it looked like some kind of baked meringue. Looking at things in terms of our stomachs is something we have in common. Probably if she ate it she would have been frothing at the mouth. It was pretty though.

Tree fungus

As we walked along we heard the screech of a hawk. We love that sound. For awhile we couldn't see through the trees but then it dropped down and lit in a fir tree. It perched in dark shadows so that it wasn't easy to see or take a picture. Kinsey called out to it "Hey hawk, can't you lite somewhere that we can see you?" No sooner did she say that than the hawk rose up and flew to a nearby tree top. I swear, sometimes I think she is a wildlife whisperer.

Hawk

 We went as far as an old mine shaft. Kinsey tried to get me to go in but I was not having any of it. That tunnel looked dark and dangerous to me. One time when Koty was with her the two of them went in until something growled at them and they high tailed it out for there. Never knew if it was a bear or a mountain lion. What idiots!

Old Mine Shaft

On the way back down the mountain Kinsey couldn't resist a selfie. I swear.

Kinsey & Molly Montana on the trail.

It was a great day and a great hike. Life is good in Montana

©Kinsey Barnard

JOURNEY TO THE BLACK HILLS DAY 9 - BEAR BUTTE - SPEARFISH

Much to our disappointment it was still raining this morning and the clouds were still socked in. We decided to go to Bear Butte even though we probably wouldn't be able to see anything. We couldn't spend another minute in Clementine or we'd go crackers.

To get to Bear Butte you drive through Sturgis, SD. For those who may not know, Sturgis is a biker's mecca. They have an annual event that draws well over 400,000 peeple. Kinsey would never be able to do this event. Crowds give her the heebee jeebees. I borrowed the below photo from Google photos.

It's still pretty quiet at this time of year but I bet it's a lot of fun when things get hopping.

When we got to Bear Butte it was raining and, much as we had suspected, the mountain was all but covered in clouds. In good news, we had the whole place to ourselves. In other good news, even though this is a state park it is managed as a sacred site and there are certain hours reserved exclusively for Native Americans. Very nice to see.

Bear Butte

There is a two mile trail up the mountain. Kinsey left me in the car as dogs are not allowed. I was able to keep an eye on her because there was not much point in going too far. Not only could you not see the mountain the trail was a muddy mess. As far along as she got the trees along the trail were covered with prayer cloths. The offerings were more colorful and elaborate than those we have found on the Blackfeet Reservation where we have spent a lot of time.

Bear Butte

Bear Butte - Prayer Cloths

Kinsey was very disappointed she couldn't see the mountain but what are you going to do? It is what it is.

Bear Butte

On the way back to Spearfish we saw signs for all kinds of trails we would like to hike but it was raining too hard and the trails were too muddy. I think we have to come back here. Even if the weather hadn't been the pits we would not have been able to do all the things we would like to do. This area is a hikers paradise!

Back at the RV park we had lunch and a nap. After our repose and even though it was still raining we took off on a walk. There are walk ways and paths all over. We headed out along Spearfish Creek. They have mailboxes with poop bags and trash cans all over. And, we never saw a piece of trash on the ground. Other cities could take a page out of Spearfish's play book. If you make it easy for people to do the right thing they are more likely to do it.

Spearfish Poop Station

 Even the "graffiti" in spearfish is in good taste.

Spearfish graffiti (aka wall painting)

Honestly, I think if we weren't so happy in Montana we might just pack our bags and move down here. It's beautiful, the people are friendly and for two walking/hiking fanatics such as ourselves, it just doesn't get any better. Kinsey is already talking about coming back in the Fall. I sure hope we do!

If you haven't already, you can read the story of why we ventured to the Black Hills here.

Ciao for now.
#Molly Montana

©Kinsey Barnard

FLAT CREEK ROAD - GROS VENTRE WILDERNESS

For those of you visiting from Facebook you will find those photos in my previous post.

It's a darned good thing I keep notes on our travels because this post is from our fall trip to Yellowstone and the Tetons, September 23rd to be precise. I don't know what to do about Kinsey. I'm having a hard time getting her to focus.

We had been told Flat Creek was a good place to take a hike. The road to the area is just east of the National Elk Range. We didn't get too terribly far before we  came to a sign that said 4 wheel drive was required. When we travel we tow a little Ford Focus (Shadow) and that's what we explore in. Shadow doesn't do 4 wheel drive roads. We had thought we could get all the way to the trailhead but Kinsey takes no chances so we got out to walk....

Gros Ventre Wilderness

... and walk. It was actually a very beautiful morning. The road, not surprisingly, followed along Flat Creek. Fall colors were much in evidence and the air was crisp and clear. Billowy white clouds scudded across sapphire blue skies. The sky is pretty big in Wyoming too!

Flat Creek - Gros Ventre Wilderness

 Kinsey loves photographing trees, especially when they are in full fall color.

Cottonwood -Gros Ventre Wilderness

She also likes to photograph dead trees. Can't imagine why. But, then again, she does many things I have no idea why she does them. In this case the sky was certainly worth recording.

After a while a convertible Camaro  drove by us and a nice couple waved merrily as they sped by. That was when Kinsey started to think we had been snookered by that sign. Three miles later we got to the trailhead and sure enough there was a lot full of cars, many of which were street cars. Sometimes I really think I should be the one managing this outfit.

Needless to say we can't report much on the trail as we only went about two miles up it. For that distance it was a gentle trail through a draw.

I guess you can tell I like to make fun of Kinsey. She does some pretty silly things and I often wonder how we get by. In this instance little was lost as the walk was beautiful and we both agree that being able to be out experiencing so much beauty is a gift not to be taken for granted. We were surrounded by simple, yet elegant beauty, the whole time.

National Elk Range From the Gros Ventre Wilderness

We always try and make the best of whatever comes our way. It wasn't hard to do on this day. Although, next time we'll drive to the trailhead.

Molly Montana - Gros Ventre Wilderness

Maybe now that I have Kinsey back on track I can get her to give me the photos to the rest of our trip!

Ciao for now,
Molly Montana

©Kinsey Barnard

On the Road to the Tetons

Friday Kinsey packed us up for our move to Jackson Hole. It had rained the night before and I could hear her outside grumbling about getting wet. You may recall we ended up in a back in space upon arrival in West Yellowstone. The reason Kinsey likes the pull through is because you can just pull up to the RV, hook up your toad and be off. There's a lot more jiggering around with the back in arrangement. She's constantly looking at me and asking "Why aren't you giving me a hand here?" Well, duh, I'm a dog!