Tag: Taxidermy

Butte Hike: Thompson Park, Pipestone Trailhead / Continental Divide

Butte Hike: Thompson Park, Pipestone Trailhead / Continental Divide

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What began as a collection of small mining claims, became a large and booming mining center in the 1900s. This is Butte, aka The Richest Hill on Earth.

Had time for a short stop at the Butte Visitor Center and for a quick hike in wilderness that’s just out of town. (You know my priorities after sitting in a car for most of the day.) Drove the city’s main drag up the hill to the historic district and back down. If you’re into mining, historic towns or fly fishing, you’ll want to make a stop in Butte…

Driving down the historic hill, Butte, MT
A side street off the top of the hill, Butte, MT

The visitor center had an extensive George Grant fly fishing exhibit and the requisite Montana taxidermy specimens/ natural history display.

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We chose to hike in Thompson Park  as hunters  aren’t allowed in recreation areas, but they are everywhere else and it’s high season. Took the Pipestone Trailhead, which morphed into the Continental Divide Trail, and was rewarded with the vista in the feature photo at the top of the page. A pleasant way to end the day.

Next stop on this 10 day whirlwind road trip from Washington through Idaho and Montana: Bozeman

Local color, the Hungry Horse Reservoir & a scary attic

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After working up an appetite on the Avalanche Trail in Glacier National Park, we stopped in for some sustenance at a local watering hole…It was very “colorful” as they say…Friendly barmaid and a handful of Montana mountain men.

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On the way back to Columbia Falls, we swung by the scenic  Hungry Horse Dam, the 11th highest concrete dam in the  US at 544 ft tall, 2115 ft wide, 39 ft thick at the top, and 330 ft at the base. There’s a 15 mile loop you can drive or bike, but it started pouring rain and visibility was poor so we opted out.

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Stopped for a cocktail at the Blue Moon Bar and Casino.

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Have I mentioned that it’s all about hunting in these parts? Taxidermy shops and small bars / casinos are as common as nail salons back in LA. When I walked into the Blue Moon, it was like walking into a natural history museum (and I’m not talking about just the patrons either).

 

Later, the granddaughter of the owner took me on a private tour of the attic that was jam packed with the owner’s “trophies” of big game from Canada, Alaska, Montana, etc…It was like something out of a horror movie, a bit creepy, and way over the top for this animal lover.