National Bison Range - on road from Missoula to Kalispell

The day started by us sleeping in and then packing up and hitting the road to Kalispell.  On the way, we drove through the National Bison Range in hopes of seeing the bison up as close as I did when I was up here in July.  Alas, it was not to be.....

But we did see a whole bunch of white-tail deer, several hawks including one hunting on the ground, LOTS of waterfowl in Mission Creek, and a herd of bison way up high on a mountain.

After leaving the National Bison Range we drove north to Kalispell along the western edge of Flathead Lake through the Flathead Indian Reservation.  This lake is more picturesque than Lake Tahoe to me.  I don't know if was the way the sun was hitting it today, or the snow, or what, but it was an awesome site!

We arrived in Kalispell and checked in to our hotel, went to dinner, then the fish came out!  Both kids wanted to take advantage of the pool being open 24 hours here....luckily, Dad took them while I trudged along looking at today's "photo haul" and updating the 

'blog for all of you who are frolicking vicariously through us -- we hope that we are doing a fine job cuz we are having fun!  Link from yesterday's post has been updated -- above are just a few of the photos from today!

Tomorrow is Glacier National Park - in search of Glacier Billy and his mountain goat pals!

The Frolicking Featherstons

Over the river(s) and through the woods.....or better yet, neither rain, nor snow, nor dark of night.....

This past summer was so busy with travel for work for me and work for Chuck that we were not able to travel as a family.  Chuck is on an implementation project and it was decided that we would take family vacation during the project "blackout" weeks....so planning began for a trip to the mountains!


Boise, ID to West Yellowstone, MT to Missoula, MT to Kalispell, MT then back to Missoula, MT then back to West Yellowstone, MT then back to Boise, ID and finally back to Houston.  No big challenge you say?  Well, HA!  Considering that the Apgar Visitor Center at Glacier National Park is only open on weekends in winter, (and you know me and passport stamps at National Parks, right?), and it is entirely too far to drive from Boise, ID to Kalispell, MT in one day, I had to break the trip up.  Of course, you might be asking yourself, why start in Boise?


Well, Chuck's nephew and his wife (who live in Boise) had a new baby - that's why!  We had to see that new little Harley!  So, off to Boise we flew, then drove to West Yellowstone - only we hadn't planned on the 6 hour trip having to be made in the dark, while it was snowing, or when there was snow and ice on the road - in a sedan, and not in an SUV!  But, warriors that we are, plugged in our trusty GPS, and off we drove through the Snake River Valley, crossed that storied river about 5 times as we made our way toward West Yellowstone, and finally through the Targhee National Forest with snow blowing toward us.  Sometimes it looked like someone was throwing silver glitter at us! 


About 1 AM we had a welcoming committee of one MOOSE, about 8 feet tall and with a rack about as wide as our sedan, welcome us to his forest!  As luck would have it, my phone was in the pocket on Chuck side of the car and I could not get my camera out of the bag fast enough to snap his photo - but both Chuck and I were very glad that he did not decide to cross back in front of us!


We made it to Kelly Inn in West Yellowstone about 1:30 AM and unloaded the car, fell in to bed and woke up to several inches of the white stuff on the car.  No worries though -- Ryan to the rescue with the brush that the rental car company provided....he has become an expert with that tool in just one day!


We made our way to Missoula, MT tonight and drove through some beautiful country today - and saw some signs that will result in research projects for the kids -- like how did "The Lake that Tilted" and "Earthquake Lake" get their names, what is the Continental Divide?, as well as some of the most beautiful scenery.  I uploaded the few photos I took - take a peek and I will post more after our visit to Glacier National Park this weekend.  Here is a link to the photos -- https://featherstonfamilyfrolics.shutterfly.com/pictures/1407


Merry Christmas to you and yours -- we're frolicking again!
The Featherston's


p.s. -- SLOW DOWN when making left turns on snowy, icy roads.....story at 10!