With Montana It Is Love

Far away in Montana, hidden from view by clustering mountain-peaks, lies an unmapped northwestern corner – the Crown of the Continent. The water from the crusted snowdrift which caps the peak of a lofty mountain there trickles into tiny rills, which hurry along north, south, east and west, and growing to rivers, at last pour their currents into three seas. From this mountain-peak the Pacific and the Arctic oceans and the Gulf of Mexico receive each its tribute. Here is a land of striking scenery.

George Bird Grinnell
The Century Magazine 1901

We enjoyed it too.

This is the first post of an attempt to catch up with real life, having now returned from our lovely New Zealand journey just over 9 months ago. Up first: Glacier National Park, visited in May.

It’s huge, it’s beautiful, and we need to go back. Glacier’s wilderness straddles the Continental Divide, with a single road going from one side to the other. You can approach the center from a few different points around the outside, but for the most part the park is just mountains and forests. That road follows two huge drainage valleys as they exit the park on either side of the Divide. The sheer mountainsides, green spring foliage, and huge waterfalls were very reminiscent of NZ – we got a little nostalgic.

I’m in love with Montana. For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection. But with Montana it is love.

John Steinbeck
Travels with Charley: In Search of America

…for the Lockbirds, it’s love for Montana, California, Colorado…probably more :)