By Alkali Springs Correspondent
We had the good fortune to spend a midwinter weekend in Glacier and the beautiful Flathead Valley last week.
And beautiful was what it was. We had all types of weather and all types of scenery during the weekend and all could be described as spectacular.
Wherever we went on days that were cloudy and misty, waters reflected that same thing very clearly. Flathead Lake and Lake McDonald were, while open, as dark gray as the skies above. And huge forests were not blue or green as they usually are, but just as black as the ace of spades. It was awesome and not in the least depressing! In fact, there was a majesty in the waters and forests not seen when they are other colors. A majesty and a feeling that we are so small when compared to nature's wonders. That is a feeling seldom gotten in the beautiful Bear Paws, but certainly was prevalent in Glacier last weekend.
When we got to the Lake McDonald Hotel, suddenly out of the gloom rose Mount Brown and Mount Cannon as if to greet us and say, "Where have you been for so many months?" They looked just like very old and dear friends that did not want to be seen on that particular day, but still wanted us to know that they were still there. So beautiful and so unbelievable!
On the downside, there is not a lot of snow at Lake McDonald and even less on Marias Pass. We seem to be in a three-year mode of little winter snows. Hope that changes quickly!
Then one day the sun came out and the Swan Range greeted us in all its majesty on the east side of Flathead Lake. Those mountains were just east of where we were in Lakeside and they looked like they were close enough across the lake to reach out and touch them. Some days they are that way and that was one of those days.
That seemed to be a good day to visit the Blacktail ski area on the mountain just west of Lakeside. It was the right day to go there. We cannot describe the views there and do them justice. All the trees close to the top are so full of snow that they resemble the famed snow ghosts rather than trees at all. In fact, in another couple weeks and all will be snow ghosts.
The view from the top was unbelievable in the blue skied day that seemed that we could see forever in all directions. Below us was the mighty Flathead Lake with the Swan Range and the Missions running as far as the eye could see. To the north was Foys Lake, Kalispell, Big Mountain the peaks of Glacier spread out. That sight alone was enough to take our breath away. To the west and further into the Salish Range were three or four lakes we did not know the names of (although we found out later that one was named Smith Lake). And to the south, Lake Mary Ronan spread out below, beautiful as well.
That was some weekend! But you know, gentle readers, when we got back to Havre and later ventured out to the beautiful Bear Paws, well, they are no slouch either in the beautiful department. But you all knew that anyway, didn't you?
Next week, did Marmaduke Marmot see his shadow or not up in White Pine Gulch and is there or is there not six more weeks of winter?
