2 months out West

[mbliss57]

My wife and I spent 2 months out West this summer and just returned last night. We stayed at our daughters in Spokane, WA but we travelled extensively using their house as a base. They just moved out there last summer 2019.

What a great adventure we had.
I will post some pics over next day or so. We drove and stayed in motels or at friends houses. We followed a lot of the Lewis and Clark trail.
We visit/ toured Mt. Ranier, Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. We also spent a week at Priest Lake in Northern Idaho. We did a jet boat tour up Hells Canyon and kayaked and fly fished the Grande Ronde River in N Oregon-S Washington. We saw alot of Washington State, much of Idaho north of Twin Falls, a big chunk of Western Montana as far east as Butte and the Yellowstone / Grand Teton area of Wyoming including Cody.

We put just over 4500 miles on my daughters Kia Forte. She had lots of miles to give as it's their spare car. Its still way under their mileage allotment.
They are all beautiful places in their own right so I can't say I liked one more..
Yellowstone is vast and diverse. The Tetons, Glacier and Ranier are just stunning and spectacular. We did lot of hiking up to the small mountain lakes in 3 of the parks. The smoke only got to us the last week we were there. It rolled into the Wallowa mountains as we were on top of Mount Howard near Joseph Or. The Gondola ride up was awesome for viewing but we could see nothing going down. The smoke was like a dense fog the next day all the way back to Spokane.

One of the nicest drives was from Lewiston ID to Missoula MT. We drove route 12 along the untamed Lochsa River. Its a 2 lane by- way through the Lolo National Forest. There are many similar drives that are not "famous" that we took to see the country from off the beaten path. Each time we were not disappointed. What a large and beautiful country we live in.


The good wife (Lori) with grandson Auggie at mini golf in the Wallowa State Park , Joseph,Oregon area.

This was taken on a dirt road near the Lolo Pass Ranger station just off route 12 in Montana just over the Idaho border at the top of the pass. We ventured onto some pretty rugged roads with that little Kia.

Sunrise over the Wallowas.. 6 hours later they are covered with smoke..

The hike to Taggart Lake in Tetons

The view from Taggart lake with the Tetons as a backdrop.

Jenny lake in the Tetons

Continental Divide and Yellowstone National Park..I lost count of he times we crossed the divide this summer... more than a dozen for sure. We spent 3 days here and could have spent 7 or more.

Looking East over Bill Buffalo Bill Dam at Visitor center near Cody WY

Fantastic Gun Collection that is the best I have ever seen. Over 7000 firearms.. Small collection of S&W revolvers displayed here and there.

Yours truly taking a peanut butter and jelly "sammich" break on the Grande Ronde River, eastern Washington/ Oregon border area upriver from Boggins Oasis. (I am not giving anyone the finger)

Mount Ranier, WA. from Crystal Mountain looking South

The moose visit that just happened one day. It was 101F and the moose apparently knew where to find cool water. They stayed for 2 days and moved on. This was in our daughters yard. I actually was up at 6:30AM at ground level near back sliding door and this moose just walks up to the patio and laid down in the grass! I have an entire album to fill of their movement over a 2 day period.

Sunset from our daughters back yard just south of Spokane

Glacier NP hike to Hidden Lake at Logan Pass

Our week at Priest Lake Northern Idaho

My wife, daughter her husband and the 3 Grandchildren.

 

[Peak53]

Oh, ****! Now the secret is out can't you people just visit, spend money, and go away quietly

 

[nimrod3316]

Beautiful pictures I worked their in 1981 54 days straight on a coal load out. I seen Devils Tower, and missed the Black Hills cause we drove through at night.

 

[Old 44 Guy]

Yes, The West is indeed beautiful. That is why we live here.

 

[Baggy Wrinkle]

A great adventure indeed. You were very fortunate to have the time and health to have made such a journey. In the same way, we westerners need to wander around the Midwest to gather an appreciation of the beauty and history of the lands along the great Mississippi and all its tributaries. More Americans need to get out of their own backyards and see all the wonders of this country and meet the local folks along the way.

 

[mbliss57]

A great adventure indeed. You were very fortunate to have the time and health to have made such a journey. In the same way, we westerners need to wander around the Midwest to gather an appreciation of the beauty and history of the lands along the great Mississippi and all its tributaries. More Americans need to get out of their own backyards and see all the wonders of this country and meet the local folks along the way.

I failed to mention how hospitable almost everyone was out there. Particular anywhere that wasn't a tourist trap. Most people would just strike a up conversation.
Jackson WY was the most "touristy" town we visited. I was not impressed.. it was for the "elites"... although the good part was the rodeo we attended.

 

[The Analyst]

Absolutely spectacular. It's great when we get to see snapshots of the vast beauty of our country. Thanks for sharing.

 

[old bear]

What a great adventure, you took. I hope everyone had a great time.

 

[robrossk]

Thanks for sharing. We just spent a week or so at Mt Rushmore and the surrounding area. Absolutely beautiful. Can't wait to go further west!

 

[Marshwheeling]

In Minnesota, I’m kind of in the middle. I can go either way. I usually choose to go West. The scenery and the people are the best.

In Jackson, a local told me ,”the billionaires are driving the millionaires out of town”.

 

[billwill]

mbliss57's BIG Adventure....WOW what a trip and tons of memories. Just remember the trip as you shovel that NE Ohio snow this winter!

I'm jealous....of the trip!

 

[bigwheelzip]

Absolutely precious picture of Lori and Auggie. Nuthin better than fun adventures with the grandkids. Thanks for sharing.

After working a stint at Hanford, western WA made the short list of places to retire. Only downside was ash from Mt Saint Helens.

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[max]

You mentioned Lewis and Clark. They returned on yesterday's date in 1806. What a trip they had!

 

[JohnRippert]

They do like those sprinklers don't they?

 

[crazyphil]

You mentioned Lewiston to Missoula on Route 12. A beautiful drive.
I was going over that route many years ago, at just about sundown.
I was driving my 1982 Chevrolet Silverado, which was almost new at
the time. A big old cow elk stepped out right in front of me, I only had
time to say Oh xxxx! She just shook herself off and ran on down into
the timber. Lot of damage to the front end of the Silverado, but I had
good insurance. I'll bet the old girl was kinda sore.

Beautiful pictures BTW.

 

[vigil617]

Love reading about trips around the West. So many bucket list places to visit and admire! Thanks for sharing.

A couple of quick questions: Being a Lewis and Clark buff, I had to wonder if during your drive from Lewiston to Missoula the route takes you anywhere near the Missouri River headwaters at Lolo that the Corps of Discovery found on that memorable day.

Also, while you were in Glacier, what hikes did you take? So sorry that the east side of the park was closed this year due to COVID. You absolutely have to go back there to see the area around Many Glacier and Two Medicine, as well as that part of the Going-To-The-Sun Road that was closed on its eastern side.

 

[crazyphil]

Missouri Headwaters Park is at Three Forks, which is about 134 mile
East of Missoula on I90.

After camping at Three Forks in 1805, L&C proceeded West and
over Lolo seeking a route to the Pacific. They tried the Salmon
River, but that was futile.

There are places on the Idaho side of Lolo where scientists have
said L&C camped. They are accessible from Route 15.

 

[BearBio]

I failed to mention how hospitable almost everyone was out there. Particular anywhere that wasn't a tourist trap. Most people would just strike a up conversation.
Jackson WY was the most "touristy" town we visited. I was not impressed.. it was for the "elites"... although the good part was the rodeo we attended.

You know what they say about Jackson==all the billionaires chased the millionaires out! We stayed once while going to an elk hunt. Even Motel 6 was expensive! The maid told us they had to live 40 miles away and commute because of the prices/rents.

I've been all over the east (except New England) and cannot ever picture me living anywhere except the PNW (except maybe Alaska). California was like that in the 50's and 60's, especially east of the Sierras. Now we live in the Cascade foothills.

 

[llowry61]

What a great trip, my wife and I went to Yellowstone and the BB Museum 30 years ago when we got married. Would live to get back out there. Glad you had the time, the means and the health to do it.

 

[mbliss57]

Missouri Headwaters Park is at Three Forks, which is about 134 mile
East of Missoula on I90.

After camping at Three Forks in 1805, L&C proceeded West and
over Lolo seeking a route to the Pacific. They tried the Salmon
River, but that was futile.

There are places on the Idaho side of Lolo where scientists have
said L&C camped. They are accessible from Route 15.

We listened to an audio book written in 1910 by William R Lighten called Lewis & Clark. The routes you are describing, by coincidence, were being read about as were were driving up route 28 then 93 past the Lehmi River and Salmon toward Lolo. It was a pretty cool audio guide. The Bitterroot range is just unbelievably rugged. They don’t look as intimidating or spectacular from afar but they are not passable until you get to Lolo. Not in 1805 and not now.


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