Category: Nature

Rugg Family Tour Guide

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A family friend from Pennsylvania reached out to me a few months ago about a special trip he and his sister were planning on taking with their 80-something-year-old dad. Their trip included two nights in lovely Kalispell, Montana – which allowed me to play tour guide for a day. We started our day by driving up to Polebridge Mercantile for some huckleberry bear claws, then headed over Logan Pass, down to St. Mary River for lunch & fishing, followed by a trek in & out of Many Glacier, then headed back to Kalispell via Highway 2. For the record, I have stopped at Goat Lock nearly every time I have driven past it. I’d likely guess I’ve stopped over 100x and until TODAY had not once seen so much as a hint of a goat other than the sign at the trailhead stating they were there. I can now confirm there are actual goats at the Goat Lick rest area. Yay!

Biking the Hiawatha Trail

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Nestled in the heart of the Bitterroot Mountains, this iconic rail-to-trail route offers a cycling experience like no other. As you pedal along the historic Milwaukee Road rail bed, you’ll traverse awe-inspiring trestles and pass through several illuminated tunnels, including the famous Taft Tunnel, all set against a backdrop of lush forests and pristine alpine lakes. With its gentle gradient and well-maintained path, the Hiawatha Trail is accessible to riders of all levels, making it a must-visit destination for those seeking a harmonious blend of natural beauty and cycling thrill.

I had to deliver Rost’s old crib to its new owner on the Montana-Idaho border so I decided to take advantage of my proximity to the Hiawatha Trail. My friend Becky joined Rost & me for the ride on the last day of the 2023 season. Perfect timing!

Rocky Point

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Rocky Point is a short little out-and-back hike along the water’s edge of Lake McDonald. My friend Breanna (and her son) took Rost & me out for a quick trek along the trail one night. Rost is a little rockstar on any hiking trail, especially when there are rocks to throw into the water somewhere along the way. I hope this bodes well for me as a future hiking buddy.

BIKING THE SUN (PART 3)

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My friend Bre and I took a third trip to bike the Going to the Sun Road. Another attempt that had me turned around before reaching the end point yet again. My first trip out was rained out (something I now need to take into account when adventuring with Rost), the second trip a grizzly bear decided the road was (rightfully) his (or hers). On this trip, a flat tire on Bre’s bike meant she had to run roughly 3 miles next to her bike back to the trailhead while I took our boys back in my double bike trailer – which I luckily decided to use on this trip instead of the single bikes seat Rost prefers.

Biking the Sun (part 2)

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A second trip to bike the Going to the Sun Road had me turned around before reaching the end point yet again. My first trip out was rained out – something I now need to take into account when adventuring with Rost. This time, a grizzly bear decided the road was (rightfully) his (or hers). Another day, another adventure! Guess I’ll just have to try again.

Quarantine

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Quarantine during the Covid 19 pandemic looked as it looked for most of middle-class America – cleaning, deep cleaning, more cleaning, drinking, baking, tinkering, and many pictures of my pets as I worked from home. I’m just here to share some of the photos from time spent at home over the last few years. Xoxo.

Jesse & Jaiden

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Brian’s brother tied the knot to his longtime love Jaiden this past week in a beautiful ceremony close to their home in Bismark, ND.

Brian & I flew into Montana to spend a few much-needed vacation days with his parents before making the drive to Bismark.

We spent a few fun days exploring Jesse’s new-ish stomping grounds & getting to know Jaiden’s family. Another beautiful wedding in the books.

Zoo Morning

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I’ve found mornings at the zoo to be quite a pleasant way to spend a quiet morning lost in my own thoughts. Hopefully, some more exciting adventures will begin again in 2022, but for now, I’m finding little ways to enjoy my downtime.