Thursday July 25

This morning we went on a ranger guided walk through the burn area on the west side of Lake McDonald.  Nine years ago there were fires that burned about 17% of the park.  One side of the lake burned, the other side was untouched.  The ranger talk focused on the benefit of fire to a forest and how it is necessary for some species of trees to reproduce.  Walking through chest high trees rather than 150 foot tall trees is definitely different.  There were only four people in the group besides the ranger; the other two were a grandfather and his grandson, both local people.  The grandfather moved from Manhattan as a child and has lived here since 1963, so his observations lent much to the narrative.  He recalled that in 2003 he and his wife came into the park and spent the night  the lakeside burned watching the fire.  He described watching the fire burn down the hill to the lakeshore, and then a prominence of flame reached 200 feet out over the water.  After this flare the fire along the shore quieted – no more fuel.  The fire burned for about 6 weeks before rain finally ended it.

Later in the day we drove to Whitefish, MT. to see what the towns looked like around the park.  They are all much larger than we thought they would be.  Whitefish in particular is a ski and winter sports town.  We were lucky enough to find the Northern Brewing Company and stopped in for a taste of their beers. We also happened upon a Breweries of Montana map, so the brewery tour continues!  We finished at Safeway for groceries.

Back at the camper we’re packing up to move to the east side of the park for a few days.  Hopefully we’ll see some wildlife at Many Glacier or Two Medicine areas of the park.  The park campgrounds are full on that side so we’ll stay at a KOA.  Yay water, sewer, electricity, phone, and internet!

 Rocky Point hike at Lake McDonald

 Mule Deer in the parking lot

 Whitefish, MT