Long before commercial airlines had jet airplanes I had logged about 1 million miles or so, sitting midway between propellers that got me from A to B through storms back then, instead of above them. Often the ride was rough and on some flights they would even run out of those paper bags that are in the seat pocket in front of you. Aside from some bumpy rides, there were also scary ones.

One night, halfway across the Atlantic, the pilot notified us that even though two of the four engines had quit working there was no danger of fire and we had more than enough fuel to get to England but not much farther.

I was lucky enough to take a $10 dollar ride with Herman Geiger when he was experimenting with glacial flying on the Gornergrat Glacier in Zermatt. While I flew with Herman I managed to expose four minutes of never-before-seen footage because no one had ever flown off a glacier before with a cameraman sitting beside him.

 

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Over the last 38 years, the Archie Roe Invitational track meet has consistently been a highlight of the track season. Depending on the year it can be the largest meet in the state, and one of the most competitive. The records set inside Legends Stadium since 1974 rank near the best in Montana history.

Despite a little wind and rain, the remarkable tradition shined once again last weekend. Glacier senior Lexy Boschee tied the meet record in the high jump set in 1992, clearing 5-foot-9. Flathead senior Tess Brenneman, in her final home meet, dominated like she has the last four years, winning three individual events and helping both relay teams win.

 

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High water mucking up the rivers reminds me of the spring some years ago when I ditched it all to become a fly fishing guide. My daughters look back on that time now and chuckle at my "mid-life crisis." When I look back I wonder what I was smoking, though I have the drug-test results to prove whatever it was it wasn’t strong enough.

I had a lot of help in my descent into self-destruction. Fishing buddies, drinking friends, the usual assortment of n’er do wells that I like to associate with. They all encouraged me to buy a boat and take the plunge. A guide’s life is a fine one, they said.

 

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Being one of the best goat-tying cowgirls in the nation, Lexy Rianda has gotten used to having her hands full.

The Kalispell native wrapped up her final exam at Montana State University last Friday, graduated Saturday in Bozeman, and saddled up Sunday in Missoula and became the year-end champion at the Big Sky Region Finals Rodeo.

 

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Warm temperatures are expected to return this week just in time for the opening of several campgrounds throughout the Flathead National Forest.

Campgrounds at Big Creek, Emery Bay, Holland Lake, Swan Lake, and Tally Lake will open to the public Friday, May 11, along with the Doris Point Boat Launch, according to the Forest Service. Other sites will open later in the month. The Doris Creek and Lost Johnny Campgrounds are scheduled to open May 18. Depending on weather conditions, the Lid Creek Campground is scheduled to open May 24.

The Forest Services is reminding campers and visitors that by law all food and food-related items must be stored in a bear-resistant manner. Campers are also reminded to be careful with fire and make sure all fires are “dead out” before leaving.

Most campsites are first-come first-serve but some can be reserved beforehand. This year reservations can be made online. Or call 1-877-444-6777.

Big Creek Campground is about 20 miles north of Columbia Falls along the North Fork of the Flathead River. There are 22 campsites and a group site. The fee is $13 per night and there's an additional fee for the group site. The day-use area, which includes a boat launch, has a day-use fee of $4 per vehicle, or a season for $30. For more information contact the Hungry Horse-Glacier View District at 387-3800.

Emery Bay Campground is on the east shore of the Hungry Horse Reservoir off Road 38, approximately six miles from Martin City. There are 26 campsites and two group sites. Amenities include a boat ramp and water. Single units are $13 per night. For more information contact the Hungry Horse-Glacier View District at 387-3800.

Holland Lake Campground is about an hour and a half southeast of Bigfork, about 10 miles south of Condon on Montana Highway 83. There are 27 sites available and 13 individual campsites. The fee is $15 per night. A group site is also available for reservation. For more information contact the Swan Lake District Office at 837-7500.

Swan Lake Campground is directly south of the community of Swan Lake, approximately 15 miles southeast of Bigfork on Highway 83. The campground offers 36 family-sized campsites and a group site. Eleven of the family sites and the group site are available by reservation. The remaining camp sites are available on a first-come first-serve basis. The fee is $15 per night. There is a $25 fee for the group site plus a $15 fee for vehicle at the group site. The day-use area, across the highway from the campground, includes a boat launch, beach and a day-use group site that can be reserved. The day-use fee is $4 per vehicle, or a season pass for $30.

Tally Lake Campground is about 12 miles west of Whitefish, and offers a wide variety of recreation facilities and activities. The campground has 40 campsites and a boat launch, open air pavilion, beach area, picnic site and water. A camp host is on site during the summer months. The site has parking for 50 vehicles, a double vault toilet, picnic tables, fire grill, group fire ring, horse pit, volleyball court and nature trail. There are several trails nearby and two trails within the campground. One group site and the pavilion can be reserved.

Doris Point Boat Launch is about eight miles south of Hungry Horse on the West Side Hungry Horse Reservoir Road. The site features a two-lane boat ramp with a dock, parking for approximately 70 vehicles with trailers, two vault toilets and a day-use picnic area. The day-use fee is $4 per vehicle or a season pass is available for $30. For more information contact the Hungry Horse-Glacier View District at 387-3800.

 

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For those looking to find an out-of-place curiosity, check out the Marias Pass Memorial Park about an hour and a half east of Kalispell on U.S. Highway 2. Along the way, travelers can enjoy the stunning views of Glacier National Park and some area history along the way.

The Great Northern Railway first crossed Marias Pass in the late 1890s and today it’s also traversed by U.S. Highway 2.

 

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In 1947 I made the unconscious decision to spend my winters anywhere there was enough snow to turn those weird things attached to my two feet. During that time I have seen all kinds of unusual weather conditions. I watched four feet of snow fall on Big Sky, Mont., the last week of June.

I almost got caught in a blizzard that dumped 24 feet of snow in 24 hours only 47 miles from the Los Angeles City Hall. It happened on Mount Waterman in 1943 and fortunately I had five other skiers to help me push the car out of a half-dozen snow banks before we got low enough on the mountain where the snow turned to rain.

 

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Rugby, for an unassuming spectator, can be a perplexing sport. Men, and sometimes women, dressed in collared shirts without any padding ramble around the field colliding and tackling like gentlemen brawlers. It appears to be orchestrated chaos with players relying more on survival instincts than a playbook. Not surprisingly, the collared shirts don’t stay clean very long.

 

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