JJJ - Gymkana

Gymkahna Day! This is a day when the kids get to "paint" (literally) their horses and then there are games played in the corral. We did not end up with any rainbow horses or pink horses...rather tame outcome all things considered.

The group is broken into a couple of teams and there was come competition to see how well you controlled your horse after a week of riding - making him walk instead of run, some barrel-weave obstacles, etc. Great time. It was also a good time for me to take a break from the saddle pains (READ: Sores) I had - by now I am quite sure I could do a full split with a gymnastics team. There were no sores, really, but I was certainly sore - like riding a bike after years away. That seat just unnaturally touches you in ways and places that make you uncomfortable....not exactly dinner table talk type of uncomfortable either.

The last game of the Gymkahna games was a scavenger hunt on horseback. into the woods to locate different colored bandanas - a capture the flag type game. Whatever team located their 10 colored bandanas in the branches first, won.

JJJ - Riding to the top of the Valley

July 28, 2008: Day 2. My couple hours on a horse yesterday placed an undue level of pain on my a$$. I was really worried about what a full day would do to me. Our hosts, the Barkers, split the group into kids and adults for different rides. Even the adults were split based on interest levels. They did a great job trying to accommodate everyone's interest and riding level. Thank goodness they separated us from the whack-job that insisted on bringing her own saddle and exagerated her abilities beyond reason. It was difficult to listen to.

It is hard to describe the beauty in western Montana. Even a wide angle photo is hard pressed to capture the "Big Sky" and wide open country. We really enjoyed this trip.

Travel from Glacier NP to JJJ Wilderness Ranch

July 27, 2008: We had breakfast at the Park Cafe - excellent food, but it is hard to justify hte wait. The pie is good any time of day. After breakfast, we drove the roughly 3 hours to Great Falls, MT where we were to meet up with the Triple J Wilderness Ranch folks. Along the way, we spied a lot of horses both on and off the road.

The anticipation of the horses kept the "are we there yet" to a minimum. Good for all!

The ranch is about a 2 hour drive from Great Falls. We were picked up by Max, who (with his wife Ann) first named the ranch in the mid-seventies. His son Ernie (and Ernie's wife Kim) run the ranch now. We did the one week vacation at the ranch in our own log cabin on the site. They also offer week-long back country trips that seem a long way from roughing it.

You can't help but be in awe of the wide open land, the views, the wildlife. What a way of life!

MANY GLACIER Hotel

July 25, 2008: We head to Many Glacier Hotel for our room overlooking Swiftcurrent Lake. It is one of the nicest areas of the park. A bit crowded with the hotel, but plenty of areas to explore without much difficulty. First, we hiked around Swiftcurrent lake - maybe 3 miles. Our weather is perfect, but we still had a fair amount of whining from the little ones - it kept the hike moving at a rather brisk pace.

After dinner, we rented a couple of the canoes on Swiftcurrent Lake behind the hotel while the sun set. Great way to relax for an hour. This is clearly intended for the "city boy" in all of us. The lake is simply not that big. To the end and back in about 20 or 30 minutes without really breaking a sweat.

HIDDEN LAKE OVERLOOK HIKE

July 25th, 2007: We had a great day today - absolutely a highlight of the trip. We took another trip up the GTTS road with sunshine. We stopped at Logan's Pass and hiked to Hidden Lake. Even in late July, most of the trail is snow covered (deep but packed snow) and slippery. It is amazing the number of morons in flip flops up here - dragging kids that don't want to go. And, don't get me started on the people that can't walk the length of the mall but think they are going to tackle this hike. It is moderately difficult for an average person. The wildlife is everywhere. The goats are the most likely to come within VERY close proximity to you, but always give them their space. The big horn sheep are also likely to come close, but their forboding looks are likely to keep you at bay. One strike of the horns and its over! The scenery on this hike is spectacular. Make sure you bring a camera!

The one we wished we did is the Highline trail, but the kids voted down the first 1/4 mile where you cross a small ledge just above the GTTS road. This short beginning narrow ledge is not as frightening as people might say, but the cable on the mountain side to hold on does seem to give you a bit of concern. I didn't see too many of the people who ride around Walmart on their shopping scooters on the trails.

Lake MacDonald

7/24/08: Lake MacDonald Village Inn in Apgar (http://www.glacierparkinc.com/Lodging/PropertyDetails.asp?id=6&prop=V). We had a two bedroom second floor room overlooking the lake with a view for a spectacular sunrise. This is the place to stay on the west side of the park - great views, walking distance to the village, easy hikes, etc. The Inn is definitely dated, but if you are looking for The Ritz, you are in the wrong place - this provides a comfortable room after a long day in the outdoors and all the necessities.

The kids enjoyed the water (for a brief time) as it was COLD! The Inn is very close to the Going to the Sun Road http://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/goingtothesunroad.htm (the central artery for this park!) There are a lot of great short (family friendly) hikes on this side of the park like the Apgar lookout trail and Avalanche Lake.

The kids were able to look past the 50 degree water and wade in. They were the only ones I saw in the water the whole visit.

WHITEWATER RAFTING GLACIER NP

24 July 2008: West Glacier National Park: We flew in to Kalispell, MT shortly before noon. We arranged for a 1/2 day raft trip down the North Fork of the Flathead River with the Wild River Adventures Raft Company ( http://www.riverwild.com/) near the west entrance of the park. These guys did a great job - mostly class 2 and 3 on this short trip, but it was the kids first whitewater experience so we were gentle. The water is freezing since it was snow/ice a few miles up the river earlier that day. This was a great way to get the plane trip off our mind and get in the mood for 12 days of R&R.

The 21 year old guide played the stud role well, but he did know the river and give us options to avoid some of the more serious swells (for instance a Class IV rapids). We did avoid the worst of the river due to the small kids. In all, you just get going when the trip is over, so make time for a longer trip - especially in this area with such incredible scenery.

In late July 2008 we left for a few days in western Montana. Glacier National Park (http://www.nps.gov/glac/) for the first four days and then to a Montana Dude Ranch - The Triple J Wilderness Ranch (http://www.jjjranch.com/). This is one of many excellent dude ranches in Montana - find others at (http://www.montanadra.com/).

My wife and girls are veteran riders. My son and I took a couple of lessons at a local horse farm and decided that we are ready for a week in the saddle. I feel the stories of the a$$ pains from long days in the saddle are overblown and for other people.