Varied Skies

With eyes set on Glacier National Park, we departed Medora, ND and headed for Montana.  M drove the first leg while I assumed state-sign-picture-taking duty. And that explains why we do not have a picture of any “Welcome to Montana” sign. Fortunately, M is a better driver than I am a sign picture taker. I did manage to keep the kids on track with school and we arrived in Hardin, MT, with studies complete.

Hardin lies just outside the Crow Indian Reservation and is a short drive from the Little Big Horn Battlefield National Monument. Site of “Custer’s Last Stand” and the death of 263 members of the U.S. 7th Cavalry, the Battle at the Little Big Horn represented a great victory for Sioux and Cheyenne warriors. But it was their last great victory as the defeat of Custer galvanized the American public and prompted the U.S. Government to spend even more time and money to make sure that troublesome tribes capitulated and remained on reservations.

I’ve always been interested in the battle and have watched a few documentaries on the subject. I still don’t know whether Custer was an idiot whose luck finally ran out or whether poor leaders betrayed him by failing to properly execute his orders or come to his defense (probably some of both), but seeing the battlefield really helped put things in perspective.  Surprisingly, this monument to a U.S. defeat and great Sioux and Cheyenne victory also enhanced my understanding of the plight of the American Indian. I think picturing the pre-battle village across the Little Big Horn River with a thousand tee-pees and 7,000-8,000 inhabitants helped personalize their situation.

After touring the battlefield, we enjoyed some local small-town dining at the Lariat Country Kitchen before heading back to our campsite. The Montana nights have been cool and we enjoyed a nice fire with s’mores and a color bomb.

School occupied most of our second day in Hardin. The kids have been good about knocking out assignments in advance as time permits. We did manage a trip to the pool before dining at 3 Brothers Cafe.

We left Hardin bound for Bozeman, MT. Bozeman lies within spitting distance of Yellowstone National Park, but we are saving that park for September when it should be less crowded. We enjoyed the very nice downtown area with lots of eating choices.

Chocolate Mouse surprised us with gigantic single scoop cones for a mere $2.50.  Premium.  Tasty.

For our second day in Bozeman, we rafted the Gallatin River with Class II and III rapids.  The Gallatin begins in Yellowstone and its waters eventually flow into the Gulf of Mexico via the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. It was L’s first rafting trip. She loved it, as did the rest of us. We are already researching other potential rafting trips along our route.

Robert Redford filmed many of the river scenes for “A River Runs Through It” on the Gallatin. “Brad Pitt Rock” lies just beyond our take out point at Storm Castle Peak, the circular peak in the background.

On to Glacier!