Archive for the ‘Hiking and Backpacking’ Category
Summer Season Begins in Glacier National Park
Memorial Day Weekend marks beginning of primary visitation season at national park.... more
Explore Downtown Missoula by Foot on a Historic Walking Tour
If you’re visiting Missoula and looking to explore the city a bit, the beautiful downtown area offers an array of locations rich in historical significance. The Missoula Downtown Association has a self-guided... more
Saint Mary’ Peak Trail
By CHAUNCEY LISTON-How did I get into this fix? It started with my packing. That afternoon I decided I was going to climb the 9,300-foot peak that is Saint Mary’s in the Bitterroot Mountain Range. ... more
MacLay Flats Nature Trail
By MALLORY KERENSA WELLS - It was a quiet Thursday evening and after a long week I knew that a hike was not only a wanted but a needed.... more
Tower Street Trails: A Bold Dinner Date
By BRENDEN SPERR - I see trees. Trees and squirrels everywhere, squirrels that are so bold they get right next to me then turn and run as if they’re playing chicken.... more
Tales and Trails: Love in the Time of Cold
By BRUCE AUCHLY - One day it’s warm and sunny, the next day cold and snowy. Welcome to that time on the calendar between winter and spring. ... more
Blue Mountain Folf Course: Too Much Fun to Hike Past
By DEVIN SLATER-It seems like if there is anything you want to do outdoors you can find it at Blue Mountain. But honestly, I wouldn’t know those trails. I never get past the folf course. ... more
Hiking Blodgett Canyon Trail
By DONNA HULL - How long has it been since you’ve been to Blodgett Canyon, the Bitterroot Valley’s version of Yosemite? Long-time Missoula boomers have probably hiked Blodgett Canyon Trail more times than t... more
The Clark Fork River Walk (VIDEO)
By CATHERINE ORFANOS: The Montana campus was quiet. The Oval, empty. Puddles formed across the sidewalk and my path through campus zigzagged between them. ... more
Rattlesnake Valley: Wood’s Gulch to Sheep Mountain
By REBECCA KEITH- I lean up against Jasmine; my red, secondhand mountain bike and stew in frustration. The 11-mile ride from Wood’s Gulch to the top of Sheep’s Mountain was kicking my butt. ... more
Kim Williams Trail: The Unexpected Wilderness in My Backyard
By MARTHA KREBILL- Walking the Kim Williams Trail that night had been a spur-of-the-moment decision, and I was captivated by the natural beauty of what I can describe literally as my backyard.... more
Rattlesnsake Recreation Area
By MEGAN FRANZ - I made it to the Main Rattlesnake Trailhead, locked up the bike, swung my beat up sack over my shoulder and started trekking along the old road that follows the creek. ... more
My Most Spectacular Failure Was a Gift
By SHELLI JOHNSON - Former Lady Griz hoopster, Shelli Johsnon tells how getting cut from the team and losing her scholarship was a game changer that led her to an Epic Life! ... more
Greenough Park Trail: A Journey Into Art and Nature
By PARKER BRIXEY - I’m cruising into Greenough Park on my bike, entering the park at its southern end, closest to town. I’ve got my headphones in, and Wiz khalifa bumping loud. ... more
Randolph-Moon Homestead Trail: Pushing Back Against Doubt and Disease
By GARRETT SLADE - It wasn’t until I had topped the final crest in the North Hills that my anxiety about the day fled. From my vantage point over Missoula the stress of the past two weeks began to melt away.... more
Mount Jumbo – Daylight Turns to Dark, Marvel Fades to Fear
By By NICK MERTES- Our eyes locked. He reared back and then quickly struck the ground with his hooves, like he was revving his engine, looking to fight. He was ready to go, but was I?... more
North Hills – Making Peace With the Rural-Urban Medley
By BELLE GASH-GILDER - There are a number of different places to begin to explore the North Hills. I started at Mountain View Trail which literally literally starts in someone’s yard. ... more
Mount Jumbo – Rising Above a Rude Awakening
By HENRY CRIST- Sometimes, little adventures change your entire perspective, and you’re a different person because of them. My adventure wasn’t a heart racing one, but it was just what I needed.... more
Crazy Canyon – An Easy Climb in Nature’s Cathedral
CHARLES EARLY - I decided to hike Crazy Canyon with a friend in early Fall. Although this is a popular hike, we didn’t see another person, which only added to the beauty of the trail.... more
Ch-paa-qn Peak
By KIAN BERTIN - People from all over the world have summited this mountain. “Pride of Britain,” one of the rocks has written into it. Another one reads, “I hate this damn wind.”... more
Crazy Canyon
By LIONE CLARE - I was happy to be back in the woods about to climb a mountain, an activity much more accessible and frequent in my hometown of Sitka, Alaska.... more
Pengelly Ridge
By CARLY STINSON - I love hiking, but as I spun in circles running from class to class this semester, I just couldn’t find time for the Pengelly Ridge Trail hike.... more
Winter Carnival and Snow Races at Marshall Mountain
Join Missoula Parks & Rec for the first annual Marshall Mountain Winter Carnival and Snowshoe/Ski Races on Sat., Feb. 22 at Marshall Mountain, from 10-4 p.m.... more
Smokejumpers’ Trail
By COLIN BRUST - We trudged up the steep and rocky path, leaving the Kim Williams riverside trail below us. Even though there was a great view of the Missoula Valley behind us, I felt uneasy.... more
Citizens Urged to Call 911 to Report Mount Jumbo Trespassers
Parks & Rec Reminder: Mount Jumbo is closed for the winter and with the new snowfall Avalanche Danger is HIGH. Cititzens are urged to call 911 to report Trespassers.... more
Mount Jumbo Wildlife Closure Begins December 1
Mount Jumbo's North Zone is closed from December 1 until May 1. Trespassing during the wildlife closure is prohibited and violators may be fined up to $500. ... more
Two Dog Years
By ROB BREEDING - I’m in my early 50s and I’ve begun to measure my time in bird dog years. My current hunting partner, Doll, is 5 and I can reasonably expect another 5 to 7 years with her.... more
Milestone Season Comes to a Close
By DILLON TABISH - More than a century after it was established, Glacier National Park is more popular than ever.... more
Reflecting on ‘The Bob’
By MYERS REECE - Fifty years ago, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Wilderness Act into law, and Bob Marshall was there from the beginning... more
Tragic Ending to Ambitious Young Life
By TRISTAN SCOTT - Experienced BASE jumper had successfully leapt from Glacier Park's Mount Siyeh prior to fatal attempt.... more
Glacier Park Transitions to Fall After Historic Summer
By DILLON TABISH - Iconic Sun Road slated to open through most of October as visitation approaches record high.... more
A Wild Idea: Celebrating 50 Years of the Wilderness Act
By TRISTAN SCOTT-Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act, advocates look toward the future... more
Tourism Mishaps
By KELLYN BROWN-As a 20-something slinging trash for the park service in the early 2000s, I was privy to my fair share of tourist mishaps, from the comical to the tragic. ... more
Iceberg Lake in Glacier National Park
By DILLON TABISH-The 4.5-mile hike to Iceberg is considered one of the quintessential treks in Glacier National Park.... more
July Courses at the Glacier Institute
The Glacier Institute has announced it’s July courses, which will get you outside and enjoying the Flathead!... more
Becoming an Outdoors Woman Summer Workshop August 1-3
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' popular Becoming an Outdoors-Woman summer workshop is set for August 1-3 at Boulder Hot Springs near Boulder.... more
Rain and Birds
By BRUCE AUCHLY-Rain, rain and more rain. Oh yes, and snow in the mountains. Must be June in Montana. While all that moisture is good for fish, it can wreak havoc on land based critters, like birds.... more
Sheep Grazing on City Open Space, Pet Owners Asked to Help Protect Herd
By BECKY GOODRICH-Missoula Parks and Recreation is asking dog owners to watch for sheep grazing on City open space, and leash their pets when hiking near the herd. ... more
Glacier Park Prepares for Busy Summer
Plow crews are ascending Going-to-the-Sun Road, clearing several feet of snow and preparing Glacier National Park for the upcoming summer season.... more
Mount Jumbo South Zone Closure Extended to April 7
To protect wintering elk, most of Mount Jumbo’s south zone will remain closed through Sunday, April 6. However, the “L” trail will re-open to the public on Tuesday, April 1. ... more
Mount Jumbo South Zone Closure Extended Through March 31
FYI - Mount Jumbo’s South Zone, including the "L" trail, the US West road and the Backbone Trail will remain closed through Monday, March 31.... more
Love in the Winter
By BRUCE AUCHLY - Just in time for Valentine’s Day, we bring you those wonderful love birds – great horned owls. That's right, the most impressive owl in North America as a symbol of Valentine’s Day.... more
The Missoula Nordic Ski Club: Your Ticket to Cross Country Skiing
By MARK VOSBURGH - It's officially winter here in Missoula and snow is on the ground. Lets go cross country skiing! The Missoula Nordic Ski Club has got you covered.... more
A Great Contrast
By DAN SAXTON - The last couple weeks have been eye-opening to me as a new resident in Montana and as a lover of the outdoors. We plunged right from 85-degree temperatures to the 50’s and have stayed there.... more
Trading the Road for the Sea in Alaska
By DONNA HULL - On the fourth and final week of our Alaska Highway road trip adventure, we parked the truck in the bowels of the MV/Kennicott and let an Alaska Marine Highway ferry captain do the driving.... more
Eye Candy From the Far North
By DONNA HULL - Scenery, scenery, scenery—that’s been the buzzword for Week Three of our Alaska Highway road trip. The scenery on the Glenn Highway from Tok to Palmer topped it all.... more
The Third Week in September
It's the autumnal equinox, which some equate with death. But for hunters, anglers, and hikers, the third week of September is a time to anticipate, to delight in, to anxiously await. ... more
What is Peakbagging?
By DAN SAXTON - Climbing mountains has always been my favorite activity. I am what many call a “peakbagger" - that is, one who primarily climbs mountains and has a set goal of summits to reach. ... more
Watching a Grizzly Eat Breakfast
By DONNA HULL - Welcome to week two of the Alaska Highway road trip where my husband, Alan, and I are exploring Northern British Columbia, Yukon and Alaska. ... more
Riding on a Ferry to Prince Rupert
By DONNA HULL - Hello from the Alaska Highway. What is a Missoula boomer doing on a road trip in the wilderness of the Yukon, Northern British Columbia and Alaska? Come along and find out!... more