Dog Sledding- A True Montana Experience!

We seemed to fly down the powdery white trail, straight onto the ice of Swan Lake.  You could feel a stiff breeze as the wind grew teeth in the open space of the lake.  One dog gave out a bark, but most were too busy pulling and panting to give a reply.  Inuit sled dogs have been bred for centuries to pull their human masters across great expanses of frozen tundra. This little traverse around the campground was all in a day’s work for these incredible animal athletes.  At an average height of 23 inches and a weight of 60lbs, these dogs don't look like the powerhouses that you might imagine pulling sleds, but they are!

Before moving to Kalispell 2 ½ years ago, I thought dog sledding was something Alaskans did in the Iditarod.  I thought Montana didn’t have enough consistent snow, but to the few serious dog sledders in Northwest Montana, it seems not to matter.  I am involved with the Big Brother’s Big Sisters program in Kalispell, and Mark Schurke of the Basecamp Outfitters was nice enough to offer a day of dog sledding for those involved in the program.  About 20 of us showed up at his house, were introduced to the dogs and watched as he loaded the dogs into his truck.  We drove further South from his home near Bigfork, along Swan Lake where the winter storms keep snow on the ground much later than the rest of the Flathead Valley.  Everyone got a turn or two with the dogs as they ran a loop near the campground and along Swan Lake.   I think what surprised me most was the fact that Mark put two of us on the sled and just let us go.  He skied along beside the sled and was there in case something went wrong, but we were at the controls.  He even let us give signals and commands to the dogs.  The hands-on approach surprised me at first but it made the experience much more authentic and fun! 

Since that time, a few of our guests have also gone out on guided dog sledding tours with Mark and every one of them has had a terrific experience.  It’s one of those things you might not think of when planning your trip to Montana, but it’s one of those experiences you’ll never regret doing.  The thrill of watching eight elite animal athletes propel your sled through the snow with you at the controls is truly remarkable.  There’s actually a community of dog sledders within Montana and every year they conduct a race called Race to the Sky in mid February.

Unlike some Montana winter sports, dog sledding season lasts almost half the year, starting in the fall, as soon as there is snow on the high mountains and continues into the late Spring.  Ice skating, cross country skiing and resort skiing are all more weather dependent and typically end in march, but dog sledding can be done into June.  Once in the high mountains you get to see views that few people get to see: the backcountry as a winter wonderland.  This isn’t a view you can drive to, this is a view best experienced the way it has been for thousands of years, with eight huffing dogs who are ecstatic to be there with you!

You can check out Mark's company, Base Camp Bigfork and if you stay with us, you can get a 10% discount during the month's of April and May!

A Shopper's Guide to Sporting Goods Stores in Kalispell

During the winter, one of Kalispell’s main draws for out-of-town visitors is shopping and with good reason.  We have a wide variety of stores and specialty shops with better prices and wider varieties than some Canadian stores and smaller towns in Northwest Montana.  While I am not a shopaholic, when it comes to sporting goods and outdoors stores in Kalispell, I am experienced. 

The great thing about outdoors stores in Kalispell, is that they are almost always staffed by people who love the outdoors.  This is huge benefit to you, the shopper, because people who like the outdoors are more likely to use and know their products, enjoy educating customers about their products and be more friendly and helpful in general.  With that said, some stores are better at different aspects of customer service and as we all know prices and variety are also important when shopping for outdoor equipment and clothing.  What follows are the strengths of different Kalispell sporting goods stores as I have experienced them.

Sportsman’s Ski Haus

·         Best variety of winter gear (clothing, skis, etc.)

·         Best variety of camping and hiking equipment and clothing

·         Best archery center apart from the two specialty shops (Flaming Arrow and Spirit Quest)

·         Consistently have good sales, decent regular prices

Cabela’s

·         Biggest variety on hunting related items especially when you factor in local pickup option from cabelas.com

·         Cabela’s experience- no denying it, Cabela’s stores have the coolest mounts and a Cabela’s feel that other stores only try to replicate

Snappy’s Sports Center

·         Best fishing selection (ice, fly and spin) in the valley

·         Most knowledgeable fishing department staff (they even have a fishing report hotline you can call to find out about local fishing spots - 406-756-2248 – updated weekly)

·         Reasonable regular prices

Rocky Mountain Outfitters

·         Best climbing, hiking and camping knowledge available- these guys live and breathe the outdoors and love to share what they know

·         Highest quality camping, hiking, climbing and skiing equipment

Replay Sports

·         Great used equipment section ( I still have a great set of $40 snow shoes I bought from them used)

·         Most knowledgeable paddle sports staff

·         Good regular prices on paddle sports and camping gear

Army Navy

·         Best survival gear

I did not cover any specialty shops (guns, archery or fly fishing), but Kalispell has all of these too!  Hope this helps you on your next shopping trip!

5 Things You Should Know About Animals on the Road in Montana

What You Should Know About Animals While Driving in Montana

A brand-new BMW, truly a thing of beauty!  Charlie (the name has been changed for the purposes of this story) gripped the wheel with ease as he roared along the Swan Highway (US Highway 83).  He had just bought this ultimate driving machine in Missoula and wanted to take it along a highway where he could test its handling capability.  Unfortunately for him he chose one of the most heavily populated wildlife areas in Montana.

What follows is from the viewpoint of the driver of the car behind Charlie.  Going at a speed upwards of 90 miles per hour, Charlie was just beginning to test the full speed of his new toy on a straight-away, when I deer stepped out of the trees. A quarter mile behind Charlie, the driver saw the deer step out, saw Charlie’s break lights and then saw a poof of hair and a deer flipping through the air and landing well behind Charlie’s car.  Totaled.  Done.  Game over.

Montana ranks third nationally for wildlife-vehicle collisions.  Montanans have a 1 in 75 chance of hitting an animal.  We also have numerous areas that allow free range livestock grazing, so your chances of hitting a cow or horse are also high.  I personally had numerous close calls with wildlife before nailing a cow in an open range area.  Whether you are a resident or just visiting, you should be prepared to deal with the reality of animals on the road.  Here are 5 things you should know about hitting animals:

1.       Don’t swerve- Unless you have a lot of time, can slow down significantly and can see the other lane of traffic well, you are better off just nailing whatever animal is in the road.  Far more serious injuries are caused by people swerving around animals than by actually hitting them.

2.       Only comprehensive insurance covers animal collisions- Montana law requires liability insurance and if your car is financed you probably have to have collision insurance, but collision insurance does not cover wildlife collisions.  Strange, but true.  So if you live in a high-wildlife-density area, you might consider adding comprehensive to your policy and/or a grill guard if you have a bigger vehicle.

3.       Hitting livestock will usually cost you, sometimes even for property damages.  Ranchers are only liable for your vehicle damages if their animal is in an area where it’s not supposed to be and the rancher can be shown as negligent.  This is hard to prove.  Once again, only comprehensive coverage covers your vehicle’s damage.  If the animal is in an open range area, you might even be liable for property damages for the animal you hit.

4.       Your regular insurance coverage usually applies when you rent a car.  Check your policy to be sure, but typically your car insurance coverage will transfer straight across, in the event of an accident in a rental car.  Ex: if you have liability insurance, you will have liability coverage if you hit someone in a rental car.  But again, for animal collisions to be covered, you have to have comprehensive.  You can get more coverage specifically for a rental car by buying it through the rental car company or through your credit card company.

5.       You can eat what you hit and other people’s roadkill.  It may sound strange to you, but you can pick up road kill, take it home and as long as you get a free permit for it within 24 hours, you can salvage what meat isn't bad and eat it.  Last year was the first year Montana had this law and 865 permits were issued and 135 of them were issued in Flathead County (Kalispell area).

Wait Seven Minutes and the Weather Will Change

I saw many bizarre things during my time at the University of Montana in Missoula, but none as eclectic as the day I watched an earthy looking girl riding a long board down a sidewalk while playing her guitar.   While unusual by itself, this picture was made even more striking by the backdrop: the sun had forced its way through the clouds and was shining on this girl, while at the same time; snow cascaded down on her from another direction.  This is a great snap-shot of Montana’s weather.  It can do many things at once and is constantly changing. 

If Mother Nature does control Montana’s weather, she has a multiple personality disorder, is temperamental and seems to enjoy putting Montana in the record books for rapid temperature change.  Montana holds the world record for the largest temperature change in a 24 hour period (a 103 degree change).  On January 15, 1972 the temperature went from -54 to +49 in a 24-hour period in Loma, Montana.  Montana also holds the record for the greatest 12 hour temperature change in the US (an 84 degree change).  The difference between Montana’s record high (117) and record low (-70) is also the greatest of all 50 states.  The warm winds, known as Chinooks, are the primary instigator of most of these rapid changes.

But what about the Montana saying “don’t like the weather? Wait ten minutes and it will change”? This saying probably came from January 11^th 1980, when the Great Falls International Airport went from a temperature of -32 degrees to +15 degrees in seven minutes!! 

In the Flathead Valley, this has been a bizarre fall and early winter in terms of weather.  We've had one major cold snap, low snowfall and buckets of rain, oh and let’s not forget about the earthquakes!  But in a way it’s normal that it has been weird.  This is life in Montana and this is life in the Flathead and Glacier Country.  If you’re willing to be flexible it can be tons of fun.  So be prepared for anything, always grab your winter coat and your speedo before hitting the road and remember: if you don’t like the weather, wait seven minutes and it could change 47 degrees! 

Why You Shouldn't Hibernate During Winter in the Flathead Valley

Is winter water-skiing really that unpopular?  Do some tourists, like bears, hibernate during the winter? If you walk into our hotel lobby anytime from mid-June to mid-September, you will probably find two front desk agents checking guests in, giving directions to restaurants or attractions and answering a phone that seems to never stop ringing.  If you walk in now, you might catch us doing laundry or cleaning because we have more time and no full-time laundry person in the winter.  With the exception of a few weekends, when our Canadian friends come down to shop, the whole valley is pretty slow.  Even Whitefish, with its world class ski resort is only busy from Christmas to New Years and then returns back to a steady, but not crazy hum. 

You might wonder why the Flathead Valley slows down so much during the winter.  Is it because the temperature is below 0 from October to April?  Is it because snowmobiling is the only option for transportation during Montana winters? There are a few valid reasons: Going-to-the-Sun road closes in September, Montana is harder to get to in the winter, the water in the lakes and rivers is too cold to be in (except during the polar plunge) and there is a lack of sunlight in the winter.  While these might be valid reasons not to come, there are a myriad of reasons to come specifically in winter!  PS: While Going-to-the-Sun road is closed, Glacier National Park never closes and amazing views can be had just by driving in to Lake McDonald. 

Things-to-Do:  There are pond hockey tournaments, free ice skating rinks, wolf hunting opportunities, cross country skiing areas, sledding hills, back country skiing adventures and some of the best resort skiing in the US! If you are looking for something a little less active, but still fun, try snowmobiling, ice fishing, dog sledding and going to the numerous winter festivals.  Yes, you might have to buck up and buy some warmer clothes, but you will find it worth the investment because of all the new activities you will be able to enjoy. 

Prices and People: Gas is always cheaper in the winter, so are hotel rooms and many other winter activities are quite cheap if you have the basic equipment.  Plus, there are fewer people, making restaurants, stores and everything else less crowded.  Not only are there less tourists, everyone you interact with is in a more laid back mood, from the waitress at the Tamarack to the lifty at the ski hill.  Our “Summer Show” is over, we are having fun and we are not afraid to share it with you.

Relax: If you come during the summer, you have seen families on bucket-list-missions!  I have had guests in summer almost livid that the road was not open to Logan Pass yet and they won’t be able to check that one off their list.  The very nature of our winter dictates that weather might ruin your agenda driven vacation and this is probably a good thing.  Some days might be perfect for sipping a beer at one of our local breweries and then finishing a book in front of a roaring fire, others might be blue-bird ski days that you’d be a fool to miss.  Sometimes people need to actually relax on vacations and enjoy each moment, rather than rushing from one great moment to the next.

So buy some warm clothes, put some cheap gas in your car and get over here because here in the Flathead Valley, we know how to do winter!  (Just don’t tell too many friends, we don’t want people to think winter is actually fun or something ridiculous like that).

Written by Matt Harrington

Marketing and Front Desk

Best Western Plus Flathead Lake Inn and Suites

4824 Highway 93 South

Kalispell, MT 59901

Looking for a place to stay near Flathead Lake?  Check out: http://www.bestwesternflatheadlake.com/  we also have comprehensive lists of things to do and places to eat!

Where to Go for a Cup of Joe in Glacier Country

The weather has changed from unseasonably cold and clear to a steady grey cloud cover and a temperature that hovers around 30 degrees.  It is the perfect time of year to be re-energized in a coffee shop.  I don’t have WiFi at my house so I am what you might call a connoisseur of Flathead Valley coffee shops.  As far as I can tell, people enjoy coffee shops for three different reasons: the coffee, the food and the atmosphere.  I’ll give you my top 3 picks based on these a

spects.

1.       Colter Coffee in downtown Kalispell.  It is the perfect coffee shop to chat with a friend or get down to business and read, write or study.  You can sit in front at a bar that faces out onto Main Street and watch the snow fall, or you can cozy up inside a different room with comfy chairs.  It definitely has a trendy hipster vibe, so you might come out with a waxed mustache and a V-neck t-shirt if you aren’t careful.  The coffee is typically more earthy in flavor and they make a good pumpkin chai tea.  They also get treats from Ceres Bakery and sometimes you can even have a scoop of Sweet Peaks ice cream in your coffee!

2.       Montana Coffee Traders (Kalispell location).  You might feel like you walked into an old west saloon with all the barn wood and the bar that skirts the barista station. This place is ideal for talking with someone over coffee or breakfast.    Their coffee is very good.  Although they typically don’t have it in pump pots, if you buy any Montana Coffee Traders coffee in bean form, you must buy the huckleberry!  It is sensational. Maybe the best huckleberry product there is. In addition to their coffee they have great hearty breakfasts.  There are even bigger tables for larger groups of people. 

3.       Glacier Perks Coffee House in Lakeside.  This place is filled with owner operated charm.  No kidding, the owners are really nice and as you might expect do a better job than hired help can.  Everything is done with class.  The coffee is good and the baked goods (done in house) are terrific (especially the scones)!  It is not a huge shop, but can work for both having coffee with friends and reading or studying. 

I do spend some time in the national chain coffee joints (City Brew and Star Bucks) and while these options might be consistent, your best bet, both from an adventure and quality standpoint, is Local!  

Written by Matt Harrington

Marketing and Front Desk

Best Western Plus Flathead Lake Inn and Suites

4824 Highway 93 South

Kalispell, MT 59901

Looking for a place to stay near Flathead Lake?  Check out: http://www.bestwesternflatheadlake.com/  we also have comprehensive lists of things to do and places to eat!

5 Montana Winter Driving Tips

I pressed hard on the brake as I coasted toward the stop-sign.  I wasn’t going fast, but suddenly my brakes locked and a force I couldn’t control pushed me off the road and into the ditch.  It was a force I had not experienced in my 5 months of driving as a fifteen-year-old.  It was ice; the first storm of the year in Billings, Montana.  Snow had fallen, melted and refroze on the road. 

Just like that fateful day several years ago winter had descended on us quickly and so have winter weather driving conditions.  Here are a few tips about driving your car in the snow:

1.       Easy does it.  As I learned by sliding into the ditch so that day, everything takes longer on snowy and icy roads; turning, accelerating and stopping (in my case).   So don’t be in a big hurry, especially at the beginning of the season, when you’re still getting used to how your vehicle handles on snow and ice.

2.       Know before you go. The Montana Department of Transportation Road Condition Map is a great way to stay up-to-date on road conditions.  I’ve traveled through several other states during winter and find their road condition maps to be sub-par compared to ours, both in accuracy and in timely updates.  Here is the link: http://www.mdt.mt.gov/travinfo/map/mtmap_frame.html .  You can also call 5-1-1, but it usually takes a while for your area to come up on the automated system.

3.       Be prepared for emergencies.  If you slide off the road in a place where you won’t be found for a while and it is too cold/risky to walk for help how would you prepare?  The reality is there are thousands and thousands of highway miles in Montana where it might take a while to find you.  If you’re going to drive them, I’d bring lots of warm clothes, non-perishable food to eat, an alternative way to warm yourself (besides the vehicle) and maybe a book to read.

4.       Watch for snow plows.  They go slow, so slow down when you see one and keep a good distance from them unless you want to get splattered with sand.  Passing them can be tricky, so make sure you have plenty of time if you are going to.   We have a great snow removal infrastructure in Montana, make sure you respect those drivers that keep our roads drivable.

5.       Don’t be a cheapskate with your car.  Get it ready for winter.  Snow-tires can help substantially with traction (more than 4-wheel drive in many cases).  Anti-freeze is a good idea.  Also, keep your gas tank half full to avoid the freezing of your gas-line (this is not the time of year to see how many miles you can get on a tank).

Common sense is a big deal when driving in Montana during the winter.  The exercise of common sense might keep you out of the ditch and ignoring it might put you in it, or worse.  So if you feel like being a little risky, a little daring, do us all a favor: don’t go out on the roads.   Bet on corn futures or social security and not your life.