Bob and I just enjoyed a great week in and around Kalispell, Montana. I always know we’re getting close to “home” when we start seeing signs for the Clarkfork! CLARKFORK!
![Photos - 8843](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Photos-8843-450x406.jpg)
For a change of scenery, we went through Libby. There are several of these eagles around the town. They’re quite impressive.
![Photos - 8844](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Photos-8844-337x450.jpg)
And the river is very rocky!
![Photos - 8845](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Photos-8845-450x337.jpg)
Bob had good luck fishing, though!
![Photos - 8846](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Photos-8846-450x337.jpg)
We decided to take an even more scenic route and go past Libby Dam.
![Photos - 8847](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Photos-8847-450x337.jpg)
It’s on the Kootenai River.
![Photos - 8848](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Photos-8848-450x337.jpg)
It was built in 1975 and Bob remembers traveling through the area before the dam was built.
![Photos - 8849](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Photos-8849-450x337.jpg)
The reservoir behind the dam backs up for 90 miles–clear into Canada! The lake is called Lake Koocanusa–Koo for Kootenai, Can for Canada and Usa for USA!
![Photos - 8850](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Photos-8850-450x337.jpg)
It was really windy.
![Photos - 8851](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Photos-8851-450x337.jpg)
If you don’t believe me, ask this tree.
![Photos - 8852](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Photos-8852-337x450.jpg)
Good to know!
![Photos - 8853](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Photos-8853-450x303.jpg)
They aren’t kidding.
![Photos - 8854](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Photos-8854-445x450.jpg)
Rock is everywhere!
![Photos - 8855](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Photos-8855-450x337.jpg)
I wondered what these big plants were.
![Photos - 8856](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Photos-8856-337x450.jpg)
Turns out they’re called mullen. They were very plentiful!
![Photos - 8857](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Photos-8857-450x337.jpg)
I couldn’t resist snapping this photo.
![Photos - 8858](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Photos-8858-450x320.jpg)
As we got closer to Kalispell, someone had planted orange flowers–just for me, I’m sure.
![Photos - 8859](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Photos-8859-450x337.jpg)
I love these old granaries.
![Photos - 8860](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Photos-8860-450x337.jpg)
Maybe they’re common in farming areas, but they are unusual for me.
![Photos - 8861](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Photos-8861-450x337.jpg)
Gotta snap a barn or two!
![Photos - 8862](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Photos-8862-450x279.jpg)
Along the rivers we saw lots of osprey nests.
![Photos - 8863](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Photos-8863-272x450.jpg)
We visited Flathead Lake.
![Photos - 8864](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Photos-8864-450x337.jpg)
This is called a Bruck–a bus/truck combination. It took passengers and freight from Kalispell to Whitefish to catch the train.
![Photos - 8865](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Photos-8865-450x337.jpg)
We met some people who live on Whitefish Lake–this is their incredible view.
![Photos - 8866](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Photos-8866-450x337.jpg)
They took us on a two hour boat ride around the lake. Amazing vistas and amazing homes.
![Photos - 8867](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Photos-8867-450x337.jpg)
Of course you can’t be this close without a visit to Glacier National Park. This year is the 100th anniversary of the park.
![Photos - 8868](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Photos-8868-450x337.jpg)
Cool, huh?
![Photos - 8869](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Photos-8869-450x337.jpg)
We drove the Going to the Sun Road.
![Photos - 8870](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Photos-8870-450x337.jpg)
Photo op!
![Photos - 8871](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Photos-8871-450x337.jpg)
There were about 6 mountain goats sunning themselves here, but no place to pull over to get a good photo, so took this out the window of the car.
![Photos - 8872](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Photos-8872-450x337.jpg)
Glacier is an amazing place. If you don’t believe in global warming, how’s this for a statistic. 100 years ago there were 200 glaciers in Glacier Park. Today there are only 50.
![Photos - 8873](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Photos-8873-450x337.jpg)
A sign to add to my neon sign file.
![Photos - 8874](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Photos-8874-450x337.jpg)
And it’s good to know that Montana is open!
![Photos - 8875](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Photos-8875-450x349.jpg)