Our first stop was just outside Missoula, at Two Rivers Memorial Park, where the Bitterroot and Clark Fork Rivers meet. This is where Merriweather Lewis traveled, on his return route home. The Douglas Fir base holding the statue of Clark and his dog, Seaman, was from a tree that stood when Lewis passed through in 1806, almost 200 years later.
As we started our trip into the Swan Mountain Range, we saw several different vistas on every turn. After passing many "fishing access" signs, we finally pulled off and explored. It reminded me of the movie "A River Runs Through It." Rippling water, with amazing views in the distance.
Before we reached the highest elevation over the pass, we traveled over a long stretch of construction, and with the overnight snow, the roads were slimy. Not bad traveling, but messy. However, again, the views made up for it.
The height of our trip, 5614 feet, at Rogers Pass, was also at the Continental Divide.
Got a bit uneasy when we saw this snow and the temperature dropped to 31. It was for not, as the roads were clear, and it was good traveling the rest of the way to Great Falls.
Before we got into Sims, we stopped the car, and took this picture of what was behind us. It was all around us, any direction that we looked in, Again, amazing.
Time for lunch, and we found another microbrewery, with some interesting pours. A limited, but interesting menu, shared with an Electric City IPA, and an American Hero Brown. The IPA was very interesting, IBU 70, so quite bitter, with an lingering aftertaste, that I just can't describe. Not as good as the beer yesterday, but very good, the same. Ken had the Brown ale, along with his mac 'n cheese that was made with a Jalapeño brew. He surprises me every day. We also tasted a Monster, IBU 95! They brew it with a mixture of all the grains left over from the other brews. Highest IBU beer I have ever tasted. Again, Tamarack beer was better.
Drove around a bit, found a visitors center that was very helpful.
We next went to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in the Giant Springs State Park. What a wonderful display of the travels of the team. Some outstanding art displayed, as well as many scenes depicting how difficult travel around the falls must have been for the explorers.
A turn out along the Missouri River gave us some great views of the uppermost falls of the river. Long day on the road, no brews tonight. Hoping for a good night's rest, and another day in our little adventure tomorrow. What an amazing part of this country!
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