Missoula, part II

Sometimes it's hard to get outta Dodge. 
Or Missoula.

Writing and organizing and going through photos takes a lot of time. My lament is that I'd rather be out experiencing things rather than writing about it, but I'm committed. So I hope you all enjoy this. Please feel free to comment or ask questions! I'll answer if I can.

One of the original fort structures. 

Ft. Missoula

Having gotten the letterboxing bug, and not knowing when I'd find additional ones later in the trip, I decided to chase after some additional boxes in Missoula.

Besides, they usually lead you to unusual and interesting places. One was supposed to be at Fort Missoula.

Steam train at Ft Missoula

Like most forts on in the American West, Fort Missoula was established in 1887 to offer settlers military protection. Today, it houses a historical museum, plus extensive outdoor exhibits. Sadly, it was too late in the day to see the exhibits inside, but I had fun wandering around the grounds and looking at all the diplays.

A lot of the exhibits have to do with logging. There is a "mobile" sawmill, a sawdust burner (seriously HUGE, as I've seen them from afar, but never been close to one), a steam train showing how logs were loaded and carried by rail, plus a large number of other machines used in logging and farming. 

"High wheel" logging contraption

Some of these machines have been lovingly restored. There are about ten tractors from 1910-1940, a locomotive, hay baling machines, a primitive backhoe, and lots more. One of the more unusual was a "high-wheel" that used draft horses to move really large logs — the logs were balanced on a chain underneath the long tongue. I guess if there wasn't a flume to move logs that this was a better alternative than dragging them!

As part of the Dept. of Forestry exhibit, there were also two fire lookouts that had been transferred here in their entirety. One was a tower, the other a rustic cabin. You actually could climb up on the tower. I got part of the way, and then decided to retreat. The stairs were a bit too rickety for my taste!

I'm quite taken with log structures. While they share common construction, each one is different: as unique as the person who hewed the logs and muscled them into place. Some are carefully notched, others aren't made with precision. But they are strong and made from local materials (wood, stone, mud). How many of us can say the same about our houses now?

One of the log fire lookout cabins.
Note the steep roof for Montana snows!

Besides, who doesn't love structures that remind us of playing with Lincoln Logs?

NOTE: I did discover the hidden letterbox here — it was on one of the train cars.

Iris Garden

While at Ft. Missoula, I almost missed the display garden of the Missoula Iris Society! It was beautiful garden of mounded beds and included historical iris, dutch iris, Siberian iris as well as bearded iris. And some that I've never heard of. 

Part of the iris display garden at Ft Missoula

There were iris of every color of the rainbow: pink, purple, blue, pale green, yellow, orange, rust, coral, and combinations of everything in between. 

I caught the garden about mid-bloom: some plants were spent and done blooming, but there were others that hadn't bloomed yet. It made me want to come back... like tulips, if you plant enough of them, you'll have iris for a month!

There were a few other bulbs, too; what gardener can resist? The daffodils and narcissus were done. No tulips that I could see. I rather think the deer would eat them! The iris seem to be immune — something for our Marin gardeners to contemplate!

Suffice to say that I was entranced, and just a little sad. 

"Non-bearded iris" at the display garden.

This was something of a bittersweet tour, as I do so miss the iris — and all the garden — I had back at the Larkspur house. The heralds of spring were the yellow, white and blue dutch iris, followed by the bearded iris. The first of those to bloom was rust brown with bright orange "beards." It looked like a blazing torch in the garden. It was followed by a white iris that had purple flecks, and another that was magenta and brown, similar to the one above. And there was a Pacific coast hybrid that was such a deep, deep purple that it looked like velvet. I am so sorry that all those plants are just gone. Cuts to the bone, so it does!

Prairie Dogs

Lastly, I have to mention the prairie dogs. If you ever have the opportunity to take some time to watch these little animals, I encourage you to do so. They are hilarious, scampering over the lawn, sitting up and chirping at intruders. 

I know that the settlers and cowboys hated them, since if you're racing a horse across a prairie dog town, your horse could easily break a leg in the holes. But as an observer without a fast horse to worry about, they are pretty darn adorable and funny, chasing each other around. 

The Lucy home: one of the historic houses near the University

More Letterboxes

There is so much to see! Even though it was the end of the day, it is light so long here (to 9:30pm) that you have a lot of time for outdoor activities. And it was (at last) a beautiful day with sun and pleasant temperatures.

Several of the letterboxes were near the University of Montana. Parking there is a problem, so it was time for a nice walk to explore the area. I parked the car along one of the residential streets (not in a controlled area) and set off. 

The vintage houses and shaded streets remind me of "Professorville" in old Palo Alto. Architecture is quite varied. I did not notice any "new" houses — it seems like any renovations are modest, or on the inside. 

A typical letterbox...
but the stamp was missing!

The first letterbox I wanted to find at Madison Park was a bust. The bridge over the river was closed off, so there was no way I could get at it. BUT, it introduced me to the lovely River Walk along the Clark Fork River. Students, dog walkers and others just out for a stroll enjoy this pathway, as well as bike riders. There are a lot of bike riders. The main part of Missoula is pretty flat, so it's an ideal place to ride a bike (except in the winter, although some people do bike all year round). I'm happy to report that along some streets there are separated lanes for bikes, people and cars. I would love to see this happen in Marin!

The second letterbox was at the Phyllis J. Washington memorial, right near the historic President's House, a lovely Victorian built around the turn of the century. Unfortunately, although the letterbox was there, the custom stamp inside had been stolen. I was disappointed, but signed the logbook anyway. It's near the busy trail to the top of Mt. Sentinel (with the big "M" for Missoula), so it may be that someone found it and took it. It happens.

I could easily spend more time here... but I'm going to leave that for another time, as I hope to be back and have more time to explore.

I spent another night "camping" in Missoula, with the idea that I'd head out to the National Bison Range the following day. Weather is coming in, and I'd like to have a good day for that expedition!