Welcome to Montucky!!!!!
Happy 4th of July!! 
We arrived at Jellystone RV Park in Wye, Montana a couple of days ago and it is incredible! Wye is located about 5 miles outside of Missoula which is in a valley surrounded completely by mountains. I don’t think I’ve ever been in a place where I can stand in one spot, turn around in a circle and see mountains all around. They are large mountains covered with evergreens and large areas of green grasses. I haven’t found out yet why there are no trees in some spots – there’s got to be a reason…. (ED. NOTE – There is!!!)
25 years is too long!!!
We spent Sunday evening with our friends. Enjoyed a fabulous elk steak, potatoes and salad from the greenhouse – can’t get much fresher than that! (ED. NOTE – The elk didn’t come from the greenhouse, even though he did shoot one with a bow out the bedroom window!!) They have a very nice home with a patio by the loveliest creek surrounded by willows – I think I could live on that patio until it got cold! (ED. NOTE – It is a sweet place, Google Street View really doesn’t do it justice!!!)
You can take the reservation, you just can’t keep the reservation!!!
The hubs, dogs and I have been on a couple of hikes so far. 
Council Grove State Park is the historic site which hosted the signing of the Hellgate treaty between the U.S. government and Bitterroot Salish, Pend d’Oreille and the Kootenai to create the Flathead Indian Reservation on July 16, 1855. There are trails throughout the park through grassland areas and large pines that run beside the Clark Fork River. We saw several families hiking but for the most part were alone with our dogs. It was a nice, flat, easy hike.
The Peace train has left the station!!!!!!
Today we hiked on the Peace Sign trail but never actually got to the peace sign. (ED. NOTE – It’s been taken down – not sure what that says!!!!) After reaching a peak about a mile and quarter up, we headed back down following another looping trail through the valley. The beginning of the hike was mostly up hill and we stopped several times to look at the beautiful views of Missoula (ok, and to let me catch my breath). (ED. NOTE – I stopped because the dogs needed a break and they were winded!!) (HA!) The valley trail on the way back was quite nice, fairly level and flat except the beginning – down a VERY steep hill and the end – up a steep hill. We drank LOTS of water and were worn out after.
Been talking about this for 17 years!!!!
My favorite place to visit so far is the Missoula Smokejumper Visitor Center. I read Nicholas Evans’ novel, Smokejumper back in the early 2000’s and LOVED it! I couldn’t wait to visit – they offer tours daily and show visitors through the entire base. It was interesting to see the room full of sewing machines that they use to make and repair their own jumpsuits.
We saw the parachute inspection room and the long wooden tables used to pack the parachutes, which everyone is taught to do. We saw locker rooms and the operations area where jumpers are checked in for the day, others are listed in the area they are serving (they help out other bases as needed, right now 7-8 smokejumpers are located in Alaska helping to contain and put out those fires).
We learned about the rigorous training and more importantly, the selection process. Over 400 men and women applied to be a smokejumper this year, 18 made the cut and 13 graduated – obviously, NOT an easy process. The jumpsuit, main parachute, stabilizing parachute (not the correct name), helmet and personal gear bags weigh approximately 85 pounds. The other tools and cargo needed for a several days stay on the ground are air dropped and sometimes must be hiked out of the area, so each smokejumper must train by hiking with up to 120 pounds of gear. All must have worked for at least 2 years as a firefighter before applying. They are brave, hard working, probably a little crazy, and must be risk-taking men and women – much to be admired.
Ooh, all those crazy elephant bones!!!
After leaving the Smokejumper Visitor Center, we stopped by the Montana Natural History Center in downtown Missoula. This was an interesting spot that had animals, plants, birds, insects, rocks and minerals from western Montana. There were quite a few hands-on activities for kids (and some of us adults who like to touch things). (ED. NOTE – She was as excited as a kid because she finally got to touch the stuff!!!!)
There was a great display called the Missoula Glacier Lake that the hubs really wanted to view. We kept asking each other as we drove into the area how the mountains and hills were formed because they look so different from Wyoming and even Colorado. This display showed how the whole Missoula area was covered in a large glacial lake that was dammed up with ice during the last Ice Age. The ice dam would melt and the lake would go down leaving striations on the surrounded mountains. This process happened over and over again until finally the dam completely collapsed allowing all the water to rush out within 48 hours. The valley where Missoula sits was formed.
Felt like I was driving through south Alabama or the Florida panhandle!!!!
We drove on the edge of the Lolo Forest on the way to Alberton to view the fire works with our friends. We passed a lot of prong horn deer and drove through all those tall timber trees we’ve been seeing on the mountains. It was a beautiful drive. We sat down right as the fire works started and they were fantastic! They were so close and almost overhead. I wish there were pictures – but I couldn’t pull my attention away to even try :)! (ED. NOTE – Now I understand the smokejumper telling us “welcome to Montucky” – it’s a lot like what would happen if those folks had moved west. And I guess, in some ways, they did after the Civil War ended!!!)
Finally, I am almost finished with my Boxy sweater! Part of one sleeve and blocking is all that’s left! I hope I’ll find some cooler weather to wear it – otherwise, it’ll have to wait for fall :(. (ED. NOTE – See, when I said fall, you got all mad!!!) By the way, the hubs is loving his socks! They work well with his hiking boots. 
Looks like y’all are having an AMAZING trip!!