Day 5 of the running trip would take Kerrie and I from Missoula to Whitefish as we made our way North towards Glacier National Park. Our first stop of the day is considered one of Western Montana’s most underrated experiences.
The CSKT Bison Range is an 18,766-acre wildlife conservation area in the heart of the Flathead Indian Reservation, home to roughly 350 bison along with elk, pronghorn, bears and other wildlife. Established in 1908, the range was restored to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes in 2020 and is now managed by the Tribes. It’s signature 19-mile scenic drive through the range offer spectacular views of the Mission Valley and excellent opportunities to see bison in their natural setting.
Along our drive, we spotted bison, elk, antelope, and some friendly cattle from nearby properties. We’ve had such great luck seeing bison throughout the trip, and because the animal is the signature piece of the range, I did my best to thank my Uncle Tom and Aunt Colleen with bison in the background. We attempted animal calls to bring them closer but were unsuccessful.
The drive itself was amazing, navigating up and down terrain on gravel roads. We only came across a handful of other vehicles along the way, so it felt like we had the place to ourselves. I decided to use another Runner’s Choice to thank Matt & Jessi Good again and to show off the beauty of the range.
We continued our drive North towards Flathead Lake. Polson sits at the southern end of Flathead Lake and is one of the main communities in the Flathead Valley. Its location on the lake provides great views toward the Mission Mountains and makes it a popular destination for boating, fishing, swimming and other outdoor activities. Polson is also an important center of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and the Flathead Indian Reservation. We found a fun mural that welcomes visitors to the city, and I thanked Rob & Julie Waltz again.
Flathead Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake in the western United States by surface area and one of Montana’s great natural landmarks. At roughly 200 square miles, it is so large that parts of it can feel more like an inland sea than a mountain lake. Kerrie made me aware that former NBA coach Phil Jackson lives on the lake and suggested that we try to go find his house to ask him some questions. As a big fan of privacy, I deflected, but we came to the shared conclusion that Michael Jordan was absolutely the best player he coached.
We decided to take the Eastern route along Flathead Lake in search of a snack. The Flathead Valley is famous for its cherry orchards, particularly around the eastern and southern shores of Flathead Lake. The area’s warm summer days, cool nights, and fertile soils create ideal conditions for growing cherries, with sweet cherries being the region’s signature crop. In summer, roadside stands and farm markets offer locally grown cherries and other fruit. No longer summer, we passed many roadside stands that made sure we knew they were closed. Nonetheless, we stopped to thank Adam and Lindsey Good again for their donation.
Bigfork is a charming small town on the northeast shore of Flathead Lake. Its walkable downtown is filled with galleries, restaurants, shops, and historic buildings, giving it a distinctly artsy Montana character. Downtown Bigfork was bustling as we drove through, so we found a quiet bridge to thank my former colleague Geri Murray for her donation. A small-town gal herself, I know she’d love this place.
East of Bigfork is one of Montana’s best-named towns – Hungry Horse. The town’s name comes from a pair of horses that wandered away from their camp in the early 1900s. After being found, the horses were described as extremely thin and hungry—hence “Hungry Horse.” The name stuck and was eventually applied to the nearby settlement and river. We found a pristine lake in Hungry Horse and I thanked trusty donor and long-time runner Rich Hansen.
Hungry Horse Dam is an enormous concrete arch dam on the Flathead River, completed in 1954 for flood control and hydroelectric power. At 564 feet high, it is one of the tallest concrete arch dams in the United States. The dam and surrounding reservoir create an impressive mountain landscape and are a popular stop just west of Glacier National Park. Kerrie took a really dam good picture of me thanking proud Phi Kappa Psi Kevin Marks who has been on a running kick himself.
We made it to Whitefish, bought some bear spray, and decided to visit some sights on the outskirts before tackling the day’s hike. Whitefish Lake is a beautiful 7-mile-long mountain lake immediately north of town. The lake’s close proximity to downtown Whitefish makes it easy to combine a mountain-town visit with a lake day. I found my favorite dock and thanked Jason Brannon again for his generosity.
Whitefish City Beach is the town’s public beach and one of the most popular places to enjoy Whitefish Lake. It features amazing views across the lake toward the mountains, and the beach was filling up with families enjoying their Sunday afternoon. I thanked one of my favorite West Texas Phi Delts Keith Brown for his support.
It was time for a hike and a big challenge. The Danny On Memorial Trail is Whitefish Mountain Resort’s signature hiking trail, climbing from the base of Big Mountain to its summit. The trail winds through forests and alpine terrain before opening to spectacular views of Whitefish, Whitefish Lake and the surrounding mountains. It’s a challenging hike, but the scenery makes it one of the best ways to experience the mountains immediately surrounding Whitefish.
Along the way, I thought it was appropriate to use a Runner’s Choice to thank Brian and Kyle Woods while in the woods. Sometimes, these stops just make too much sense. It was also at this point where Kerrie and I were a little anxious about bear encounters, but I was confident in the five minutes of research Kerrie had done about how to use our newly acquired bear spray. Thinking about it now, Kerrie is much faster than I am, so it probably would have made sense for me the one with the canister on my hip.
The hike had so many incredible views, and the fall colors added more awesome. At one of my favorite views along the hike, I thanked Andy Tu again for his donation.
We felt very accomplished hiking four miles to the mountain’s summit, and then we realized we had to go back down through bear country. Each of our hikes on this trip has taken the same strategy – brisk hike up, trail run down. I find trail running to be exhilarating and Kerrie was on the move heading down.
Every long hike deserves a nice refreshment, and we were surrounded by hikers limping around at Bonsai Brewing Project. Both Kerrie and I were wiped, but we were reinvigorated with a West Coast IPA and a delicious protein bowl. After sitting down, I didn’t want to stand back up, but our table gave us a great shot to thank Laurie Rosenberger.
Whitefish is a lively mountain town that has evolved from its railroad and logging roots into one of Montana’s premier outdoor destinations. Kerrie had been to Whitefish before, so he gave me the nickel tour of town. Along the way, we found a fun mural to thank Mike Hyatt.
We were ready for bed around 7:30pm, but we decided to have a nightcap at the famous Bulldog Saloon, a must-visit while in town.
