“USA 🇺🇸 ~Montana ..Still Around Polson at Kerr (Lower) Dam, White Water Rafting, and a Trip to Kalispel”

• May 22, 2023
• By Pen
• 0 Comment

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Who? ⬇️

Why, it’s a Great Horned Owl, seen from our campsite, recently. We grabbed our cameras and tried our best to get some good shots.
This Owl came back the next night, too. 

I could never win in a staring contest with an owl
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Flathead Lake is so HUGE! ⬇️

Since arriving in Polson, we have driven along this lake to Bigfork, one direction, and to Kalispel, another direction. BOTH are around a fifty miles drive.
This lake goes on and on!
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Today, we decided to go ahead and drive on over to the Kerr Dam. Waiting for the smoke to clear, so we could get better pictures, isn’t working. I’m afraid the smoke is here for awhile, and we depart in in a few days, to go to Canada, where the smoke is coming from. (that will be another blog, as we are unclear what we are driving into).
Wildfires change every day, due to many factors; like wind, for example and rain, if lucky!

If we don’t get turned away at the border, we shall (somehow) proceed to Alaska, as planned, even if we have to reroute, and miss some sites.
Of course the reports from the ALCAN aren’t too peachy, either. Flooding from spring breakup has washed part of the Highway out, already. We hope that will get repaired before we arrive; a week after we depart Montana.
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Kerr Dam ⬇️

Our plans for hiking above the Kerr Dam came to a sudden halt, at the roadway entrance that was to take us to the trailhead.
No entering. No parking. Big bummer.
Apparently, the wooden walkway is now torn out and being replaced.
We missed this hike by one day.

We continued on down the Kerr Dam Road as far as it would go. It took us to below the Dam, with no view of the powerful structure at all.

We decided to hike a bit, and while pretty, it was rough going along loose rock, and pretty futile, since the walkway structure to the short rock tunnel was off limits to civilian humans, like ourselves.

We also had to pay attention to the “dam alarm,” should it go off, since the dam would release water from above and flood the area we were in. We did not know that schedule at all, being from outta state and all.
Knowing Jonah can’t swim, and we are already planning white water rafting next week, we didn’t dilly-dally around.

⬆️ Do you see Jonah?

In the end, we were covered with burrs, which took 15 minutes to pull off of us, and Daryl even picked up a tick!

Here are some photos off the internet, just to give you an idea of what we wanted to do and see, today, to the Dam overlook.  ⬇️

⬆️ Kerr Dam, completed in 1938, spans the Flathead River six miles downstream from the lake.
This privately owned power dam regulates the lake levels to a maximum of 10 feet, between 2,883 feet and 2893 feet above mean sea level.
Before the dam, the lake level would peak in June and then slowly drop until the following spring. The lake level is now regulated by a cooperative agreement between flood control, recreation, agriculture, and power interests.
The hike down to the dam’s observation deck (the one we couldn’t get access to) rewards with scenic views of the river, lake, and mountains.
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On the way back to camp, it was really fun to see a pasture full of beautiful brood mares; almost all, clearly pregnant. There were two new goals, so far.
Very cute!

We definitely plan to return to this pasture, just before we depart, because the mares all look ready to pop and there will be more cuteness added to this field!

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Tonight is Friday, Prime Rib night at The Shoe Restaurant, just down the hill from us. We enjoyed Mother’s Day Dinner at the same place with the great view. Well, it’s a smokey view now, but…..  

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Our last activity in Polson, was to go White Water Rafting. This is something we enjoy doing, and we had looked forward to it!

Flathead Raft Company ⬇️

Today was the day!

The weather shifted on us, since we booked this trip, and it poured down rain, since bedtime, the night before.
The outside temps weren’t that bad, and they say the water temps are unusually warm, for this time of the year.
The company will provide wet suits if you want them, but we already know getting wet, whilst rafting, is just part of the experience!

On the morning of, we did get a call from the rafting company, in advance, before our noon departure, to find out if we still wanted to go.
We said yes, without hesitation.
It sure was sounding like it was only going to be the two of us, today.
We later learned, there was another group, who signed up, but they bailed, due to the weather.

The weather wasn’t bad at all; just not super sunny. There was an unexpected wind that came up, so we all had to do a lot of paddling, but that’s to be expected, and def part of the excitement.
At one point, we were up and down in 12-foot rapids.
It never rained on us, but it wouldn’t have mattered, since we were soaked from head to toe, anyway; also to be expected!

⬆️ On the Lower Flathead River

Almost as soon as we put in, at the same place we hiked around at the other day, a herd of Mule Deer scampered up the hill, very near to us.
About midway through the trip, in between rapids, we got to enjoy watching a mating pair of American Bald Eagles. They were swooping around, going to and from their nest.
(no pics of everything, unfortunately, as cellphones were stored in a dry bag for most of the trip).

⬆️ My handsome hubs

We had the best time, with plenty of fun rapids, including the big one called “Buffalo;” the largest rapid in Montana.
One final safety briefing, because flipping the raft is possible, when Buffalo rapid is full-on powerful, with all the water, and we were ready!
We didn’t flip, but had a great ride!!!

In about three hours, which felt like only one, on the beautiful river, rafting, our trip was complete.

We can not recommend this rafting outfitter enough, if you ever come to Polson. The owner and crew members were engaging and enjoyable to be around.

We all had a blast!

Calling is a great way to make a reservation at Flathead Raft Company: 1-406-883-5838

https://www.flatheadraftcompany.com/
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Earlier in the Week ⬇️

Smokey skies have descended upon Polson, and yesterday it was smokey in Kalispel.
Clearly the smoke from the Canadian wildfires are moving south.
Our camp neighbors were heading for Boise, Idaho to visit family, and it’s smokey there, too.
🙏
The fires up north are not getting better. In fact, they are getting worse.….Could use a lot of prayer, if y’all are willing.
This situation clearly will impact our trip to Alaska in a few days, but moreover, entire communities are without power, who are in the fire zone, and are getting evacuated.
There are over 100 wildfires. The wildlife are being impacted, obviously, and we are reading about lots of RV’s and RVers waiting on the side of the road, due to fires and road closures.
All this is information I’ve been tracking for about five days from the route we are driving, to get in to Alaska ….it is very concerning.

We leave on the 24th. That’s in two days!

Picture: We can’t see Flathead Lake very clearly anymore, from our camp spot. ⬇️

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Jonah is Coming Along! ⬇️

Today, we drove 50 miles to Kalispel for Jonah’s appointment for her 500-mile valve/check and oil change.

Also up: 
*Hoping the headlight issue is easy. No headlights, suddenly, but all other indicator lights work.
*Also, new seat belts goin in!

UPDATE:

*Wrong seatbelts were sent to us… 🙃 by the guy with 40-years experience. What? We are sending them back to Arizona to get our money back ($200).
This automotive place in Kalispel is getting us all set up with new seat belts that WILL work.

AND

*The pull-switch is bad for the headlights, so a new one is also on order for us.

*The 500-mile check went very well. Yay for that!

We will be returning next Wednesday, back here in Kalispel, which is luckily on our way to the Canadian border, for the next new seat belts and light switch install.

We appreciate Northwest Automotive and they are nice to work with.

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We really wanted to take the seven-hour boat ride around Flathead Lake, before we left Polson. It was to be our highlight adventure, and one of the reasons we came here. We wanted to visit Wildhorse Island to photograph wildlife and wild horses, plus see Native American petroglyphs. BUT, the wildlife viewing we had hoped to see, when hiking the island, is best seen, just before dusk, this time of the year.
Unfortunately, without operating headlights, we couldn’t possibly make it back, the 50 miles to Polson, from Bigfork, in the dark, after the boat tour was done. Quite disappointed, obviously.

BUT, Onward and upward! 

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In conclusion ⬇️

At a few days, before launch day!

….Keeping my eye on information offered online, as other RVers travel before us, into the wilderness of Canada; to get in, to the wilds of Alaska.

Smoke, Bears, and Flooding…
OH MY!

In the meantime, we have no idea what our wifi will be like, either, other than when we are close in to civilization; which will be less of our time, for sure.

For this reason, and the fact we will be crazy busy, I may not be able to post a heads up on any new links to our blog, from our Travel Website; on Facebook or Instagram.

So, if interested in following us, just go directly to our (this) Travel Blog Website.

I will be chronicling our entire adventure of 4.5 months; broken up, into in an easy reading series; both Canada and Alaska, respectively.

~Join Us and Follow on this; our Travel Blog Website:

“2 Gypsies In The Wind”

http://2gypsiesinthewind.com