Day 3 - Upper Whitefish Lake (Stillwater State Park, Montana) to Columbia Falls

Above Left: We woke up to freezing winds blowing directly at us from across the lake. Our idyllic lake side camp site had turned into a tundra typhoon survival situation. No water had frozen yet. We immediately donned our cold weather gear which meant wearing our GoreTex rain gear over our heavy flannel jack shirts over our bike clothing.

Above Right: The cold wind was quickly sapping our energy, we knew that as soon as we got away from the open lake and onto the tree lined trail that conditions would improve greatly. We ate a hot breakfast, cleaned up, and packed out at a record pace (no pictures). The work helped to warm us up.

It started snowing at this lake about 4 hours after we departed (higher elevation). It was sprinkling and sleeting on us within 10 minutes of departure. We were in and out of light rain for the remainder of the day but once that we got moving our spirits improved greatly and nothing deterred our spirits for the remainder of the day.

Above: HAPPY CAMPERS. We struck camp (pun intended) and we're on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR) heading for Whitefish, MT. The temperature is 30F/-1C.

Above Left: Whitefish River downstream.

Above Right: Upper Whitefish Lake upstream.

Above Left: Impressive Signage - None of these destinations are what we want.

Above Right: A moment of no rain.

Above Left: Brook crossing.

Above Right: Cross road, we go straight.

Above Left: Moss in trees, looks like Spanish Moss in Florida. Spanish Moss is Symbiotic. The Moss seems to change from Green to Grey to Black. The Black color stage seems to be terminal for the moss.

Addendum - Later we learned from a Biologist, that we met on the roadside, the Moss is called Horse Hair Moss and it will not grow on live needles. The moss is not a parasite.

Above Right: The first time that I saw something like this in the road, I thought it was animal fur from a fight or struggle, now I have figured out that these black moss and twig pieces are dead parts falling off trees.

Above: We really had to study this sign because the main road curves to the right but our desired direction is Whitefish (Town and Lake). The 3 items with the word Whitefish point in two different directions. We finally took the lesser road to the left and we had zero feedback that we made the correct choice until we came upon Whitefish Lake (12 miles later).

Above: The only place where the road is dry.

Above: Onward and forward on the GDMBR to Whitefish, MT.

Above Left: Clothing Off/Clothing On.

Above Right: As far as obstacles go, this is an easy one. We walked the bike just to be safe.

Above Left: Easy maneuver on the GDMBR.

Above Right: Raspberry plants on the right, no fruit.

Above: We've progressed enough, in decreased elevation, to get out of the snow zone. We're looking south toward Whitefish, MT.

Above: We're looking west to north (over our right shoulder, we're heading south), this cell is coming straight for us, it will hit us. We have not seen any animals, not even birds.

Above Left: Multi-functional drainage pipe, it drains from left to right as well as it catches surface water runs on the road.

Above Right: Moi with a wet jacket, doing OK, dry, and warm. I have decided that I DO NOT LIKE neoprene gloves. I need a better pair of waterproof gloves that are not heavy-duty and not thick (most GoreTex gloves are thick Ski Gloves).

Above Left: We're close to Whitefish Lake (GDMBR, MT).

Above Right: Our first sighting of Whitefish Lake, MT.

Above Left: We're abeam Whitefish Lake and the road is now paved. The light rain shows up on the road surface. We will be on Paved Road for the rest of the day. Our destination is Columbia Falls and we still have about 15 miles remaining.

Above Right: A perfectly good tire has been found and it has been set on a pedestal by a Good Samaritan.

Above Left: Here is a southern view across Whitefish Lake.

Above Right: This is our First Turkey sighting in Montana on the GDMBR.

Above Left: Lunch Time - We were looking for a park, overlook, or picnic table and never found such a place; it's time to fortify. The ground is too soft for the kickstand to hold the bike uptight.

Above Right: Our last view of Whitefish Lake (we're about to enter the town suburbs now).

Above: 20/20 hindsight - In the town of Whitefish, if you cross the railroad bridge going southbound, you went one street too far. This mistake has happened to me twice on the GDMBR, caused by the trip notes. The Trip notes state "Whitefish. Turn left onto 2nd Avenue". It is correct but not useful. What it should say is "Turn left onto 2nd Avenue, opposite Edgewood Pl". The street signs and street names are different on each side of the road.

Above: Whitefish Mountain Range, Ski Whitefish, and 'Big Mountain' as seen looking north form Edgewood Place just east of Whitefish, MT on the GDMBR.

Above Left: We are traveling parallel to a railroad and a railroad yard. The colorful graffiti stands out!

Above Right: A spontaneous Christmas Tree.

Above Left: We sight a Deer, Doe.

Above Right: The brown and white Paint is restless and wants to visit us by he has a strong Approach-Avoidance anxiety.

Above Left: We do not know it but far cloud bank is in Glacier National Park and it indicates super cooled air pouring out of the park into the Columbia Falls valley area.

Above Right: A road heading east that leads toward Columbia Falls, MT. We are now about 6 miles from our destination.

Above: Turkeys sighted along the GDMBR near Columbia Falls, MT.

Above Left: A very colorful mix of grass colors.

Above Right: We are about 2 miles NW of Columbia Falls, MT.

Above Left: We are about a mile north of Columbia Falls, MT. The cloud mass is cold air rolling over the mountains from Glacier National Park.

Above Right: We finally got to cross over the railroad tracks that we have been traveling parallel to for about 10 miles. We are officially in Columbia Falls, MT.

Above: Murals in downtown Columbia Falls, MT.

Above Left: Crossing the Flathead River on the GDMBR. The North and South Forks of the Flathead River converge about 4 miles east of Columbia Falls, Montana.

Above Right: Me (Dennis) and the Bee beside the Flathead River.

Above: The Glacier Inn Motel will be our home for the night. We made a good call to not camp, it will rain for most of the night, the temperature will be 35F/2C, and the winds will blow from a cold front that has yet to rage through this area. Tomorrow there will be snow on the mountains.