Bear Creek Guest Ranch

The Trail Riding Mystique part 3

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 21:19:17 GMT

Forty Years in the Saddle

Our Summer Riding program at Bear Creek Ranch is one of the oldest and most sophisticated riding programs in this country. I know that because it is so! Kind of bragging there! Well, I know it to be so because we’ve ridden hard for forty years and been able to do so in our arena an on up to long, all day furlongs into some of the greatest country you will ever see. We ride hard and well and have one helluva’ a lot of fun doing so! Ever ridden a “buffalo” jump? How about a huge bit of wild country where we’re as likely to see a grizzly as we are moose or elk? We ride day after and rarely see a soul. Frankly, I wouldn’t ride “busy” trails if I had to. There’s plenty of unridden, wild and remote country close by. Why would I? Hell, our ranch is 500 yards from Glacier National Park, a mile from the Great Bear Wilderness, not far from the Badger- Two Medicine country, adjacent to the Blackfeet Reservation, and even closer when we choose to ride in our sand arena and do games on horseback (moxie) and move cattle. And by the way, we do some rodeoing on Thursday nights and you are welcome to join us!

Well, I’ve thrown a lot at you these past three pages. In the world of horses and horsemanship there’s a whole lot more. How about the Dorance brothers out of California? I believe they are both gone now. Along with quite a few more horse magicians like Pat Parelli, brothers Tom and Bill Dorance, and so many more equine geniuses, the universe of horses has few bounds. The sky is the limit. Even the horse whisperer himself, Robert Redford, had an influence on the growth of the world of horses, perhaps not your style, or mine, but then again Hollywood has changed the style of the equine world by producing great movies with the horse as the hero!

I do want to finish up this piece of writing by getting a bit personal. My life with horses hasn’t all been smooth sailing. I’ve made more than a few bad moves and I am sorry for that. Mixing up my history with the bovines has been a mixed bag. There have been days when I didn’t do the right thing. Way back when I was responsible for losing six horses in the middle of a horrendous storm with our stock already weak. I could and should have made a bunch of better decisions surrounding that mess. No excuses.

They say that dogs are man’s best friend but I’ll tell ya’, horses are a close second! “the outside of a horse is equal to the inside of a man.”

I look forward to spending some time with you this coming summer. With any luck we’ll ride some great horses and we’ll do so in some of the finest country you’ll ever see. And we’ll do it on the back of a horses.

See you then my friend,

Bill

The Trail Riding Mystique part 2

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 21:17:25 GMT

Becoming a Horseman in Hard Country

So many of you reading this paper have been or will be our guests over the course of a multi- day stay at our place. We may be riding all day every day and will slowly but surely not be riding just one horse. You’ll also have lots of interaction with horses in our pens that will be of all ages. The idea is that we have ourselves dug in with those great four leggers! They learn from us and we learn from them!

When I first started riding it wasn’t long before I began to guide hunters on horseback in the backcountry of the Hoback River drainage in Wyoming. There’s some big country down there and certainly challenges to be solved in a very steep and potentially dangerous environment. For the record I was still a beginning rider but was responsible for two to three mostly inexperienced hunters on horseback from before dawn till after dark. Talk about challenges! I had to do things right and be sure our guests did as well. I remember leading our horses down a very rocky and steep trail right at dark one evening. We made it down a ways until I decided to have everyone lead their horse on foot across a rocky scree and a very increasingly dark trail. I remember to this day praying that we get across the worst of it and not have anyone get hurt. I had gotten to the point where I was sure we were going to lose someone.

Well, we did find our way back on the trail leading us home but before we got going I took a deep breath and said a prayer. I kid you not! Amazingly enough, the hunters behind me had no idea we’d been in that much danger. The one fellow simply said, “well, you got us down pretty easily. I had no idea……! That floored me!

That first year guiding was a helluvan education for this guy. What we did for the most part was hold a lead rope and walk from one ridge to another in search of elk or deer. I don’t believe we ever trotted or ran. That was good practice for all of us, that is, riding in rugged country and doing it horseback. We had to go slow and pay attention to the world around us. We did that and in fact I didn’t have one wreck with guests or myself the entire season.

Moving through the mud, rock, ice, and snow was a challenge but if we didn’t push it and get impatient or “bored.” That Hoback country is not for the timid beginner and we did have some luck come with us.

I began to notice pretty early that my horsemanship had advanced well beyond the beginner label. It had to, if not for good reason but also because I wanted to begin riding lightly. I was double checking our saddling, watching carefully for swollen withers, loose or missing horseshoes, weight loss, over use, and the like.

There’s no sin leading a horse mid-day to give the hard working animal a break and even to get a dose of exercise. I still to a lot of walking on a hunt. Sitting in a saddle for 10 hours isn’t for everyone, particularly if you’re not in shape.

I think what we all have to do is give our horses as much care and attention as possible. When you’re done for the day and the horses are fed and watered you’ll feel good for yourself and your pony.

Those basic principles work for the whole spectrum of riders, from fall hunters to summer trail riders. Do it right or don’t do it!

To Be Continued...

The Trail Riding Mystique part 1

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 20:59:47 GMT

"Can We Canter"

Four guests are bored walking our horses. Are you kidding me? They are for the most part, beginning riders, although they tend to want to believe they are experienced riders. Hell, they don’t know how to feed, saddle, throw a leg over, bridle, use their feet, stirrups, and list goes on. And they want to canter? I’ve been in this situation many times over the course of forty years and no one’s gotten killed…. Yet!

Well, I do have to mention for certain that the greatest majority of our riders do not act like the buffoons I just referred to. They are here for the most part to follow our lead, be respectful and patient, listen carefully, and above all, have a good ride in some of the most awesome country there is, anywhere! But yes, we do have exceptions to those rules and when there is a negligent incident, we may witness the whole thing while our hearts beat hard!

Well, I think what I’m getting at is riding with feet in the stirrups, even weight, hopefully a light weight, good posture, hands on reins, and a good attitude. Amazingly, all those factors are also a big part of a good ride and a and a safe trip home. When that system works everyone wins. We’ll ride back to the ranch tired, thirsty, a bit sore, but happy as hell. And no one’s hurt. Getting hurt makes for a long day. Once again, it doesn’t happen often but we’re all there to make sure it doesn’t.

So back to bored riders and the damage that can occur to both rider and horse if the riding isn’t done well or possibly done with excessive weight in the saddle. The riders I’m thinking about were at our ranch several years ago. They were excited to get in the saddle and move on down the trail. But, before long however, they were getting bored, and finally one of them looking at me and asked if his group could trot and canter. I can tell you however, that none of that group was even remotely experienced enough to do anything more than trail ride. I addressed the issue with them and did some explaining about not just them riding the horse hard but as well the horse itself being ridden improperly. We don’t want to sore a horse up, which is what happens when there’s some bad riding. And remember, your horse is half the party. That animal is depending on you to do things correctly. You don’t want to hurt a horse and he or she doesn’t want to be hurt. Good, healthy riding is where you want to be. Save the day with that in mind.

The riders we had that day didn’t do any running. We all had a great riding experience and never had to trot or canter. We did some trotting and cantering in our sand arena several days later and we did good. I continued to remind those folks that our horses aren’t 4- wheelers and you’ve got to pick your “spots.” You gotta know to how hold ‘em and how to fold em’’ If you do it right, everybody wins!

To Be Continued...

Spring Delight. Looking for Big Game in May!

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 22:55:26 GMT

The Glacier National Park can be a pretty busy place during the summer months. That comment is the understatement of the year. But if you’ve got the time to take an early vacation this coming season, I would heartily mention that the Park is a wildlife bonanza in May and June. Put aside the plans to visit during the very busy months of mid-Summer. Try late April and the month of May when the Park begins to show off its wildlife. As the snow melts and bare areas of grass and vegetation on south facing slopes expose themselves to elk, deer, moose, and both species of bear, black and grizzly, there is a unique opportunity to take advantage of the Spring season while it’s quiet and watch the wildlife world come alive.

For years I have emphasized to our guests and visitors that there is no season that even remotely matches the joy of wildlife sightings that are visible in the Spring. My suggestions would be to stay at our place for starters and watch the elk in our back pasture. They are there right now! Not only are there elk feeding on early grass but with some glassing on the meadows above us you are also putting yourself in a great position to see grizzly bears. Additionally, last night I not only saw elk feeding on Mendenhall Hill but as I watched them, I could hear a pair of sandhill cranes cackling although they were out of sight. Those big birds are on a migration north to as far away as the Canadian prairies. They are a unique bird and not always easy to see. By the way, while you’re waiting and watching for other species there are migrating Canadian geese making lots of noise as well.

I’ve seen coyotes putting on their classic moves as they sneak up on nesting or migrating birds. That is a show of nature that you won’t see every day. Those sighting however, take a backstage when a lone grizzly or a sow with cubs make their showing later in the evening. They are a confident and dominating mammal that are somewhat easily seen if the effort is there. Set yourself up a good distance from the bears and use your binoculars to watch them and do keep your distance between yourselves and the bear. I assure you if you can put in the time from dawn to dusk and are beginning to identify good habitat you will see grizzlies.

I can’t emphasize enough how visually plentiful and how much wildlife is viewable with the right combination of Spring, habitat, and time of day. Glacier National Park and the Beck property are two great places to start your hunt! The Park is well known for its grizzly population and the population of the bears is growing and expanding its territory.

At no other time in the year are there more good opportunities to see these animals

If you are interested in staying at Bear Creek Ranch, we are open during the month of May. You might want to join us on our Bed and Breakfast program and on your way home in the evening eat a healthy meal at one of several restaurants along the way.

Feel free to call us at 406-226-4489 anytime. We have lovely cabins that are still available.

The Colors of Spring in Montana: A Vibrant Awakening Near Glacier National Park

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 17:34:43 GMT

Spring Colors in Glacier Country, Montana

The Colors of Spring in Montana: A Vibrant Awakening Near Glacier National Park

Spring in Montana is more than just a season; it’s a transformation. After a long, snow-covered winter, the land bursts back to life with colors that ignite the senses. The warmth of the sun kisses the skin, the fresh scent of grass fills the air, and the endless hues of nature create a spectacle unlike any other. Nowhere is this more evident than near Glacier National Park, where the dramatic landscape provides the perfect backdrop for spring’s colorful display.

Let’s take a journey through the vibrant colors of spring in Montana and what they mean for those lucky enough to witness them.

Big Sky Blue: The Endless Montana Sky

Montana isn’t called "Big Sky Country" for nothing. As winter fades, the clouds dissipate, revealing an expanse of blue so deep and pure it stretches from horizon to horizon. The piercing blue sky signals that warmer days are ahead, beckoning adventurers to wake early and stay out late, soaking in every moment of this breathtaking season.

You can find that blue sky anywhere you look! My recommendation would be to take a drive along highway 89 from Browning to Choteau. This drive takes advantage of the big rolling prairie hills to put you on top of the horizon!

Fiery Red: Wildflowers & Ancient Rock Formations

Spring in Montana brings an explosion of wildflowers, and none are more striking than the Indian Paintbrush. Ranging from soft coral to deep crimson, these flowers are a signature of the season. But red isn’t just found in the meadows—Glacier National Park’s iconic argillite rock formations boast rich hues of red and green, a result of ancient oxidized sediment. These rocks, shaped by time and nature, add a dramatic contrast to the surrounding wilderness.

Hike the Two-Medicine lake shore, you’ll find more than just Indian Paint Brush and you’ll be gazing right into the magnificent red rock faces of Mt. Henry, Sinopah and Rising Wolf Mountain.

Pure White: Snow-Capped Peaks That Never Fade

Winter may retreat, but its presence lingers on Montana’s towering peaks. Even in late summer, pockets of snow remain, tucked into the craggy crevices of Glacier’s tallest summits. This everlasting white serves as a reminder of the region’s rugged beauty, framing the lush greenery below like icing on a cake.

To best experience these epic scenery take the drive from East Glacier to Babb, taking “Looking Glass” highway out of East Glacier and linking up with highway 89 going North. On your way home, take highway 464, or Duck Lake road, for a more expansive view of the front range. At some moments you’ll be able to see a 100 miles of the front range stretching in front you.

Lush Green: The True Essence of Spring

Perhaps no color represents spring better than green. After months of dormancy, the grass returns with a vibrancy that lifts the spirit. It starts as a hint, a subtle promise of renewal, before erupting into a lush, rolling carpet of life. This resurgence reassures us—winter doesn’t last forever, and the land is alive once more.

Just take a walk anywhere and you’ll see the grass green up. The green wave of spring time as they call it, starts in the lower valleys and works it’s way vertical as the warmth of spring and summer push to higher altitudes. Two Medicine Valley, Many Glacier and the prairie are all great places to the spring grass.

Earthy Brown: Wildlife Awakens

Spring signals new beginnings for Montana’s wildlife. The deep brown coats of grizzly bears emerge from hibernation, while herds of elk settle into the willows, preparing for the season ahead. The landscape is alive with movement, from grazing deer to the distant sight of a moose wandering through the forest.

If you’re lucky enough you can catch Elk and Bear right at Bear Creek Ranch. We have a local heard of elk that calve in the deep willows behind our place. The presence of Grizzly bears is part of our way of life. They don’t call it Bear Creek for no reason.

Bold Black: The Strength of Ranch Life

Montana’s ranching heritage is on full display in the spring, with Black Angus cattle taking center stage. These hardy animals endure the harsh winters and come spring, they bring new life to the prairies. Calving season marks a time of renewal, as the newborns take their first steps under the vast Montana sky, soon to graze on the fresh green grass.

Take a drive from East Glacier to Cut Bank along highway 2, and cut through the heart of what Montana truly is Ranch and Farm land. You’ll see what makes the backbone of the ranching and farming world. Small family-owned places passed down from generation to generation. Tiny homes in big pastures, quite the opposite of city life, big homes on tiny plots. You’ll see the black angus spread out amongst these giant fields.

Delicate Pink: The Fragrance of Wild Roses

For a truly unforgettable springtime experience, follow your nose to the fragrant Wild Roses of the Front Range. These delicate pink blooms grow in abundance, clustering together like bouquets in a florist’s shop. The air is thick with their perfume, creating a sensory experience that rivals even the most luxurious scents of Paris. A simple ride through the countryside can suddenly become an aromatic journey unlike any other.

Take a hike up to Firebrand pass, this puts you right in the middle of what we call the Front Range, you’re not in the mountains and you’re not in the prairie, you’re in between. This spectacular country offers the variety of plant and animal life of the mountains and prairie.

Experience the Colors of Spring at Bear Creek Guest Ranch

Spring in Montana is a masterpiece of color, emotion, and renewal. From the boundless blue sky to the fiery red of ancient rocks and wildflowers, each hue tells a story of rebirth and beauty. There’s no better place to witness this transformation than near Glacier National Park, where nature awakens in the most spectacular way.

If you want to experience Montana’s spring magic for yourself, Bear Creek Guest Ranch is the perfect place to stay. With breathtaking views, endless outdoor adventures, and a front-row seat to nature’s seasonal spectacle, our ranch is your gateway to the wild beauty of Montana.

Book your stay today and let us show you the hidden gems of Big Sky Country—where the colors of spring are waiting to welcome you.

The Ultimate 5-Day Montana & Glacier National Park Itinerary

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 17:34:40 GMT

A Quick Guide to 5 fun days in and around Glacier Park

The Ultimate 5-Day Montana & Glacier National Park Itinerary

If you're dreaming of an unforgettable trip to Montana—where the vast plains meet the rugged peaks of the Rocky Mountains—then Glacier National Park is calling your name. Whether you’re looking for adventure, stunning scenery, or authentic Western hospitality, this five-day itinerary will help you experience the best of Montana.

Day 1: Arrive & Take in the Beauty of the Plains

Fly into Great Falls and begin your scenic drive toward East Glacier Park. As you travel along Highway 89, you’ll pass through the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, which encompasses the entire east side of Glacier National Park. The Blackfeet people have called this land home for centuries, and their rich culture is woven into the very fabric of this region. Be sure to stop at the historical markers along the way to learn about their history.

Enjoy a late lunch at Buffalo Joe’s in Dupuyer, a local favorite serving up delicious Montana fare. As you continue your drive, soak in the awe-inspiring sight of the “Front Range,” where the Rocky Mountains dramatically rise from the plains. From Browning to East Glacier, you’ll get your first breathtaking glimpse of Glacier National Park and the vast Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex.

Day 2: Drive Going-to-the-Sun Road & Hike Scenic Point

Start your day with one of the most scenic drives in the world—the legendary Going-to-the-Sun Road. Beginning in West Glacier, this iconic route offers jaw-dropping views of towering peaks, alpine meadows, and glacial valleys.

Stop at Logan Pass to spot mountain goats and bighorn sheep.
Marvel at Jackson Glacier as you descend toward the east side.
Keep an eye out for bears, especially on the east side of the park.

In the afternoon, pull into Two Medicine Valley for a rewarding hike to Scenic Point . This challenging trek offers panoramic views of Two Medicine Valley, Rising Wolf Mountain, and the seemingly endless Great Plains. After your hike, unwind by the shore of Two Medicine Lake , where—on a calm day—you can witness the mountains perfectly reflected in the water. The Blackfeet called this lake “Looking Glass” for a reason.

Before dinner, visit the historic Glacier Park Lodge and enjoy a drink at the bar while soaking in its grand architecture and rich history. Then, end the day with a hearty meal at The Peak in East Glacier .

Day 3: Whitewater Rafting & Exploring the North Fork

Experience the thrill of whitewater rafting on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River with Glacier Raft Company. Take a daring leap off the old bridge in West Glacier for an extra adrenaline rush!

After rafting, enjoy a picnic lunch at Lake McDonald Lodge and take in the breathtaking scenery of Lake McDonald. In the afternoon, head to the remote North Fork region and visit Polebridge for its famous baked goods.

Cap off the day with a gourmet dinner at the historic Belton Chalet , where you’ll enjoy fine dining in a setting steeped in Glacier Park history.

Day 4: Rodeo & Flathead Valley Exploration

It’s time for an authentic Montana experience—the Brash Rodeo at the Blue Moon , the state’s longest-running local rodeo! Along the way, make these must-see stops:

Silver Stairs Waterfall – A beautiful cascade right off Highway 2.
Goat Lick Overlook – A prime spot to see mountain goats.
The Lodge (formerly Izaak Walton Inn) – A historic railroad inn with a bar filled with train memorabilia.
Hungry Horse Dam – An engineering marvel that created the Hungry Horse Reservoir.
Huck Land – Home to the best huckleberry milkshakes and treats in the valley.
Murdoch’s Ranch & Home Supply – The perfect spot to grab a cowboy hat for the rodeo.

From there, choose between exploring downtown Kalispell with its classic brick storefronts or the vibrant downtown of Whitefish, filled with trendy shops and restaurants. Arrive early at the Blue Moon Rodeo to grab a good seat and enjoy an evening of authentic Western entertainment. After the rodeo, step into the Blue Moon Bar to experience one of the last true Honky Tonks, where you can two-step the night away.

Day 5: Departure with a Scenic Drive to Missoula

Sadly, all adventures must come to an end. If you’ve chosen to fly out of Missoula, enjoy a stunning three-hour drive that takes you past Flathead Lake—one of the largest natural freshwater lakes in the U.S. If you’re lucky, pick up some fresh Flathead cherries from a roadside stand.

As you continue south, admire the towering peaks of the Mission Mountains before dropping into the Bitterroot Valley, a short drive away from Missoula International Airport. It’s the perfect way to reflect on your unforgettable Montana adventure before heading home.

Book Your Stay at Bear Creek Guest Ranch

After days of exploring Glacier National Park and experiencing the best of Montana, why not enjoy true Western hospitality at Bear Creek Guest Ranch ? Our charming bed and breakfast is the perfect place to relax after your adventures, offering rustic yet comfortable accommodations, breathtaking scenery, and an authentic Montana experience.

Book your stay today and let Bear Creek Guest Ranch be your home away from home on your Glacier National Park adventure!

By following this itinerary, you’ll get the perfect mix of adventure, relaxation, and authentic Montana culture. Are you ready for the trip of a lifetime? Plan your stay with us today!

Navigating the East Side of Glacier National Park – 2025 Updates

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 15:31:13 GMT

2025 Important Updates for Vehicle Entry East Side Glacier Park

Navigating the East Side of Glacier National Park – 2025 Updates
Planning a trip to Glacier National Park in 2025? There are some important changes on the east side of the park, especially around Many Glacier , that visitors need to know. While St. Mary and Two Medicine remain more flexible, Many Glacier will see significant access limitations due to construction in the Swiftcurrent area.

Here’s a streamlined guide to help you make the most of your adventure:

Many Glacier – Major Restrictions (July 1 – September 21, 2025)

If you’re planning to visit Many Glacier , prepare for limited access during peak summer months:

No general public entry unless you have a shuttle ticket or a confirmed reservation for lodging, guided tours, or other commercial services .
A temporary shuttle service will be available, accommodating around 120 hiking groups per day .
Shuttle reservations will be released on short notice—either one week prior or the evening before at 7 p.m.
All hikes will begin from the Many Glacier Hotel’s upper parking lot , with detours potentially adding an extra mile each way.
No overnight parking is allowed in roadside turnouts.

Tip: Plan ahead and stay flexible—securing a shuttle reservation or lodging is key to accessing this area.

St. Mary – Easier Access, But Prepare for Congestion

St. Mary remains a prime gateway to Going-to-the-Sun Road without requiring vehicle reservations. However, it’s still one of the most popular park entrances, so expect crowds during peak hours.

No vehicle reservations needed for entry.
Temporary closures may occur during peak times ( 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. ) if the area gets too congested.
Service reservations (e.g., boat tours, lodging, or guided hikes) allow you to bypass temporary closures.

Pro Tip: Arrive early in the morning or later in the afternoon to avoid the midday crowds.

Two Medicine – A Quieter Glacier Experience

For those seeking a less hectic Glacier visit, Two Medicine offers stunning views and iconic hikes with fewer access hurdles.

No vehicle reservations required.
Temporary closures during peak hours may still occur if parking fills up.
Service reservations (like boat tours or horseback rides) guarantee entry during peak times.

Pro Tip: Two Medicine is a fantastic alternative for breathtaking scenery without the heavy traffic of other park areas.

What You’ll Still Need:

Regardless of which area you visit, a park entrance pass is required. While St. Mary and Two Medicine provide more flexible access, be ready for possible temporary entry restrictions during busy times.

Plan Your Glacier Adventure with Ease

Navigating Glacier National Park in 2025 might require some extra planning, but the views, hikes, and unforgettable experiences are more than worth it. Whether you want to tackle iconic trails in Many Glacier, cruise along Going-to-the-Sun Road, or escape the crowds in Two Medicine, knowing these new rules ensures a smoother visit.

Stay Close to the Adventure at Bear Creek Guest Ranch

Looking for a perfect home base while exploring Glacier National Park? Bear Creek Guest Ranch offers cozy accommodations, authentic Western charm, and easy access to the east side of the park. After a day of hiking, rafting, or simply soaking in Montana’s stunning landscapes, come back to a place where you can relax and recharge.

Book your stay today and make Bear Creek Guest Ranch the heart of your Glacier adventure!

Everything You Need to Know About Timed Entry Vehicle Reservations for Glacier National Park’s West Side in 2025

dustinbeck297@gmail.com (Dustin Beck) — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 22:48:09 GMT

Timed Vehicle Entry for West Side of Glacier Park

Everything You Need to Know About Timed Entry Vehicle Reservations for Glacier National Park’s West Side in 2025

To enhance the visitor experience and protect Glacier National Park’s natural beauty, the National Park Service introduced a vehicle reservation system to manage overcrowding and overuse. Each year, the system has been adjusted to better balance accessibility with conservation, ensuring visitors can enjoy the park while minimizing congestion.

The information below outlines the updated vehicle reservation requirements for 2025, as released by GlacierMT.com. Be sure to review these changes so you can plan your trip accordingly! And remember—you can still enter the park before 7 a.m. or after 3 p.m. Summer days in Glacier are long, with daylight lasting until nearly 10 p.m., giving you plenty of time to explore!

Read on for the latest details from GlacierMT.com.

“Planning a trip to Glacier National Park in 2025? If you're heading to the West Side of Going-to-the-Sun Road or the North Fork, you’ll need to secure a timed entry vehicle reservation between June 13 and September 28, 2025. To help you navigate this process, we’ve broken down all the key details so you can plan your adventure with ease.

When and Where Are Reservations Required?

Timed entry vehicle reservations are required for Going-to-the-Sun Road (West Side) and the North Fork from June 13 to September 28, 2025. If you're planning to visit these areas, you must book your reservation in advance through Recreation.gov.

However, if you're entering Two Medicine, Apgar Village, or the St. Mary Entrance, you do not need a vehicle reservation. Keep in mind that even without a reservation, some areas may experience temporary entry restrictions due to congestion.

How to Get a Timed Entry Vehicle Reservation

Reservations become available in two booking windows:

120-Day Advance Reservations – Starting February 13, 2025, at 8 a.m. (MT), a portion of reservations will open daily on a rolling basis for dates 120 days in advance. If you’re planning your trip ahead of time, this is your best opportunity to secure a spot.
Next-Day Reservations – Starting June 12, 2025, at 7 p.m. (MT), additional reservations will be released for entry the following day. This option is great for spontaneous travelers already in the area.

Reservations can be made online at Recreation.gov or through the Recreation.gov mobile app. Alternatively, you can call:

(877) 444-6777 (Toll-Free)
(606) 515-6777 (International)
(877) 833-6777 (TDD)

Each reservation costs a $2 processing fee.

What Are the Entry Time Blocks?

For Going-to-the-Sun Road and the North Fork, reservation time slots are in two-hour increments:

7 a.m. – 9 a.m.
9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Visitors must enter the park within their reserved time block but can stay as long as they like. If you miss your time block, you can still enter after 3 p.m. without a reservation.

Important Notes About North Fork Reservations

The North Fork area is more remote, with limited amenities and no cell service. Visitors should:

Be self-reliant and prepared for rugged conditions.
Have a four-wheel-drive vehicle and be able to change a tire.
Make first-come, first-served camping arrangements at the Polebridge Ranger Station (camping does not require a timed entry reservation).

Please only book a North Fork reservation if you fully intend to visit, as availability is limited.

Other Ways to Access Glacier Without a Vehicle Reservation

You do not need a timed entry vehicle reservation if you:

Have lodging, camping, or tour reservations within the reservation areas. Simply show your booking confirmation at the entry checkpoint.
Enter through St. Mary (East Side) and stay east of Logan Pass. However, if you drive west past Apgar, you will need a reservation to return before 3 p.m.
Enter after 3 p.m., when reservations are no longer required.

Additional Park Entrance Fees

A timed entry reservation does NOT cover the standard park entrance fee. You’ll still need one of the following:

$35 vehicle entrance pass (valid for 7 days)
Glacier National Park Annual Pass
Interagency Annual/Lifetime Pass

Plan Ahead for a Smooth Visit

Check the park website for road status updates before your trip.
Sign up for text alerts for real-time access updates.
Utilize the park’s free shuttles to Logan Pass and popular hiking areas to avoid parking congestion.
Be prepared for changing weather conditions, as Glacier’s climate is unpredictable.”

Book Your Stay at Bear Creek Guest Ranch

If you found the information above helpful, we’d love to host you at Bear Creek Guest Ranch! As a family-run operation with years of experience, knowledge, and expertise, we take pride in getting to know our guests, helping them plan their stay, and offering recommendations on the best places to visit and things to do. Come stay with us and experience true Montana Western hospitality while enjoying our little slice of paradise in the mountains. We look forward to seeing you!

No Place Like Home… Reflections

Mon, 14 Dec 2020 19:50:00 GMT

I remember doing the radio show in the nineties. The Hi Line Sportsman it was called. I did an anti-environmental commentary for five to ten minutes a couple times a week. Back in those days I was a pissed off permittee of the Unites States Forest Cervix, and pissed off and pissed on I was. Truth be known, I did most of the pissing and in fairness to the whole deal I was, how should I put this, given a whole lot of latitude. But that was then and this is now although I do recall taking lots of shots at the University of Montana or as I not very fondly referred to it as "the school of nuts and raisins." Between the professional apparatus at the U pumping out up and coming bureaucrats into the system and my inability to survive as a servant of that mentally vacuous machine I lost the war. I still get pissed off thinking about that but time does have a way of softening past blows and things change.

Like, here I am, in Missoula, Montana, a bunch of years later (doing graduate work) and it ain't as bad as I thought it might be. Granted, I'm not ensconced in the bowels of the school of natural resources every day listening to the drivel of the environmental aristocracy lecturing to their worshiping, brainwashed pupils. Thank God. Truth be known, I do have relapses of PTSD as I work my through the smattering of mare hippies waiting for their sushi and latte in the UC cafeteria. I can smell 'em a mile away. That said, I've mellowed, I can live with 'em, at a distance! I shudder to think they'll be part of that corporate natural resource intelligentsia, that part of which is still so foreign, and yes, repulsive to me. But, I've mellowed, changed. Nevertheless, the following are some thoughts on the whole matter and more.

I'm still a huge fan of "Range" magazine, the bible of the American West. There isn't a day that goes by when an issue of some critical nature, whether it be wolves, climate change, private property rights, endangered species, etc. and although I may listen to any number of opinions myself, and even have a few, I ultimately lean back on the words of wisdom of "Range." "Range is an award winning quarterly devoted to the issues that threaten the American West, its people, lifestyles, lands, and wildlife. Range is a leading forum for opposing viewpoints in the search for solutions that will halt the depletion of a national resource- the American cowboy." Range is where I go to when I'm confused, angry, or even bitter. I can't look to books, lectures, and the pontification of professional intellectuals for wisdom. I look to the working men and women on the ground on the front lines. The search for true wisdom comes from the men or women who've battled in the trenches of real life on farms and ranches from coast to coast. Their stories are written on the pages of "Range" magazine every other month. I urge you to google them up and see for yourself.

The wolf issue in the American West has died down quite a bit. I can recall the subject first getting broached with me at a meeting some Forest Service officials in the backcountry in the late 1980's. I think they thought I was of a new breed of cat, forward thinking, and probably amenable to the new world order of wolf reintroduction and recovery in the American West. That evening may have been the beginning of my undoing as a new, fresh faced permittee of the corporation. I'd only seen a few wolves up to that point in my entire life and it wasn't the wolf itself that initially ran shivers down my spine, it was the attendant flood of bureaucracy that I knew would follow. The wolf issue has always been as much about the role of an alien societal presence and role of government in our lives as it has been about just the presence of the wolf itself. That conflict still rages, even when it isn't making headlines. That's further reason why you should always go to bed with the "bible" of the American West on your nightstand.

And back to the county and town of Missoula, Montana. Prior to my first school year in town I did have some apprehension about the liberal bias and makeup of the community, and certainly the university. My nervousness hasn't been justified by the experience I've had in "Zootown." With only some to be expected exceptions, living in and going to school in Missoula has been a pleasure. I've found the town to be a hardworking, middle class enclave surrounding a university that hasn't lived up to the wacky reputation I gave it. I'm all for good discussion and intelligent discourse on almost any issue and a university atmosphere is the perfect place for that. I've met quite a few students and professionals from every discipline the college has to offer and have yet to have a heated, unreasonable discussion with anyone. Missoula is growing at a reasonable rate, real estate prices seem to be in the norm, and trophy homes and gated communities haven't yet found fertile ground for germination. Yeah, there's always a rub. That lack of uber-wealth in Missoula and the surrounding area is a good thing. Take a look at Gallatin County and the town of Bozeman and you're staring at a phenomenon that is as much a threat to the quality of life in the American West as the advent of wolf generation was twenty years ago.

It wasn't too many years ago and a ranch was worth what a ranch was worth. That is, it was worth the price of the buildings, the number of cows, and the amount of land. Oh to be sure, there were other items of value like water rights, hay meadows, road access, and the like. That's changed. Have you taken a look at the value of working ranches now, in 2015? Well, once they're sold, the majority of them won't be working ranches anymore. The working ranch and the families that have operated them for more than two centuries are slowly but surely disappearing, the casualties of the erosion of the family farm and ranch to the mega wealth of American society. I know that's a tough one to get your head wrapped around. Success has always been wrapped up in the American dream, work hard and get rich. I see that but I don't get it. The plain fact of the matter is that large farms and ranches are being bought up, fenced off, and taken out of production, In many cases, the owners become absentee landlords, hire a caretaker, and visit when the weather is good, the trout fishing is at it's peak, and the skiing is at its best. Now how in the hell does that square up with the very wisdom we were looking at when I started this rant? It doesn't. And all I can hope is that you get yourself a copy of Range magazine right now. Then get a subscription, and get a real job.

Keystone Pipeline Beer

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 19:53:00 GMT

North to Polar Bears, South to Old Mexico

It's about time. A gallon of gas in Montana can be had for a buck 98 now. That's a helluva deal. Diana just got home from her annual winter trip to Aruba and filled up the Mercedes for less than a hundred bucks. That's about half of what we were paying for a tank of gas just this past summer. The price of gas is making everyone feel pretty good. More money to buy beer. When you think about it, a six pack of cheap beer, say Keystone for example, is about twice as expensive as a gallon of gas. That's cool. I always know there was a correlation between beer and gasoline. Makes perfect sense doesn't it? I doubt you're following my train of thought on the subject and you're probably wondering what the hell I'm talking about. Well, I'm not too sure myself but I'll give it a better go. Ready?

Alright, so we're getting gasoline at the pump at prices we haven't seen since the last century. And we are feeling pretty good about that. We've got a few extra bucks lying around and the economy is picking up even more steam as we slowly but surely emerge from the recent economic slump. The price of oil has a lot of influence on the overall economic health of not only our economy and well being but as well on the international economic picture. Let's face it, on those levels, oil is the world's drug of choice. We get high when there's lots of it and go into withdrawal when it's scarce. For the time being, however, let's just assume that we're on a good roll that may last a while. Life is good at the pump. Keep on pumping.

I know what happens when gas is cheap. Guess. We consume a hell of a lot more of it than we do when it's above three dollars a gallon. I've gone months without filling up my truck and forking over a hundred and fifty bucks at $3.89 s gallon. That's a chunk of change I don't always have handy. Now, hell, I won't think twice about filling up and heading down the highway for business or pleasure. I've got people and places I want to go see now that I can afford to. (And by the way, I was just pulling your drawers about Diana going to Aruba on holiday. She went to East Glacier to get the mail).

The problem with that nifty scenario is that when gas is cheap and life is good we do act like a society of junkies. And you know what Neil Young said about that don't 'ya? "Every junkie's like a setting sun, (Needle and the Damage Done, 1970)." I may be acting a bit melodramatic at this point but I can't help but be thinking about Keystone Beer and Keystone Oil. Shouldn't the oil cost more than the beer? If we're tallkin' Michelob Ultra, or better yet, Moose Drool, our local favorite, I'd be drinking oil. There's the rub. We'll be consuming oil like it's a premier beer unless and until the price of oil goes back up to where it should be.

I know, you're ready to kick my ass. Why in the hell do I want to see the price of oil to get high and stay high? Well, it's because many years ago I did one of the greatest hunts of my lifetime in the far northeast corner of Alberta, hard up against the Northwest Territories border and not far from Saskatchewan. That trip to the bush of Alberta was one of the highlights of my life. We hunted out of a small cabin on a remote lake, only reachable by float plane. And we were in the bush, as they say. There wasn't much in the way of civilization in front of us, in back, or to the side of us for hundreds of miles. I think Great Slave Lake was somewhere between us and the Arctic Circle. And when I sauntered off for a morning hunt I was pretty darned careful about checking my back track, not wanting to to be spending the winter holed up in a polar bear den. I hunted some of the most beautiful, primitive country I'd ever been in up to that point in my life. And to top that off, I killed a big bull moose that to this day hangs on the wall of our ranch house in Montana. The kicker to that story is that where I hunted that weekend in Alberta more than twenty years ago is where the oil for the Keystone Oil Pipeline is coming from. I'ts coming from the Alberta Tar Sands.

I've thought on many occasions what that country might look like now and I don't want to imagine too hard. I'd imagine it doesn't look too much like it did back then. I've heard stories. I've not heard good stories about the exploration and extraction of the tar sands from that once pristine region up north. It breaks my heart. So how in the hell can I think good things about the most likely forthcoming construction of a pipeline from there to the Gulf Coast of Texas, carrying the oily residue of a scorched earth policy of strip mining the very country I walked on when I was young? I can't do it.

From this point on in this writing I have a bad feeling that the more I write the more I'll be getting in over my head. The subject matter gets pretty complex from here on out so I'll keep it simple and have it said. Hey, I know we need oil, for our cars, trucks, industry, military, the whole enchilada. I know that. I also know, and so do you, that we need lots of big tracts of unspoiled country with lots of fresh air and water. We don't just want it, we need it (Jagger, Richards, 1975). We're beginning to experience a "going, going, gone kind of mentality that should be suited to a more primitive culture than what I'd like to believe we could be. I only have to think ahead a decade or two and don't like what I fear we might all see on this abused planet of ours. I don't want to pay three or four dollars a gallon for gas any more than you do. I also don't want to see that precious country that I hunted when I was young treated like a whore in old Mexico a century ago.

Jobs. Oh yeah, that's the conundrum. They say there's thousands of jobs waiting for you, both in northern Alberta, and along the path the Keystone pipeline will traverse. Maybe and maybe not. I've heard both sides of that coin and for the record, low gas prices have already, right now and as we speak, slowed things down in the oil patch. So hold onto to that thought for a bit and in the meantime, if jobs or the lack thereof, are the thorn in the side of the most ardent supporters of Keystone XL Pipeline, why not get a little forward thinking and encourage an onslaught of research and development in massive wind and solar technology. Instead of "drill baby drill, (S. Palin)" we go to "build baby build, (W. Beck, 2021))." They both employ lots of labor and the money is good. Neither scenario is perfect and not without it's own respective good and poor points. But I'll bet you a case of Moose Drool beer that the environmental impact on this good earth of ours will be substantially improved if we can graduate to a more pragmatic way to move forward.

I think the whole deal is a whole lot less complex than any of us want to recognize. I know, in my case, it doesn't take a whole lot of imagining of the landscape in the tar sands country then, when it was primitive, and in it's prime, and now, chewed up, and spit out, to know which way I want to see us go. So I've to to take it back to Neil, "I've seen the needle and damage done, a little part of it in everyone, but every junkie's like the setting sun, (N.Young, Needle and the Damage Done, 1970)."

Here's to Keystone Beer, Here's to Keystone Oil, For what it's worth,
" Let's drink to the Salt of the Earth, (Jagger, Richards, 1977)"

An Acronym? Managing Grizzlies.

Wed, 19 Sep 2018 17:09:00 GMT

Originally Posted Monday, November 20, 2017

The very contentious issue of debate regarding the "listing" of the grizzly bear is again coming into focus in the American West. On Wednesday, November 29th, in Missoula, many of this regions grizzly bear bureaucrats will be gathering, once again, to discuss the status of ursus horribilis, most specifically, in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (or NCDE). The biggest piece of that day long discussion will be to debate the merits of delisting the grizzly in Northern Montana and if in fact that is going to occur how will the grizzly be managed moving forward.

They'll all be there. You know who I'm talking about! From Wilderness Watch to the Sahara Club, and all of 'em in between, every environ- meddling outfit within five hundred miles. They'll all be there in force, in all their glory, sanctifying the the status of the grizzly, and theirs as well. And of course, grizzly bear managers from the Fed, the state and the tribes will be driving the agenda for the day. I'm looking forward to attending, as a member of the general public and I do hope the public makes it's presence felt. I can already feel the hair on the back of my neck getting stiff!

I've lived in grizzly bear country for quite some time, going back to the the early 80's and on up through the present. I am writing this piece, having just come back from feeding in our barn, not expecting to see a bear there but keeping my eyes open regardless. I think it's a bit late in November to find a hungry grizzly poking around near our feed bins but who knows, it's only been a couple weeks since the last grizzly's presence exited the property. I've been run out of there on more than one occasion over the years. There's a foot and a half of snow out there and a whole lot more in the high country so chances are any bear in the area is denned up.

Most of my life over the past forty years has been spent at our ranch, directly adjacent to the southern edge of Glacier National Park, just to the north of the Bob Marshall Wilderness complex, and just west of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. There's lots of bears in the area, to say the least. Always has been. Yes, we've noted some fluctuation in population over the years. The decade of the 90's was really something, grizzlies everywhere. One summer we had three different sows with twin cubs on and off the property. We lost a colt to a sow with a cub one Spring night and the following evening had eight different grizzlies doing a dance around the culvert trap, set up to capture the sow that had killed the colt. A buddy of mine and myself counted 55 grizzlies between May and June 1st within ten miles of the ranch one year. It seemed like there were bears everywhere. These past ten years we appear to have lost the big, dense population of bears that we once had but I don't think they'v gone too far! The population of those bears appears to have moved, or migrated if you will, in an easterly direction, over to the prairie country and the Rocky Mountain Front, back to their historic habitat, before the advent of the white man. We saw eight of the big bears there this past summer over the course of two days within a few miles of each other. And I doubt if we saw them all. There was bear sign everywhere.

I'm wondering if there will be some sharp folks attending the upcoming meeting in Missoula? Will there be some real outdoor brain power present at that gathering of bear professionals? Will they all have their laptops at their disposal, ready to augment their argument with satellite imagery data uploaded from a solar powered live feed 200 miles distant on Grant Ridge? How many of them will have spent years in the out of doors, in bear country, among bears, accumulating the experience, the knowledge, and the wisdom to know that the whole deal, the whole debate, the grist of the entire issue, is not as complex or as difficult to solve as they would have you believe? There will be several hundred attendees in Missoula on the 29th and several hundred opinions on how to proceed with the debate, "to list or not to list."

There's always going to be bears in this country, in the NCDE. It's just a matter of how many we can live with, or perhaps how many can live with us. Of little doubt to me however, is that the number we finally settle on has got to be finite. In other words, there can't be an unlimited degree of population growth among the big bears. There has been growth for decades and the results of that have been an increasing amount of man/bear conflict and a feeling among many folks that the biological and social carrying capacity of the NCDE has been reached. And yes, I do recognize that thought is not likely to be received well among the crowd I expect to be attending!

If I were in a position to make an executive decision regarding the future management of the grizzly bear here's what would happen; The grizzly bear would once again become the domain of the state of Montana;. the presence of the Federal Fish and Wildlife Service would be relegated back to the east side of the Mississippi River, never to be present in this state again, ever; the population of the grizzly would be capped at its' present number; legal hunting of the grizzly would be initiated and become a viable management tool in man/bear conflict; For starters, 50 grizzlies, two third males, and one third females, would be legally harvested each year: in the NCDE grizzlies will not be present east of Highway 89 from the Canadian border south to Interstate 90.

I've had a richer life having lived with grizzlies and in grizzly country for as long as I have. I also understand that the grizzly is an animal that needs lots of room to live, a whole lot more than you and I need. I'd rather see the grizzly in his world than ours. We don't do well together and one of us always loses when there's conflict. The bear dies or we get hurt and die as well. Neither of us wins. Leave the bear alone in northwest Montana, west of Highway 89. We'll all be happy.

Monumental Monuments

Wed, 19 Sep 2018 17:05:00 GMT

I think back to days gone by, specifically those early, formative years guiding raft and fishing trips on the Snake River through Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. What great country that is, and was, for me. Needing to know a bit of the area's history I learned that Grand Teton National Park had been initially, almost a half century before I arrived on the scene, a National Monument, declared so by the president in 1929 by way of the Antiquities Act of 1906. That act allowed the president to set aside "land to be protected as important historic, cultural, and ecological sites without the approval of congress." There's some fine print added to the original Antiquities Act and some of that has been the subject of modern day interpretation and discussion. Nevertheless, to this day, the president of the United States is allowed to set aside land or water that he deems is needing of protection. In recent history, George Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama all added numerous monument status to lands and water that were deemed in need of increased protection as National Monuments. Specifically, in 2016, during his last year in the White House, Barack Obama set aside the Bears Ears country in Utah, more than 1.3 million acres of land as a national monument. Then the fun started.

During President Trumps first year in office he directed the Secretary of Interior, Ryan Zinke, to review some of the existing monuments with an eye toward reducing the sizes of many of which he felt were not being used in a manner consistent with the original intent of the Antiquities Act of 1906. The 1.3 million acre Bear Ears National Monument along with the 1.6 million acre Grand Staircase- Escalante National Monument have taken center stage following the review and may very well be in the process for severe reduction in size in the year ahead. The Bears Ears is projected to go from the 1.3 million acres down to 120,000. That's quite a change! A drastic reduction in acreage is also planned for the Grand Staircase- Escalante as well. Needless to say, in many quarters, and most certainly among every environmental organization known to man, there has been a loud outcry of opposition to the administrations actions. "America's conservation legacy defines us and is the envy of the world. Today is a dark day for that legacy. "Teddy Roosevelt is shaking his fists. Undermining one of our bedrock conservation laws and selling out to industry flies in the face of T.R., who president Trump said he wanted to emulate." Oh boy!

And here's where it gets interesting. Ironically, or coincidentally, I'm not sure which, while at the same time taking aim at the two monuments in question, Secretary Zinke proposes that the Badger Two Medicine country of northern Montana become a National Monument, to the tune of 130,000 acres of country that begins six miles from where I'm writing this blog as we speak! Bear Creek Ranch lies just six miles to the west of the northeast border of the, at this time, informally proposed Badger- Two Medicine National Monument. More than a few of you reading this blog, many of you guests of ours, or close friends at Bear Creek Ranch over the years, have ridden on more than one occasion into the heart of the Badger- Two Medicine, with us. You know the country of the Badger- Two Med as well as many others. You've been there. You also know it's some pretty special country, raw, rugged, spectacular, and drop dead beautiful. And you never saw another soul on a ride you did with us. That country is still quiet, very lightly visited, and even more importantly, well taken care of by those of us that do visit. And that's the beginning of the rub, the conflict, the internal turmoil that lies right below the surface of potential monument designation. At first blush, "protecting" the Badger- Two Medicine Country seems like a no- brainer. After all, this nation's conservation legacy lays in no small part on the efficacy of the original Antiquities Act and the intent of that act is to protect our public lands. I get that. BUT. Does the Badger-Two Medicine country need the additional level of protection that National Monument status would provide it, if any?

What is so important to recognize at this point in time is that the Badger-Two Medicine country is protected at many levels because it is in the Lewis and Clark National Forest. The Badger Two Med has been given increased protection over the years from oil and gas exploration and the use of motorized vehicles. Both of those added levels of regulation were won after lengthy battles on the public and legal stage. The Badger Two-Med country works very well under the "multiple use" directive of the Forest Service. Folks hike, fish, hunt, and ride freely, without federal restriction. There is also a limited amount of livestock grazing also permitted. In my opinion, and I have been a long time and ardent user of the country in question, the existing levels of protection in the area work real well for about everyone. The glaring exception to that last statement is the role the Blackfeet Tribe plays in the present and future of the area. I'll add to that thought in the following paragraphs.

At this point I'll cut right to the heart of the matter. The Badger-Two Medicine is everything it is, beautiful, majestic, raw, and rugged because it is not a monument. It has not nor should be added to National Monument status because it will have a bulls eye painted on it both in this country and around the world. A bulls eye of visitation that it doesn't need. The Badger-Two Med is what it is because it has been left alone, unlike our National Parks and Monuments, and monument status will change that irreversibly. If the Blackfeet Tribe desires more use or management authority in the country then I say bring it to the table.

Pushing back on National Monument creation anywhere is hard for me to do. My natural instinct is go all in on monuments and provide the kind of protection all our remaining wild places need and deserve. But I am also seeing a change in the character of many of our wild lands as they continue to get more and more visitation and use. This past summer the visitation in Glacier National Park went well beyond the 3 million mark, almost double the use I normally noted not many years ago. Trails are crowded as are park facilities. And the irony to those thoughts is that Glacier National Park is fully visible and directly across Highway 2 from the north boundary of the Badger Two-Medicine. We look north into the park as we ride just to the south of it and we rarely see a soul on our side of the tracks. And those souls rarely see us!

I cringe at the thought of National Monument protection in the Badger-Two Med. That country is good just the way it is today. I don't want that to change nor do I suspect that current users of the area would embrace that change either. What I fear is that the enticement of the false narrative of added protection in Monument status will blind many folks to the reality that National Monuments bring, and that is potentially immense additional visitation and use.

As I've heard on many occasions in my life when looking at a difficult decision that doesn't need to be made, the wise man sayeth; "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." The Badger-Two Medicine Country ain't broke. It is good the way it is. It doesn't need fixing, certainly not to the extent that Monument status would bring.

There's a whole lot of stuff in this world I know very little about. But I do know a whole lot about the Badger-Two Medicine Country. I know that monument desig

The Big Muscanetcong River

Mon, 17 Sep 2018 19:51:00 GMT

"The average American child can recognize 1,000 corporate logos but can't identify 10 plants or animals native to his or her own region." Quite frankly, I can't figure out who is responsible for that quote. It may have been my facebook friend Oscar Williams 1V. It have been any man on the street. It darned sure could have been anybody, period. I've been struggling with the entire concept of the world of technology slowly but surely (and not very slowly) taking over the lives of our children, and our own lives, to be sure. More so than ever, it's become more and more obvious that the attachment our younger generation has with technology has begun to wash away the sense and sensibility that it once had. I didn't have to stare bug eyed at the quote beginning this writing to know that the world of cell phones, i-phones, i-pads, laptops, desktops, kindles, etc. has replaced the natural world of spiders, snakes, tadpoles, salamanders, fish, deer, rhinos, and elephants. The world that is inside a classroom, an office, an internet cafe, a library, and even your living room, is not the living, breathing world under the blue sky and sun that started it all but appears to be fading into the past like a sunset on a bad day.

My life has changed significantly this past year. I've begun a two year odyssey of learning at a university in Montana. It's been forty years since I graduated from college but it seems like four hundred, particularly in the world of internet technology. I've been operating from behind the eight ball for several months trying to catch up with the new way of doing business. I did buy a computer in 1987 and got half savvy with it but clearly, didn't take my computer education very far. Hell, I was busy fishing, hunting, roping, riding good horses, and thoroughly enjoying everything I could under the sun, literally. Now I'm paying for it. I watch my classmates barely listen to a lecture while typing their notes on computer generated power points on their Apple laptops with their facebook or hotmail app available with a quick click. Following a class, those i-phones are out before they are out of their chairs, their fingers working so smoothly on those ridiculously small keys. They make it look easy. If I used a laptop in class it would be a disaster. My fingers would fumble through those keys. I'd be missing keys and opening new programs, shutting down and starting up, cursing through my clenched jaws, and defeating the whole purpose of being in class.

But I'd rather be me than them. To be sure, I'm surrounded by a whole bunch of good people. Smart, savvy students who kick my ass every day in class and on exams and papers. I'm struggling with my lack of electronic savvy. I spent two worrisome weeks not long ago wondering how I could record an interview without a tape recorder for a major mid-term project. The solution was ridiculously easy. Use a cell phone. I did. But I had no clue, until I asked a fellow student and lamely admitted my total ignorance of the whole process.

My whole point regarding the schism between my own lack of IT knowledge and the vast breadth of ability the vast majority of the learned populace does have is the length and depth they have had to go to acquire that knowledge they have, and at what cost. The learning our world is doing is in fromt of a set of keys, electronically connected to the cyber world and it's particular and peculiar keyboard. I see it every hour of every day on campus. I do see a Montana Sky, big tall trees, squirrels in them, deer hiding behind them. I see the sun, when it's out, and the stars, when they are. And I can feel the wind blow in my face on long walks, and I can hear the river flowing under the bridges I cross. But I also see students staring intently into their cellphones, unaware of me passing by, heads down. Many of them have earphones plugged in. They are almost totally lost in cyber space. Hell, they don't see me, certainly don't hear me, and wouldn't know their ass from a hole in the ground if they were gonna' get their ass kicked by a gut shot grizzly bear that came from around the corner. They are fucking oblivious.

I was relaying a story to classmates about a particular grizzly bear that I followed one evening in hunting camp many years ago at a distance of just a few yards, as I attempted to blast a full lungful of bear spray at the renegade griz. Most of those listening had expressions of non belief on their faces. I simply wasn't making any sense to most of them. The story wasn't registering. I suspect, however, that if they'd heard the same event on Animal Planet or seen it on Yahoo News it might have rung a few more brain cells.

I know we're a highly educated nation. I know my grandson is getting a good education at a top notch public school. He already runs the keyboard on his electronic toys more nimbly than I can only dream of doing. I'm sixty three and he's four. But I want Elias to know a white oak tree when he sees one. I want him to know a gray squirrel when he's on a walk. Or better yet, the difference between a non venomous black snake and a cottonmouth moccasin.. How about the difference between a white tailed deer and an elk he may very well see this coming summer on his visit to our ranch on the edge of Glacier National Park.

He won't know how to bait a hook, cast it into Bear Creek, and understand where the trout might be lying on that particular piece of fresh water. Is that a brookie or a cutthroat he just caught? "What do I do now Grandpa? Can we eat it?" I'll help him catch that fish and I'll show him how to clean it and get it ready for the frying pan. But I'll only do that once. Then he's on his own. I'll also try to get Elias to keep his eyes open, not just to be aware of what's around him but also to keep his eyes open to the sun and the sky, to the creek and to the pasture, to the horses and to the herd of elk, to the still air and the gentle summer breezes. He can't that get that stuff back East. He won't get it in a classroom. It won't happen in front of a computer screen, except in virtual reality and that doesn't really count does it? Elias does have a real advantage however, and I am aware of that. His Mom and Dad are pretty keen to the outdoors and they'll bring him a long way in that part of his life But many kids won't have that chance. They'll get smart in school. They may become good lawyers, builders, or teachers. But they won't know the difference between an oak and a maple, or a black from a grizzly bear. Or the beauty of a black night in Montana lit up by the northern lights.

I caught my first trout when I was 12 years old on a creek in New Jersey. That was one of the highlights of my life up to that point. I was on my own, had found the stretch of creek I wanted to fish, baited my own hook, and caught my first brookie. I screamed with Joy. That creek was cold and clear and far enough away from the madding crowd that the whole beautiful experience is one I remember to this day. God I hope it isn't too late.

Me and Cliven Bundy

Mon, 17 Sep 2018 19:48:00 GMT

I was with a student this past fall, in a practicum setting, in an office, at the University of Montana. She was a foreign student, a long way from home in Asia, with a rudimentary knowledge of the English language, very soft spoken, and beyond quiet, both in her spoken word and physical presence. I spent an hour each week for two months in a therapeutic setting as we attempted to make sense of her loneliness and isolation in a foreign country and culture. On more than one occasion I saw tears slowly drip down her cheeks, the result of too little communication with the world around her, and an inability to develop new relationships in a strange new world. I happened to be eating lunch one day in the University Center, having grabbed a chair off by itself, or so I thought, and after having a few words with a colleague, turned my head and not three feet from me, alone as well, was the young lady I just described in the words above. I'd been sitting there for at least ten minutes and I hadn't seen her specifically nor had I been aware of anyone even in the vicinity. All that time, and that close proximity, and I hadn't said Hi, nor had she.

After a mildly awkward "Hi, how are you?" I went about my business, continued reading, and wondered how I would make my exit without engaging in conversation, an action that is not recommended in the world of therapeutic counseling. The rule of thumb is that counselors don't acknowledge clients in the "outside" world, but do so if addressed first. And regardless, we keep it short and sweet. After ten minutes or so I made my farewell, quietly, and without what would be for me in other circumstances, a hearty and heartfelt farewell. I just left.

I just got up and left that poor, lonely, and socially isolated girl, in her chair, with no one else around, and I hadn't said a word to her upon leaving. I was stuck, just plain stuck, caught between a rock and hard place, stuck between the ethics of the therapeutic environment I have pledged an oath to and my own personal creed of human relationship and kindness. But I blew it. I walked out without one word and I left.

There was a next session and I made it a point, right at the get go, to explain my lack of courtesy to her, and to give to her my sincerest apology. I should have acknowledged her as I left the lunch room, even if with just a few words. My actions that previous week should have been exactly what I've always felt a kinship to, and that is acknowledging, developing and maintaining relationships with the people around me. I haven't always been successful but the effort is important, even if it's awkward, out of place, and in the end, doesn't work. The plain fact of the matter is that the odds are in one's favor with even less than one's best effort.

I've been in the guest ranch business for more than forty years and for the greatest part of that time at Bear Creek Ranch in northern Montana. One could make the case for the importance of developing close relationships in the very specific guest business I'm in. That makes alot of sense. The plain fact of the matter is however, that the development and maintenance of personal relationships is a critical component of almost any association, business, team, or gathering of human beings anywhere. The nature of the interpersonal relationships of people in any form can be the defining quality that separates failure from success and from misery to happiness. I've seen it in the flesh on too many occasions as I'm sure you have as well, and I suspect, if the truth were known, we've all been party to the bad end of relationships that with some thought and effort could have been avoided.

That being said, a huge part of the success that I've had at Bear Creek Ranch has been through the growth and maintenance of the relationships that I have been able to nurture over the course of three and a half decades. I couldn't have made it all these years without many very key friendships that have stood the test of time. Some come and sadly, some go, but the ones that remain are like battle hardened old war horses. I am and always will be eternally grateful for those that are.

Ya' know, it's pretty hard to operate in this world, under any circumstances, without some sort of a network of family or friends. I've seen that better than ever the past few years and I've begun to see the scars that begin to emerge of the psyche of the human soul when one does attempt to navigate the world of the social animal alone, solo. It rarely works. I'm grateful for even the modest success I've had and rueful that I've left a few in the dust. I guess if one is beyond the middle zone on the graph of human sociability then you're rolling ahead of the curve.

So here's to all of you, family and friends, here's to all of us. Let our days ahead be full of joy and spirit, dignity and faith, and to everyone, the best New Year ever!

“It’s Been Quite The Party”

Mon, 17 Sep 2018 19:45:00 GMT

Wow, in my last writing I wrote about the young lady I had developed a professional relationship with in a therapeutic setting. I still think about her from time to time and hope she is overcoming some of the social barriers that have inhibited her from being all she wants to be. Just recently, I've received news of good friends, some temporarily sick, a few terminally ill. That ain't good. I mean, these are folks that I've known a long time, through the good times and the not good times. Good friends stand the test of time, they don't come and go, even when the chips are down. I talked to a good ole cowboy bud of mine just a while ago. Me and Harry don't see each other much, maybe once or twice a year. But when we do, it's a good thing. I think my world wouldn't be as full if Harry weren't around. And for the record, he will be. His go round in the hospital is about over and in any case, he's a stubborn son of a bitch and on the mend. But I must be thinking about mortality a bit more than normal cause here I am writing about it.

So here I go again, writing about relationships, ones I've known, ones I've lost, and maybe those that are yet to come. I just got off the message system with an old high school mate, hadn't communicated with him for more than forty some years. I remember Doug pretty well. We played football together and I recall him being pretty damned smart. I think he went to one of them Ivy League colleges and became a physicist. He was asking for my comments on the Malheur Wildlife Refuge comedy and we exchanged a few thoughts on the matter. I gave him my take on the deal and he referred me to a couple pieces that he thought were worth reading. Now, here I am corresponding with one intelligent fellow and he's asking me stuff? I told him he'd always had me "out brained" by a large margin. And you know what? He told me he'd always enjoyed my writing, my style, and my normally thoughtful prose. Holy shit! I kid you not, I was speechless, and flattered. And most of all, he made my day. And so, here I am, inspired, writing, on a Saturday afternoon. I think, which is what I'm getting at here is, is that it doesn't take a whole lot to get us going. We need just a little help, just a little nudge, just a little encouragement, just a little kindness directed our way, to make our day. I doubt if I'm speaking solely for myself. We're all pretty similar when you get right down to it.

It's been thirty five years now since we opened the doors at Bear Creek Ranch. Talk about a journey. My life has been a journey, particularly when it comes to that little ranch and the way it's intersected with me at every curve, corner, and traffic light along the way. Marriages, children, life, and death, good times, not so good times, but through it all, the one constant, the relationships that I've known and the ones that I haven't but are still to come. We don't raise cattle at our place, we have raised more than a few horses, but really, what we've raised the most, are relationships with our guests, those that were, those that are, and those that are yet to come. I've thought on occasion that it would be nice to raise cattle. Hell, cattle don't talk back, don't take up your time when you've got something else on your mind, a project to complete, an errand to run. But you know what, I think I've come out on the right end on that one. I've had a fascination with people, and as I call it, the human condition, for as long as I can remember, And I still do!

It's been an interesting Saturday morning. I just got an e-mail from a fellow that worked at the ranch thirty years ago. Now where the hell did that come from, after all these years. I'd thought of Mike from time to time, not with total fondness and not without some as well. I suspect if we'd been the best of friends we'd have never lost track of each other. But there it is. I'll be seeing Mike this summer. He'll be a paying guest, which is one good thing, and we'll undoubtedly share some life, me and him. And that will pretty interesting. Did he ever marry the girl he loved so much back in 1988? Did he know of the girl I loved in 1988 and married in 1989? Does he have children? Does he know I have children? Oh boy, and there's more of course.

I've got to fill you in on another fellow, Frankie, who's been a guest at our ranch for three decades. He's been on hunts, pack trips, cattle drives, and ranch vacations with us. This past summer, he was here at the ranch twice, once with his wife and grandson, and later on in the fall, with his wife and another neat couple. Frankie worked for a big outfit in the Midwest for years and not months after retiring after forty years of hard work, was diagnosed with a rather serious form of cancer. He was sick during his vacation here in July and appeared stronger in the fall. This winter hasn't been kind to him and I find myself thinking about the fickle and often unfair nature of life.

Changing gears, there's the real good stuff out there as well. We've had three marriages at the ranch the past couple years and they've all been good stuff. I mean really good people getting married on just the perfect day, and a helluva good party afterword. I have a strong feeling that those marriages are all gonna' work. Hell, one of 'em was mine so there you go. I think the ranch, at times, has an almost mystic feel to it. Those weddings had it. "Into the Mystic."

There's so much more but before I wrap this up I want to tell you about Pat. Hell, most of you know him. Pat worked at the place more than thirty years ago, fresh out of high school somewhere on the East Coast. I'm not sure Pat had even graduated, not that it mattered. He was young then, just beginning, and stayed with us for a couple years. But there was something about Pat, even then. He had a quiet kind of ambition. And when he told me he was going to be building a Mexican Restaurant in his sister's older log home in East Glacier, I thought well, he's in for a rude awakening. Now remember, that's going back more than a few years. What the hell did I know? What the hell did Pat know? Well, he knew a helluva' bunch more than me! It wasn't long before he and his wife Renee had that old log building tore down and built up. And you know the rest of this story. Serrano's Mexican Restaurant is one of the most successful business's west of the Mississippi River. Those strawberry daiquiris and blended margaritas go down like none other. Pat toasted me with his personal stash of fine Tequila on my 60th birthday. As Augustus McRae, Texas Ranger, said, "it's been quite the party." And it all started at Bear Creek Ranch.