Walk it off - Where to go? From Montana's Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge to Southwest Spring Break

Time to hit the mountain trails! Sping is coming at us here in the north country of Montana like an awakening from a deep sleep.To my complete surprise I discovered that the little tulips, crocuses and jonquils were actually poking out their little nubby heads – already. Already! Obviously we live in a colder region of the country up the Clark Fork River Canyon from Missoula, Montana, where snowbanks gradually recede from the yard. I’m almost certain that folks to the west of us on the coast, at the southern end of the Rocky Mountains, and likely back east have been enjoying those same signs of springtime, for weeks now.So, yes, some of we Montanans dwelling back up the mountain canyons are surprised at the flowers starting to poke their heads out.

It’s a good thing that it’s been a slow awakening to spring, because the urge to jump in the car, hit the highways and trails has come gradually as well. There’s been too much to get done online over the past couple of months to have been bitten too early by the travel bug.As it was, my little family team yielded to our springtime urge to get out there and hit the trails last weekend.We found ourselves among the very few – hardcore folks that chose to go to the Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge along the Bitterroot River between Florence and Stevensville, Montana.We had to walk the new nature trail being established for bird watchers – in an inch and a half of fresh snow!

It’s true.We just couldn’t resist the temptation, the first few days of March, 2006, to jump in the car and get out there, even if we did feel a little silly walking a trail that had fresh spring snow on it.What an outstanding trail the new one will be along the Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge.Starting at the Refuge Visitors’ Center on the west side of the Bitterroot River, the trail leads off to the north.It follows along the bench right above more ponds and marshlands than we’ve ever been able to get close to in our many, many walks around and through that marvelous centerpiece wildlife area of the Bitterroot Valley of Montana.Along this new trail, they have even put in a photography blind right down in the marsh, in the middle of prime viewing for ducks, geese, blackbirds, cranes, osprey and the multitude of other feathered friends that fill that area with song and noise.Being too early in the season, of course, the vast majority of birds that we usually see in the area did not witness our escape to the Montana wilds.

We regularly hit the Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge year-round and especially during the winter.The setting is almost unbelievable, walking the river bottom area which is often drier, while savoring the views of the backdrop that is the stunning snow-capped Bitterroot Range. Check out the surreal image of this spectacular area on the Montana Recreation Connection front page – looking across the Bitterroot River at Little St. Joseph Peak. Now that I think of it, more summer photos of the same range can be found in the Montana Recreation Connection Gallery. This latest walk along the new trail was just a taste to whet our appetites for the upcoming travels and trails to be explored throughout Montana and the western US on an ongoing basis for the next several months. In fact, as I looked anew at those pictures in the Gallery I had to keep from going totally stir crazy with the urge to hit those wonderful trails (which at the moment are buried under snow and ice).

Of course, many of our friends and family are not satisfied with walking in the snow along a Bitterroot Valley trail, and have hit the road for a Spring Break getaway to the southern end of the Rocky Mountains, heading down to the warmer climes of Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico.Our winter’s mission is coming to fruition as they’ve applied the tools we’ve developed in the latest round of Montana Wilderness Tour construction. The additional sites include lodging information and reservation tools and answer the musical question – Where Do You Want to Go? Along with Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountain states’ trail information, they highlight recreation features such as the Grand Canyon and Mesa Verde and provide wilderness area and Forest Service information.It’s all set up for a spring break getaway to the southwest and Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada.No question about it, our friends and family do have widely varying tastes in their recreational pursuits

So, as wanderlust wells within us, spring bursts upon us full bloom and gives way to the richness of a Rocky Mountain summer, as the miles of road time throughout the Rocky Mountain states and Pacific Northwest pile on for all of us as well.Wherever you happen to be headed, you really should take a quiet break from it all and savor the awesome Bitterroot Valley and the Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge of Montana.Keep in mind that “Wherever you want to go” in the western United States and Pacific Northwest we’ve got a place for you to stay, wherever your travels happen to lead you

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As owner of the Montana Recreation Connection at www.montanaadventure.com for the past 10 years, Gordon Hollingshead has successfully provided an online travel directory for people planning their vacations and travels to Montana. That exciting effort has evolved into a western and Pacific northwest travel directory providing trails and recreation information and nearby accommodations

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