Here we are. We’ve spent 2.5 weeks in Bigfork thus far, settling into a routine, and exploring our temporary home. For the first 9 days, smoke from the wildfires in Washington and Idaho blanketed the area. When we arrived, it was incredibly dry and the area had received very little rain all summer. Only last week did it rain for a few days, which was much needed and cleared the air to showcase why Montana truly is Big Sky country!
First, and most importantly, let me share our adorable little cabin!
This little cabin is on ~10 acres owned by Roxanne and Tom, a lovely couple in their 60s or 70s who live about 10 minutes away. They have two other houses which are for long-term renters and one other AirBnB cabin on the property. We have a fenced in yard which Scout can escape from given the correct motivation! Inside is a small, open concept living area and modern kitchen which leads into a hallway with a spacious bathroom and lovely bedroom. We are surrounded by an enormous field with tall evergreen trees and mountains on either side which make for the most gorgeous sunrises and sunsets now that the smoke has dissipated. We spent the better part of 5 days mostly inside because the smoke causes irritation to lungs and eyes. However, we have been getting at least one long hike and/or walk a day, sometimes more! The proximity to trails was one of the big draws to the area.
The people who we’ve met, in passing or our neighbors, are very friendly and welcoming. Some are from the area, others have moved here from the west coast, and a handful left Montana for a while and came back. Bigfork is a typical resort town and it’s starting to quiet down now that it’s after Labor Day. Food businesses are stricter about masks than the shops, and on hikes, most groups leave enough distance. The schools are in session, but some grades have had to quarantine since I’ve been here due to positive cases of COVID. The town has vacation homes and year round homes on the lake or golf resort, so it’s upscale and it feels a little more liberal than other areas of the state. That’s not to say that I haven’t seen massive pick up trucks sporting Trump flags and Blue Lives Matter flags and I’m pretty careful about what I discuss with those that I meet.
Choosing Bigfork:
- Accessibility of trails & parks (Flathead Lake State Park and the Swan River)
- Proximity to Flathead Lake & other bodies of water for kayaking and hiking
- We are alone and distanced for COVID, but not isolated
- It has all the essential services, such as a laundromat, coffee shops, grocery store, mechanic/car place, and a few restaurants
- It’s close (20 minutes) to a larger town, Kalispell, where the more affordable grocery stores are located, along with the hospital, vet clinic, airport, etc.
Exploring the new area:
- Get a state park permit (& annual national park permit). These permits allow easy and affordable access to all the parks. Montana has an extensive state park system and for $50, we can access them all whenever we want without paying the $8 non-resident fee each time. The annual national park pass is $80 for 1 vehicle and is absolutely worth it’s weight in gold! On the way out to Bigfork, we stopped in at least 6 national parks/monuments, and we’ve been to Glacier Park twice since arriving. Depending on the park, an entrance fee can be up to $35. It’s good for 1 year and means you can explore for a couple hours and come back anytime.
- Know where the emergency vet services are (as well as human hospitals)! Luckily, Scout is a healthy 7-year dog who had his annual check up before we left, but you just never know! Especially in a new place, with new smells and new animals, I made sure I knew how long it would take to get to the emergency vet in case he came in contact with something unsavory.
- Get advice from the locals. Talking to your neighbors is always the best way to learn about a new place and better understand anything you read online. Sometimes you need a second opinion and we’ve become experts in cross checking information from All Trails, TripAdvisor, and more! When in doubt, Montanans are very friendly and don’t mind answering tourists’ questions.
- Safety Takes No Holiday (and no, this isn’t just because my mom is reading this – Hi Taffy!) I’ve been an outdoor educator, sailing instructor, and teacher for 15 years, and ultimately, a fairly cautious person all of my life, so this wasn’t the place I was going to take risks. Sure, it’s close to larger towns, and I actually know a nursing student in Kalispell, but a lot can happen in remote areas. Here are a few things that we put in place in order to maintain safety:
- Hike on more populated trails. Being around more people means it’s less likely to run into a bear and find help if we do get in trouble.
- Carry bear spray – just to be safe!
- Bring a whistle and wear life jackets when kayaking. Do so in a populated area.
- Double check road conditions before we head onto gravel or dirt roads, of which there are many. They lead to the most beautiful places, but better safe than sorry.
Sabbatical with Scout 