We needed to split up the long drive from Yellowstone to Glacier National Park and instead of squatting at a Hampton Inn in Missoula we decided to take a stopover in Lolo National Forest, a place filled with Bighorn sheep, hot springs, and a mountain funk vibe. As the housekeeper said, “I love it here. I lived in Seattle for 30 years. Don’t get me wrong, I can make the city my bitch but I decided I needed a break and came out here.” No cell service, I repeat NO cell service and as for wifi, well . . .
The Lodge at Lolo Hot Springs is tucked into a hillside. They called our room the “tree house” because we looked straight into the forest. An of course, there were hot spring pools. The sign out front, while missing some letters, beckons travelers, “Yes, th Lodge has hot springs, St y and Soak.”
A perfect place to dial down and regroup after Yellowstone.
Wednesday morning we took our time and consumed copious amounts of coffee and then took a drive. While the horses were beautiful, we were in search of Bighorn Sheep.
And there were plenty of Bighorns. Roger, the lodge wrangler, suggested a specific drive that he had traveled that morning. “I saw two herds of Bighorn.” There is always a trepidation after someone says they saw wildlife that somehow we will miss it. But not this time.
In a never-ending effort to add far eastern charm to their already adorable selves the sheep know how to generate the sound of wind chimes with their padded hooves as they deftly climb the shale shrouded hillside.
Along the way we decided to walk the Interpretive Sheep Viewing Trail No. 721. It was less interpretive, more steep climb.
It was however, filled with flora and views. The good thing about yellow rain slickers is you can always find your mate.
Back on the road we stumbled on a new pack of sheep. Wait no, those aren’t Bighorn sheep. Roger doesn’t even know what they are. His suspicion is someone brought them here (maybe from Canada?) and they have broken free, now roaming the mountains. Leave your guesses as to identity in the comments. The winner gets an all expense paid trip to Lolo National Forest and mention in the Indigenous Fauna Hall of Fame.
If you look close you can see two White Tailed Deer. They were walking across the road as we approached. Somehow they managed to jump the fence.
On our way home we stopped at Jack’s Saloon for a late afternoon lunch. Patricia, she and her husband are the owners, couldn’t have been nicer. When I asked if I could take her picture, two ladies day drinking nearby spouted, “Oh, Patricia, now you’re a model.” To which she replied, “You know what I call them? My Northern Lites.” Note the swinging bar stool. Tradition dictates that you wind it up, take a shot, and then twirl. We took a pass.
We had been told that a motorcycle club was checking in. Wayne and I were hoping for some raucous behavior, perhaps a heated disagreement at the horseshoe pits but that was not to be. They were less “Easy Rider” and more “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance“.
We loved our stay here. Now, on to Glacier. Have a happy day, campers!