Day Twenty-Seven: Montana

In the movie adaptation of A River Runs Through It, Norman Maclean’s paean to fly-fishing and Montana, Paul Maclean (Brad Pitt) says to Norman, “Oh, I’ll never leave Montana, brother.” He was definitely on to something.

Montana is billed as Big Sky Country — that’s not just marketing hokum — but it’s also Big Dreams Country. The sprawling state (fourth largest) is home to a sparse population known for its independent streak. It’s a place where the American Dream of yesteryear is still alive and kicking and where the beauty of the American West has been left largely unspoiled.

Most importantly, to Orange Bear at least, Montana boasts the largest U.S. population of grizzlies outside of Alaska. Many of these giant bears roam the Northern Continental Divide (including Glacier National Park) in western Montana as well as Yellowstone National Park which Montana shares with Idaho and Wyoming.

Montanan grizzly bears have a lot of critter company: bison, lynx, gray wolves, bighorn sheep, moose, and eagles, to name a few. These creatures inhabit an incredible landscape from sweeping prairies to lush forests to, of course, awesome mountain ranges (over 40 named ones!). It ain’t called Montana for nothing!

Grizzlies taking a little hike at Glacier National Park. (Photo: Mike Calanan)