Bozeman Activities

Drinking Horse Mountain

In the last days with Teri and Katie more snow.  

It is very dry with no humidity. Even though the temperatures are negative it doesn't feel cold. 

At these latitudes there has been plenty of daylight, 11 hours per day. We are at the equinox with spring just around the corner. This means the bears will becoming out of hibernation. Daylight saving has started.

Hyalite Canyon

A day snowshoeing in pristine conditions. The Hyalite to Lake Crescent return. The whole area is absolutely stunning, as per the photos.

After the the snowshoe hike, wrapped up the day with an open fire in the snow, toasting marshmallows and drinking hot chocolate.

Dead Horse Mountain Trail

Headed up the Bridger Valley Road and found the trail head. 

There was another 12" of new snow over night. Being a popular climb we decided to use crampons as the snow would be well pressed by the time we got there. Not being early risers we have soft starts.

Fabulous  360° degree views at the top. Another crystal blue sky. The vistas just keep coming. 

Summiting. Though it was just a hill but it was quite a climb in the snow 

Cross-country skiing

We were knackered after the Drinking Horse Mountain  however, Teri and Katie were keen to go cross-country skiing. The local golf links, converts into a cross-country skiing course in winter.

I was more than happy to sit this out, my last attempt at cross-country skiing was painful. I fell over a hundred times in two hours, too icy. Maybe another time. However the conditions were ideal this time.

MozArt Orchestra at the 1920s Ellen Theatre.

An entertaining evening of traditional slap-stick comedy, Victor Borge style (a comic pianist from the 1950-60s). Four polish blokes playing three violins and a cello. Music was classical, as well as pop, such as The Beatles, Queen and Michael Jackson. 

Museum of the Rockies (MOR)

The museum in Bozeman is world famous for its dinosaur displays.

Montana, 64 million years ago, was underwater and had a temperate climate. This supported a large number of animals,  both land and aquatic. Montana is the world number one place where fossils are being dugged up daily. It is closely followed by North Dakota where they also have a great museum in Bismark. 

Note.

Around 1890 North Dakota was trying to attract foreign investment and focused on Germany. To sweeten the deal they named the Capital, Bismack, after Otto Von Bismark. 

Tyrannosaurus Rex

The T - Rex head measured from snout to lower mandible almost two meters, I could  have stood inside.

Triceratops

Mammoth 

In Waco, Texas, there is a display of nine mammoths still intact, not excavated. These fossils are very rare. 

When in Kazakhstan, on a mine project, one of the local geologist (rocklickers) showed me his collection of dinosaurs fossils. 100s of items collected all over the Stans and Siberia. Intended to sell to fund his retirement. 

The museum had a lot to offer together with Indian Culture, and a few surprises.

A 1929 Ford Tudor, Model A  similar to the 1928 Willys Whippet back home. The difference being the artillery wheels compared to the metal spokes of the Model A.

Craig and Diana at Taioma Close, NZ. Had a spin around the block.

Bourbon Bar

We met with Mel and Rex, Steve and Jane. A table was booked for eight. We arrived at the same time but through different doors. We were put in different booths beside each other and didn't know it even though we were only a foot apart. We connected 30 minutes later. It was a good to catch up, we chatted a lot. 

Rex and Mel know New Zealand really well. They had been heavily involved in Antarctica for almost 30 years, based at McMurdo Sound. As the base was only  40 minute walk to Scott Base they would frequently  socialise at the NZ Tatty Flag bar. Rex's role was not counting penguins. A lot of the US activities are non-environmental, as you know. Mel was the site MD.