Lewis and Clark Caverns (near Whitehall, MT)

The pink pictures are LED lit - this is the actual color of the formations

The first time I went to Lewis & Clark Caverns was 1983. (Google map http://goo.gl/maps/e10cz). Yeah, yeah, yeah - I know. This ages me.... but I was a kid...does that count?

The next time I went was 2010, with Peter.  And then, we went again this year.

The orange-y colored pictures are electrically lit

...considering that, apparently, stalactites grow between 1/4" and 1" every century, and stalagmites pretty much get the "left over" drippings from the stalactites, not much has changed from 1983 to 2012, and certainly not between 2010 and 2012.  ( (See more information regarding stalgmites, stalactites and other cave formations, in my previous blog, December 15, 2012, regarding "Black Hills Miscellany".)

 

Still, we'll probably go again, before the next century comes around. Besides, the tour guides mix things up a bit, and have different jokes, and of course, there's the other people in on tour.

We had a really nice group this year, and were with good friends, BUT, the 2010 tour was BY FAR the most entertaining group!

We were travelling with 2 other couples (it was a great road trip, through Montana, Wyoming, and North Dakota) and most of those adventures will be told later!   But, one of the people (Jim, you know who you are!) is like the bad kid in class - super funny, too much energy, makes the class giggly and then makes the entire class miss recess.  Despite the fact that we were all adults, it did cross my mind that we maybe wouldn't get to have a tour.  

Also in our group were 3 men (teenager-ish) who were so extremely hung-over that they were likely still drunk. Good natured, but happy to get into the caves and away from sunlight. (They were disappointed to find out that they couldn't take their Gatorade in the Cavern - only water allowed.)

And FINALLY (not including various other people on the tour that I don't remember), there were Clay and Jennifer, who are GREAT adventurers! (We reminisced about them many times throughout the tour this year.) We had thought that they were travelling with the Drunk Boys because, at one particularly narrow place of the tour, one of the drunk boys hid in a crevice and when Jennifer came by (in the dark), he grabbed her and "GRAAAAAR"ed.
 

I'm certain he regretted it instantly, but the rest of us were completely impressed (and in hysterics) when she beat him to a pulp. (And later, we were shocked to find out that they all did not actually know eachother.)

(Note to people who are claustrophobic - there are low and narrow places - one of the girls with us is claustrophobic, though, and she did make it, and was happy she'd gone...there were "moments" that she was ...less...happy, though)

OK! It's unlikely that such a group of characters will converge at the same time, again, and you should be able to enjoy the tour as a tour!

The Lewis & Clark State Park is the first and oldest State Park in Montana and open year-round. However, the Cavern is only open to tours from May 1 to September 30, and from 9:00-4:30 May 1 to June 14th, and August 20 to September 30, and from 9-6:30 from May 15 to August 19.  (Double check before you go, just in case anything changes - also, check the entrance fee - right now, it's listed at $10 for adults, and $5 for children.
http://visitmt.com/listing/categories_NET/MoreInfo.aspx?IDRRecordID=3088)

First, there's a walk (on a path) that is uphill for about 3/4 of a mile. GoNW.about.com (under the Top 10 things to do in Montana) calls the walk "leisurely", but take water, use the benches if you need them, and don't forget your inhaler if you need that!!!

The Cavern has stairs and paths throughout.  Bring a sweater maybe, and good walking shoes - flip flops are a bad idea.  (Also, if you do have claustrophobia, but it's minor, and you think you can do it, there are a couple of "turn around" spots along the way, so you can test yourself and see, before you totally commit.)

The tour takes about 2 hours, and at one point, 300 feet below ground, there's a marker identifying that you are 5280 feet (one even mile) above sea-level! There is some stooping (or crawling, depending on how you want to navigate), sliding, turning and twisting. (I'm only telling you this in case you have any health condition that might prevent you from going - but if you can go,

DO go! It's WORTH IT!)

On a side note, we still visit with Clay and Jenn (thank you, Facebook), but haven't had any adventures together since then - same place, same time. Soon, though, hopefully.

In the meantime, on Wednesday, we will be off to Butte!

Montana Grizzly Encounter, Bozeman MT

I feel that I have to start off by saying: DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!!!!

Seriously! Bears look cute and fuzzy and have those padded little (gigantic) feet! They look cuddly - and we have those Teddy Bears (remember, as discussed in my blog about Mt. Rushmore December 11, 2012 - they are named after Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt). You might think it's crazy (because it IS!) but there has been history of people getting out of the car to stand beside bears on the side of the road for a picture. TERRIBLE IDEA!
DO NOT DO THAT!!!

When we were in Yellowstone last time, there was a grizzly running along the road, and a bunch of tourists outside of their cars, setting up tri-pods, to get pictures! (The ambulance was parked, running, with its lights on...just in case.) STUPID!

I guess there are some who think maybe these bears, when babies, would make good pets or something, and then find out that when they grow up, that they are dangerous! and expensive! and they end up being mistreated, malnourished, and crammed into little cages. What is WRONG WITH PEOPLE!!?????

Enter Casey Anderson - the Grizzly Bear rescuer!

These bears have all been born in (often inhumane) captivity. At the Grizzly Bear Encounters site, they have a cage that is the size of one of the cages. So sad. Heartbreakingly sad. BUT these have been rescued! And they live in a beautiful habitat that Casey built for the care of the Grizzlies, and education of the people ~ Montana Grizzly Encounters, just outside of Bozeman, Montana.

Currently, there are 5 Grizzlies in the enclosure - and a schedule regulating who's out in the public eye at which time. (Apparently, they aren't all pals... but apparently...some of them are!)

Brutus the Bear is Casey's best friend, from all I've read. Brutus even stood up for Casey as his "best man" at his wedding AND he's had dinner, at the table, with the rest of the family!! (The best pictures are shown in the interview with National Geographic - in my opinion - http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/content/expedition-grizzly-3909/brutus-and-me/album-01.html and you absolutely have to go look at them!!!! More (and some of the same) can be seen at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1174259/Meet-Brutus-800lb-grizzly-bear-likes-eat-meals-dinner-table.html)

Casey rescued Brutus when he was just a tiny little baby and they have been together ever since. Brutus was the size of a squirrel at the time, and now weighs about 800 pounds (363 kgs) and is almost 8 feet tall (2.36 meters). (Brutus had a sibling that didn't make it...)

Brutus is the "spokesperson" for Grizzly bears and has been featured (as I mentioned) in National Geographic, has appeared on the Oprah Show, and has had parts in education videos and two movies.

Two of the other bears are Sheena and Christi - they are twins and spent 15 years in a 6 foot by 4 foot cage. Reading this makes me cry. I can't talk about it. They were 18 years old when they were adopted by Montana Grizzly Encounters and had to learn how to live in a "real" world, with space. They finally get to LIVE! live in a habitat for bears! Yes. I was right.

I can't talk about it.

Another pair are Jake and Maggi. I don't know anything about them. (There was information given about them when we were there visiting, but I don't remember. I'm sorry.) They weren't outside when we were there - and, I only had previously known about Brutus, and the website describing each bear is being updated with their details. But, clearly, Jake & Maggi are compatible, or they wouldn't be allowed out at the same time.

Finally, there's Lucy. Lucy was out when we were there, and she is the youngest and the newest. When we were there, she was still acclimatizing to her surroundings.

Montana Grizzly Encounter's Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Montana-Grizzly-Encounter/208277108152) has a video of Lucy, right after her arrival - and SHE IS SO CUTE!!!!! (It's posted on their page December 11, 2012.) SO CUTE!! GO LOOK!!!

All of my pictures are of Lucy, except the picture I borrowed of Casey and Brutus, the baby bear.

Please! Take time to look at all Montana Grizzly Encounters has done! Take time to Google and find other articles and more pictures. http://grizzlyencounter.org/

YOU WILL LOVE IT!!!!!!! LOVE IT !!

(https://www.facebook.com/brutus.thebear.7 and http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Animal-Friendships)


Wednesday, we will be continuing on to Virginia City, Montana.