ALA Montana Trip – Day 1 – Wows and Waterfalls

After picking up guests in Bozeman, MT this morning, we headed through Hyalite Canyon. The short shuttle drive allowed us to get briefly acquainted with our guests and allowed them to learn some of the ins and outs of what they’ll be experiencing in the coming days. We drove past Hyalite Reservoir and a few miles later we arrived at the trail head of Palisade Falls. We had a quick and informative orientation by our guide Matty Kirkland, which included a snack of fresh fruit and scones.

After a snack and some goodies for the kids, we headed up the trail. Matty spotted wild huckleberries, strawberries and raspberries and we all had a taste. He was the only one, however, that was willing to try the chewing gum he concocted out of tree sap. We learned a lot about the plant life of the area and the wildlife we could expect to see.

The trail led us through beautiful forest and ended at an 80 foot waterfall aptly named Palisade Falls. The falls were formed from prehistoric lava flow and are surrounded by volcanic cliffs. At the base of the falls we were welcomed with our first “ALA Wow”, frozen Capri Suns with spoons and straws, a delicious and refreshing treat!

After hiking back down to the van, we shuttled back to Hyalite Reservoir and enjoyed a delicious and nutritious lunch of various salads. From there, we hopped on our bikes and pedaled down through the canyon and into the foothills. We took in the remarkable views and scenery with a mixture of speedy downhills and relaxing sections of flatland. After our bike ride, we met the van and shuttled up into the Gallatin Canyon, past the town of Big Sky, MT and arrived at the 320 Guest Ranch, our home for the next two nights. We had a quick rest and clean up time and ended our night at the 320 Steak House for dinner and coffee. The meal was hearty and flavorful and we even got a sneak peak at the roasting pig we’ll be partaking in tomorrow night.

One day down and 5 to go!