Big Hole

I was happy to return to the Pioneer Mountains and Big Hole area of southwestern Montana. Nic, Ali and I camped at Mono Creek Campground, searched for crystals at Crystal Park and hiked into Coolidge Ghost town along the Pioneer Scenic Byway twelve years ago and things were much the same. It is always good that some things (especially in the natural world) never change. We also relaxed at nearby Elkhorn Hot Springs this time.

Davyd, Pete and I were the sole campers at Mono Creek for two nights and headed for Jackson Hot Springs for a soak and breakfast. We fell in love with the little (I mean little) town of Jackson. Pete tells me I shouldn't talk about it here because it is a best kept secret. At breakfast we learned our waitress was also a massage therapist so we stayed and I was the lucky recipient of a 90 minute massage. After the hot springs, a massage can be not less then heaven. After dinner we went to the tiny school yard across the street and played monster tether ball with horses as "fans in the stands" as the sun set in the big beautiful western sky.

We visited the Big Hole Battlefield and all three of us had tears in our eyes. Our county gunned down Nez Perce Indians there while they slept in 1877 for not signing the treaty that took more land for the gold it held. It is a very solemn spot in the beautiful valley.