Had you been in Montana and Wyoming
with me this July you would wonder why anybody in their right mind
lived anywhere else in the world. On the 15th of January
you would know why. In midwinter the temperature drops to around
20 degrees below freezing and stays there for several months. Winter
in Big-Sky Country is not for sissies.
The scenery is super, the hunting is excellent, and the fishing
is good. You can put bison (seen in the pictures),
moose, deer, bear, elk, and wild trout all on the table. None
of these are dangerous animals unless you get them cornered or
stumble onto a sow with her cubs. The only thing dangerous
in the Montana forest or Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming) are
the stupid people. For example, along the highway you see
signs that read, 'DON'T FEED THE BEARS'. And what do you
see between the signs telling you not to feed the bears? You
guessed it; people feeding the bears.
Yellowstone National Park is one of many such parks founded
by that great naturalist, big-game hunter, and conservationist,
President Teddy Roosevelt about a hundred years ago. Yosemite,
Sequoia, and Grand Canyon are other examples. If you want
a look, just call them up with your search engine. If you
are into gut-wrenching views, these are fine places to go.
The
park authorities have allowed commercial firms to provide food
and lodging in the parks, but it is all tightly controlled. In
the summer accommodations can be scarce, so get your reservations
in advance or take a tent and sleeping bags. [Restaurants
are no problem.]
England is beautiful, but not in the awesome way as America's
great parks. Go have a look. This is a great time
to do it, for the pound is very, very strong agains the U.S. dollar. You
will think that the stupid Americans are giving the stuff away. |
