Missoula, MT

Since 2000, Missoula has been the second most populous city (110,000) in Montana.  It is home to the University of Montana and was founded in 1860 as Hellgate Trading Post while still part of Washington Territory.  Its population is approximately 66,788.  Missoula is a hub for outdoor enthusiasts with its great hunting and fishing, whitewater rafting, kayaking, skiing, snow-boarding and snowmobiling.   After touring the city both of us decided that we like Spokane better than Missoula.

It’s been a very long time since we have stayed in a Yogi Bear Campground, but we are doing it here in Missoula, Montana since our first choice had no openings.  It was in the 90s today, but comfortable.  Judy was in the trailer and Mike was doing stuff outside when he said that Yogi was roaming around.  Of course we had our pix taken with him!  We are surprised to see that there are not very many families with children here.  Poor Yogi when he made his rounds!  Well, we found out why all the motels, hotels, and campgrounds are so full…….tomorrow night Paul McCartney is performing here.  The people across the road from our site told us they paid $300 per ticket and they will be sitting 5^th row center.  Wow! 

We have noticed that it is more important this year of camping to have/make reservations because the baby-boomers are camping and the campgrounds are fuller than they have been in many years!

Our first stop was the Smoke Jumpers Base and Visitor Center. Smokejumpers are a highly skilled, rapid response and operationally focused fire resource that provide initial attack suppression on emerging small wilderness fires to sustained suppression on longer, larger fires.  They are the elite of the elite!  They come from all over the country and from many different backgrounds.  Several common characteristics of successful smokejumpers include a high level of motivation, a good work ethic, excellent physical fitness, a passion to protect and restore public lands, and a willingness to challenge themselves and others.  Besides needing background in the line of work of the position to be filled, having a total of 12 months general experience, must be at least 18 years of age, be between 5’ to 6’5”, weigh between 120 and 200 pounds, and must be able to do 7 pull-ups, 45 sit-ups, be able to run a 1.5 mile in 11 minutes.  Those last three listed I guess leaves us out!!!!!  They really must be physically fit.  Rookie smokejumpers must also pass a 110 pound pack test on flat terrain in 90 minutes, and many other physical and mental challenges.  Usually 40% of the trainees drop out on their own or per their supervisors.

In 1910 a series of wildfires roared through the Pacific Northwest and the Rocky Mountains, burning 4 million acres of land.  These fires began in remote areas where firefighters didn’t have the resources or ability to access or contain them.  This devastation brought about the idea of parachuting into these remote areas to suppress small lighting-caused fires quickly and efficiently.  Almost 30 years later in 1939 the first smokejumping organization was established and practice jumps were made.  In 1940 the first operational fire jumps were made and in 1952 Congress authorized $700,000 for the construction of the Aerial Fire Depot in Missoula, MT.  In 1954 President Dwight D. Eisenhower visited Missoula to dedicate the first Aerial Fire Depot.

Kern County is on Bottom Right

The tour was extremely interesting, seeing all that the jumpers have to wear and carry as they jump from a plane into an area a mile away from a fire that has no roads to it or is too difficult to get to by vehicle.  We heard about the two types of parachutes used, the planes, and the gear used by these dedicated men and women.  There is a hallway with uniform patches from Fire Departments all over the world.  We found that Kern County was represented.  When a fire alarm sounds they can be dressed and in the air in ten minutes. 

Survival Gear and food rations

Fire Fighting Tools

Equipment

Transport Plane

Ready Room (They can be dressed and in air in 10 minutes)

Post Operation Parachute Inspection Room

Our next stop was to see shops on Higgins Street in downtown Missoula.  This was rather disappointing, but we did enjoy a snack at Catalyst Café before heading to see the Carousel we were told to visit.  We found it and saw that parking was pretty next to impossible, so kept on going to our next stop; another micro-brewery!  They have six in town, but Mike chose the one that had dark beer, which is his preference. 

On to the stop we had been looking forward to, Fuddruckers.  We split an Elk burger and a Buffalo burger.  We both liked the Elk burger better as it seemed more flavorful and leaner.

Our last stop of the day, after getting fuel at Safeway, was doing grocery shopping at Safeway since we are headed to Glacier National Park and shopping will probably be a little difficult there. 

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