Page 124 - Flathead Living // Spring 2015

48o NORTH
SPRING BREAKS
Where to explore the season of rebirth
STORY AND PHOTOS BY Kay Bjork
There is no guarantee when “spring has sprung” in Montana with all the twists and turns of somersault- ing weather, but it’s a great time to get out and experience the wonders of rebirth as the area throws off sheets of ice and blankets of snow, as if to say, “I’m up!”
Spring is a dynamic and magical time in the Flathead, perhaps felt more acutely by those who winter here, who weather scraps of daylight and sunshine in the dead of win- ter and the icy grip that turns into a punching fist with sub-zero temperatures and blustery snowstorms. The spring song varies in tempo,
but the score always contains some of the same elements – the air fills with a cacophony of a bird chorus without a conductor. The trickle of creeks builds to a roar, sprigs of lime green grass sprout through mats of unraked leaves and dirty snow patches, and fields become car- peted in green – the song builds to a crescendo with the lift of lengthening days.
Spring is probably the most diverse sea- son – from snowflakes to cherry blossoms – offering a variety of experiences as you venture out to enjoy some of the amazing places in our extended neighborhood before the flood of summer visitors arrive.
ABOVE An early-season hike up Glacier View Trail off the North Fork Road takes you from spring to winter, with views where you can take in the layers of seasons from the valley floor to the mountaintops.
122 FLATHEAD LIVING | SPRING 2015