Happy Thursday, everyone! I spent part of last Saturday in the comfy confines of the Apgar Campground at Glacier National Park, and shortly after arriving and setting up my tent I began to feel a deep sense of peace and tranquility as my first camping trip of the year began. That pleasant feeling managed to last me through the weekend, despite the occasional intrusion of some less peaceful feelings about my sleeping pad, which never fails to let me down in every possible sense of the phrase.

A buddy and I were feeling so optimistic Sunday morning that we thought it could be nice to take a casual stroll along the Trail of the Cedars. How bad could the crowd be? But of course in the back of my mind was the observation shared with me just a few days earlier by Dan Moe of Cutthroat Bagel Co. in Whitefish, that last week was the first time he and the staff at his new bagel shop could tell that there were tourists among their customers.

(I tried to get Dan to explain how one identifies a tourist, seeing as I’ve long been trying to compile in my mind an authoritative guide on tourist species identification, but he just laughed and declined to comment.)

So yes, by now you’ve guessed, by the time my buddy and I arrived late morning, the Avalanche Picnic Area where the trailhead begins was absolutely crawling with people and vehicles. It was a disappointment, but so it goes. I don’t hold it against anyone who wants to get out and explore the park, except maybe the people who get a little ahead of themselves and start weaving through traffic on their e-bikes like it’s Evel Knievel Days.

My friend had to start the long drive back to his hometown on the other side of the divide, and so we parted ways after a nice drive back along Lake McDonald to get to my car. Looking out the window and over the water, we noticed the unmistakable haze of wildfire smoke, and reality started to creep back into my mind.

Last week in the Daily Roundup I referenced Tristan Scott’s writeup about an ominous wildfire season briefing, and also provided a short update on the Banana Lake Fire 4 miles north of Plains (it was 40% contained as of last Friday, but containment reached 100% as of Sunday, June 8), so I won’t dwell on what’s been said. Still, we all know that the Banana Lake Fire isn’t what’s dropped an intermittent haze over the Flathead Valley.

Rather, it’s our old friend, the Canadian wildfire. Or rather, Canadian wildfires. It wasn’t until I was reading the Montana Department of Environmental Quality’s daily smoke forecast that I learned Canada’s wildfire season is off to a “historically fast start,” with 7.8 million acres having already burned. The DEQ report, citing the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, reports that amount to be more than the annual average for the country, which is about 7.3 million acres.

The Washington Post reports that it’s a pace unlike anything Canada has seen aside from its historic 2023 wildfire season, when wildfires burned over 42 million acres of land.

So what does that mean for the smoke forecast in Montana? Well, there has been some recent precipitation over western Canada, which has helped tamp down on smoke production. But the bottom line, according to the Montana DEQ’s forecast, is that despite that precipitation, the smoke won’t be going away any time soon. In fact, the DEQ says “it will remain a concern for Montanans in the weeks and months ahead.”

Anytime the air flow becomes northerly (north to south), DEQ says Montanans can expect occasional intrusions of wildfire smoke into the state. As I’m writing this, the Flathead Valley air quality monitoring station is showing moderate air quality, with an Air Quality Index score of 69. Fortunately, the haze has lifted just enough for me to peer into the weekend ahead. Keep reading past the jump for info on some upcoming Flathead Valley events. I’m Mike Kordenbrock bringing you the Daily Roundup …

First of all, here’s your reminder that if you celebrate Father’s Day, it’s this Sunday. There’s still time to get that card and find a gift!

Now, looking to Friday, there are two events I wanted to mention. The first is the Wachholz College Center and Glacier Symphony’s Open House and 2026-2026 Season Preview at the Wachholz Center. The lobby opens up at 4:30 p.m., and the event wraps up at 7:15 p.m. People are encouraged to bring their own lawn chair or a blanket for use at the O’Shaughnessy Outdoor Amphitheater, where 20 Grand will be playing starting at 6 p.m.

The free event aims to drum up excitement for both the Wachholz Center and the symphony’s upcoming seasons, but there are also opportunities to win tickets for upcoming performances, and even save some cash. At the event, the college center will be waiving ticket service fees for attendees who purchase tickets during the open house. Likewise, the Glacier Symphony will be waiving service fees on single ticket sales.

A trio of food trucks — Himalayan Rockies, Fire & Dough and Los Pinquinos —  will be on site, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks will be for sale.

Also kicking off Friday is an artist reception for Piikani artist Terran Last Gun’s new solo exhibition at Tessa Heck’s Good Luck Gallery in downtown Kalispell. I wrote about Last Gun’s art, which draws on Blackfeet cosmology, art and history, just over a year ago when he had an exhibition at what was then the Hockaday Museum of Art. The new exhibition will focus on his ledger drawings, and is made up entirely of new work produced for the show. That includes 10 single works, and two diptych works. The diptych, a form involving two ledger drawings arranged together, is something that Last Gun said he has been working on lately.

“Traditional ledger art was very much capturing warrior success stories, ceremonial stories, and just different things like that. Whereas my work, I think I’m more interested in my experience with my own life, and trying to document that in this very geometric, abstract way,” Last Gun said, of the upcoming exhibition.

Light refreshments will be provided at the artist reception, and attendees will have a chance to meet Last Gun and learn more about his work. The event is free and open to the public, and will go from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Good Luck Gallery at 127 S. Main St. in Kalispell.

Last up is a Saturday event that’s sure to tug at some heartstrings. The Humane Society of Northwest Montana will be hosting its Summer Shindig and Fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. behind its location at 100 Adopt A Pet Way in Kalispell.

Mia Malone, who is the director of marketing for the NWMT Humane Society, said by email that the shelter has been “overwhelmed with puppies and kittens” of late, with puppies and kittens. In addition to the other adoptable cats and dogs at the shelter,  the NWMT Humane Society recently took on care for three litters of cats and their moms, and four litters of puppies. Some puppies are not yet ready to adopt.

“This is our signature fundraiser, that helps us keep our doors open and serving the community and especially the abused, neglected and homeless dogs and cats in the valley,” Malone said by email.

The Summer Shindig and Fundraiser is free and open to the public, but people are encouraged to bring cash and cards for some components of the event. There will be a food area, a bouncy house and face painting for kids, a 50/50 raffle, silent auction, games, raffle prizes and more.