Missoula, Montana. Saturday, June 1, 2024.
Missoula was just too cool a town to leave after one day, and I decided after yesterday’s big push I deserved a down day. I lined up a Warmshowers host, finished my belated blogging, and went out to explore.
The first thing you notice is a big white M looming over the town.
I figured it stood for Missoula, but it’s actually Montana, after the university. I went to the center of their quad, the oval, and there it was, hovering above University Hall.
If you zoom in, you can see switchbacks leading up to it.
Turns out the mountain has a name, Sentinel
and I very much wanted to go up there. But time was short. Missoula is a foodie paradise, it was Saturday night, and the University was hosting 3 high school graduations today. The lines would be long at the restaurants if I didn’t head right over.
I did climb high enough to get a view of Grizzly Stadium
and got downtown in time to score a great meal at Zoo Thai. Last night it was El Camino (no, they wouldn’t give me a discount for having walked it) and both times the line was out the door as I left.
Bette Midler’s platinum debut album was The Divine Miss M. I often call Mt. Mansfield, Vermont’s highpoint, only 18 miles from my home, The Divine Mount M for its many beautiful trails and views, it’s also the site of Stowe ski area and the Trapp Family Lodge, of Sound of Music fame. But I think Missoula has its own Divine Mount M. I was sorry to miss the birds eye view of the city, but in the end my stomach won out.
There was a consolation prize. The town’s river, Clark Fork, had a rapid with a standing wave. Three guys with wetsuits and surfboards put on quite a show. I wish I could embed videos here.
My Warmshowers host, Erin Dozhier, is at the University to study for a career in social services, and we shared many stories about health care and helping the unfortunate. Overall a lovely evening, a lovely day, a lovely city.
Distance 12 miles, 1,256 total. Time 4 hours with stops. Elevation gain 300 feet
©️ 2024 Scott Luria
The Ends of the Earth 