45th Annual Creston Auction - April 2nd and 3rd 3011

This weekend is the fantastic

45th Annual Creston Auction

 Saturday April 2nd, 2011 and

Sunday, April 3rd, 2011 

Sponsored by the 
 Creston Fire Department
4498 Highway 35

Kalispell MT 59901

Acution Location 12 miles North of Bigfork,, Montana on Montana Highway 35

Treasures galore can be found at the Creston Auction by everyone.
You will want to be sure to attend this annual Spring event.  
The family-friendly Creston Auction draws more than 7000 people to Creston, Montana.

 

Details:
Hot food available Friday starting at 11 A.M. and all day Saturday, and Sunday.

Saturday’s auction features building materials, household merchandise, sports equipment, tools, tack, specialty items, and a large array of antiques.   There is a $5 bidder's fee to bid on these auction items.

Arts and crafts will be on display and for sale in the Eastside Grange Hall.

Rummage Sale will be held in the Creston School Gym (donations of items welcome).

Sunday afternoon’s sale features all types of vehciles i.e. cars, trucks, boats, recreational vehicles, tractors, farm equipment, and trailers.  There is a $10 bidder's fee to bid on these auction items.

Both sales are open consignment (tney sell it for you). Merchandise for the auction will be accepted from 7 am to 7 pm. Friday, April 1st, 2011 at the sale grounds at the Creston School Grounds.  The Creston Auction is a great way to raise money for your church, school, or other charity!   Sellers may specify that the proceeds from the sale of their consigned items (minus the Creston Fire Department consignment fee) be given to a specific organization/charity.

For more information about the auction please call 406-250-7396
The Creston Auction and Country Fair is sponsored by the Creston Firefighters Association, a non-profit volunteer organization.

45th Annual Creston Auction

Schedule of Events:

Thursday, March 31st, 2011:  Grounds set-up,

Volunteers needed - everyone welcome to help.

Friday, April 1st, 2011:  Consignment Day.

Merchandise accepted from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Creston School Grounds

Arts and Crafts booth set-up, Eastside Grange Hall, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Rummage Sale set-up in Creston School Gym, donations welcome and appreciated, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Concessions available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the food trailer.

Saturday, April 2nd, 2011:  Creston Auction and Country Fair starts at 9:00 a.m.

Arts and Crafts Booths in Eastside Grange Hall open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Rummage Sale in Creston School Gym, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Family fun and activities all day.

Sunday, April 3rd, 2011:  Equipment Sale begins at 12:00 noon



Red Jammer Buses – Glacier National Park

Red Jammer Buses – Glacier National Park

A trip in a Red 'Jammer' Bus is the perfect activity for everyone to enjoy the spectacular views of Glacier National Park!

“Grammy, the Red Jammer Buses are awesome!” 

The historic (1936 -1939) Red Buses are a well known icon of Glacier National Park and a reminder of a time when adventurous travel was done with style and grace.

There was an entire fleet of thirty-three busses built for Glacier National Park back in 1936 to 1939.

The buses of today are basically the same 1930’s buses, having been completely renovated and restored. This renovation was done in 1989 and cost over $800,000. The 1930’s style and shape of the Red Jammer Buses was kept providing a vintage heritage for all of us to see when we visit Glacier National Park today. Please note: all of the Red Jammer Buses are safety inspected for tourist travel on a regular basis.

These wonderful old red buses were built by the White Motor Company in Cleveland, Ohio. They were painted Mountain Ash Berry Red and are still this color today. The White Motor Company built 500 of these busses. The buses were only used for the western National Parks, including Bryce Canyon, Glacier, the Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountain, Mount Rainier, Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Zion National Parks. Most of the other parks did not renovate or restore their buses and the buses were retired from service in the 1950’s.

Montana residents call the Red Buses "Jammers" because the buses had standard transmissions, and the drivers of the 1930’s Red Buses could be heard "jammin" the gears when they drove up and down the mountainous roads.

Once on board, the driver welcomes you onboard with the “roll call”and you will throughly enjoy the red buses unique canvas top, that rolls back allowing all passengers an unobstructed, commanding view of the spectacular scenery within Glacier National Park.

Remember if there's a chill in the air, each Red Jammer Bus comes equipped with monogrammed wool blankets.

“The tour drivers are very knowledgeable about Glacier National Park and points of interest, making them your private all-access library to everything Glacier. “

Even in the full bloom of summer be sure to bring a hat and extra layers, the weather in Northwest Montana is unpredictable and always changing.

Perhaps one of the best things about these tours is their variety. You can choose to tour from the east, west or north east side of the park, the circle tour or try them all.

Bring along your camera, because we will see scenery to take your breath away, and wildlife in abundance throughout this protected national park.

Also, remember to bring a lunch or snack, bottled water, sunscreen and binoculars, you never know what you will see.

From half-day to full day tour, a Red Jammer Bus excursion of Glacier National Park is just what a relaxing vacation needs.  Private Red Jammer Bus Tours are also available. 

To Book your Red Bus Tour
Contact telephone numbers are
406.892.2525 or
403.236.3400 (from Canada)
http://glacierparkinc.com/tour_detail.php?id=1

Thoughts of Summer - Glacier National Park - Grinnell Glacier Hike

Grinnell Glacier Trail
at Many Glacier
in Glacier National Park

This strenuous 5½-mi hike to Grinnell Glacier, which is the park's largest and most accessible glacier, is a popular exciting destination for hikers.  Note the trail may not be free of hazardous snow until late July.
You start at Swiftcurrent Lake's picnic area, climb a moraine to Lake Josephine, then climb to the Grinnell Glacier overlook elevation gain is approximately 1586 feet.


You can shortcut the trail by two miles each way by taking two scenic boat rides across Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine.  The trail begins at Lake Josephine boat dock and continues above the northwest shore of Lake Josephine, passing though many semi-open areas where you will see twinflower, cow parsnip, mountain ash, fireweed and Rocky Mountain Maple growing.  As the trail proceeds above the lake it follows the rolling contours of the lakeside land.  About halfway up the side of Lake Josephine and at the end of Lake Josephine follow the right forks each time the trail forks.

From this point on the trail climbs steadily.   The trail passes to the north of Grinnell Lake.  The unusual color of Grinnell Lake is  caused  fine particles of glacial flour (flour is actually rock which has bee pulverized to a fine powder (Flour) suspened in the water by the action of Grinnell Glacier.)

Be sure to turn around to see the prairie land to the northeast when you are halfway up the trail to Grinell Glacier.....a spectacular panoramic view.

As the trail climbs towards Grinnell Glacier, you can see Grinnell Falls, Allen Mountain, Cataract Mountain, Piegan Mountain, Angel Wing and Mount Gould. So beautiful!!!

At 2.9 miles from the Lake Josephine Trail head the trail begins switch backing.  Three glaciers Gem, Grinnell and Salamander all come into view as the trail climbs. 

Grinnell Glacier filled this entire basin in the early 1900s, but the glacier today is a thin remnant that clings to the head wall along the Continental Divide. Grinnell Glacier has become an iconic symbol of climate change.   Grinnell Glacier has the lake affronting it's ice margin and was named after explorer and naturalist George Bird Grinnell.

Salamander Glacier, this glacier used to be connected to the larger Grinnell Glacier with the recession of Grinnell Glacier, it is now disconnected and sits on a rock shelf above Upper Grinnell Lake.

Gem Glacier sits along the crest of the mountains in the notch just to the right of the highest peak and drapes down from the north face of the steep aerate to which it is attached, Gem Glacier is Glacier Park's smallest glacier.

The Terrain becomes more open and you may see bighorn sheep or mountain goats on the nearby cliffs.  Lake Sherburne below the many Glacier Hotel will become visible now.   The trail stops climbing just before the 4.2 miles point and is more gradual from here to the picnic area.  There are numerous marrots and ground squirrels at the picnic area - so please do not feed them.

From the picnic area the trail goes left for a short distance and is a very steep climb.  The trail reaches the Grinnell Glacier Overlook at about 4.7 miles from the Lake Josephine Trail Head..  For your safety do not go onto the surface of Grinnell Glacier - a fall into a hidden crevasse could be fatal.

A ranger-led hike departs from the Many Glacier Hotel boat dock most mornings around 8:30am from July to mid-September.

North Shore Nordic Club - Chili Feed March 25th, 2011

Thank You for the Snow Party!!!

Friday, March 25, 2011

6 pm at  The Garden Bar and Grill

Downtown Bigfork, Montana

Music: The Bad Larrys
Food: Chili Feed by Great Northern Foods
Drink: Keg o' Beer

All are Welcome!

Fundraiser for North Shore Nordic Club

http://www.northshorenordic.org/

Great Raffle Prizes.

$10 Donation per person

Sponsors include:
Great Northern Foods,
Electric Avenue Gifts,
Flathead Lake Lodge,
Rocky Mountain Outfitters,
The Jug Tree,
Lola's Bolas and more

Please help spread the word so we have a great turnout in support of

the North Shore Nordic Club!



Thoughts of Summer - Wedding Day Hints for the Bride

Brides sometimes forget a very important thing when planning their wedding - to take care of themselves on the day of their wedding so that they can relax and enjoy all the festivities.  Even if you have a wedding planner or have done all the planning and preparation by yourself, it's now the big day and you deserve to have as much fun as all of your guests.  Simple but practical wedding day tips can help the bride enjoy her day to the fullest.

Making Up - Create your wedding day make-up bag two weeks before the wedding.

Do a complete test of your wedding-day make-up, hairdo and shoes, keep this wedding-day look for as long as you expect to have it on on your wedding day, this way you will know your look will "go the distance."

Also put  together a second  little make-up bag for any touch ups on wedding day to keep you looking your  very best.  Have a friend, bridesmaid, or family member hang onto this little touch up make-up bag. Note: be sure to use waterproof mascara, and remember to pack the hairspray!

"Emergency" Kit"  -filled with items you may need on your wedding day.  Fill a small bag with items such as a power bar, travel size sewing kit, bottle water, clear nail polish, an extra set of panty hose or stockings, throat lozenges, aspirin, tissues, breath mints, tampons, hand cream or lotion, and band-aids.

Food - Always start out your wedding day with healthy and filling food.  Seriously consider having something to eat before the wedding, no matter how worried you are about how the dress fits!  Most brides do not get to enjoy the wedding reception meal.  Your wedding day will be long, memorable and wonerful so you will want to have plenty of energy, so you can keep dancing and socializing for hours!  It's a good idea to pre-arrange to have something to eat waiting for you honeymoon hotel.

Shoes  - Be sure to practice walking in the shoes you'll be wearing for the ceremony. Take a test run in the shoes and the wedding gown and get used to both.  Your  stunning, sexy, strappy, ultra-high heels that work perfectly with your wedding gown and great for the ceremony and pictures may not be comfortable for all the reception activities so.....

  Kick them off and wear pretty more comfortable shoes for the reception

so that you can dance the night away worry free.

Point Person - Keep track of wedding day times with an itinerary and a point person.  You should have an itinerary for the big day. Make copies, give them to a few good friends and/or close family members, then choose someone to be the "point person" who will make sure things are running smoothly. So you can focus more on greeting all of your out-of-town guests and brand new in-laws instead of worrying what times it is an what's next on the agenda.

Loud at the Library 2 Fundraiser - Thursday March 24th, 2011

Loud at the Library 2

Thursday March 24th, 2011

5:30 pm to 8 pm

$25 per person

Loud at the Library 2 is held at the

Flathead County Library  - 247 First Avenue East - Kalispell, Montana

406-758-5821

Food - Drinks - Live Music

Special Auction of library chairs painted by local artists

This event is sponsored by the

Flathead County Library Foundation to raise money for:

The Big Read

Updated Furnishings

Unique programs and events

Helps us make your library a GREAT library!

Rotary Club of Bigfork annual Chili Feed March 18th, 2011

Reminder, Reminder, Reminder

Friday, March 18th, 2011

5:00 pm at the Garden Bar, Bigfork Montana

Rotary Club of Bigfork

will be hosting their annual Chili Feed.

Attend this event and sample some of the

best chili recipes in the valley.

Adults are $10 and kids are $5

Phone 406-867-5888

Cowabung - Pirates of th Cow'ribbean - March 18th-19th-20th, 2011

Cowabunga
- Pirates of the Cow'ribbean
will be March 18th and 19th, 2011 at 7:00pm
and  March 20th 2011, at 2 pm
at the
Center for the Performing Arts
Bigfork, Montana




Boasting a "must see show" this annual Cowabunga Variety Show is arranged as a fundraiser for Friends of Bigfork Schools.  This year Cowabunga is back with a South Pacific, swashbuckling theme.

Come see young and old perform songs, dances, and comedy.
It's a fun time for all ages....see you there!!!

      General Admission

      Tickets can be purchased at Bigfork Drug,

      LEAP after school program at Crossroads Church

      and at Electric Avenue Gifts

      Cost  is:

      $7.50 Adults

      $5.00 for children under 18

Thoughts of Summer - Glacier National Park - Two Medicine Hikes

The Two Medicine Valley is one of the best kept secrets of Glacier National Park making it is a great place for a quiet day hike.  Remember to wear comfortable hiking shoes,  take plenty take water, a snack or lunch, sunscreen, a hat, and bear spray. 

Oldman Lake Hike

6.1 miles one way

Elevation gain approximately 1468 feet

From the Two Medicine Campground this trail is reached by crossing the bridge below Pray Lake.  The trail starts by going right on the Pitamakan Pass Trail.  The trail turns up a Dry Fork Valley following along the base of Rising Wolf Mountain. at 1.3 miles  a series of falls come down the mountain and fade as the summer season advances. 


The trail then drops down to the valley floor at 1.6 miles and continues through forest and clearings below Rising Wolf Mountain.

The trails crosses Dry Fork at approximately 2.1 miles, then leaves the creek bottom and heads north up a rocky drainage to a junction....stay to the right at this junction.  Continue following this Pitimakan Pass Trail  as it climbs steadily and goes left up the valley - Red Mountain is on the right.  You will pass an unnamed lake sitting in a cirque on the side of Rising Wolf Mountain (you will not be able to see the water from the trail but you will be able to see the depression containing the lake).  The trail will next cross a large open area.

Now Pitamakan Pass Trail goes to the right - so follow the Oldman Lake trail to the left you will come to an open forest of whitebark pine then to the lake itself.  The far side of Oldman Lake abuts the steep slopes of Mount Morgan.

Scenic Point

3.6 miles one way

Elevation gain approximately 2099 feet

This hike follows the Mount Henry Trail from Two Medicine Road to Scenic Point.  The trail climb is long, steady and arduous.  The increasing panoramic views are worth the climb.

The trail head is 1/4 of a miles east of the ranger station on the south side of Two Medicine Road.  Go right on a short spur road looking for the Mount Henry Trail head about 50 feet in from the Two Medicine Road.

After passing though a forest for a short distance the trial crosses an area of young trees coming up through a litter of snags.  As the trail approaches Appistoki Creek you can see the effects of flooding in 1964 and 1975.  From here there is a short side trail that goes to the right overlooking Appistoki Falls - do not leave the Appistoki FAlls trail to get a better look - heed the warning signs as a slip could be fatal.

Go back to the main trail, now the Mount Henry Trail goes uphill to the left climbing steadily and soon begins a series of switchbacks and continues to climb and climb and climb.  This high country trail give an excellent example of the sub alpine and alpine conditions in Glacier National Park.

If you look back you will see Two Medicine Lake, Pray Lake, and a small portion of Upper Two Medicine Lake as well as several mountain peaks Appistoki, Sinopah, and Rising Sun.

Eventually you will leave all the trees behind as you continue to climb the trail.   This part of the trail can have very strong winds.   The trail tops out at about the 3 mile marker ending the steep climb.  Be careful not to slip on the steep talus slopes here and snow may even be on the trail - cross the snow carefully.  

Scenic Point is visible ahead.  

At 3.2 miles the trail swings out onto a broad, open rocky ridge.  At 3.6 miles the trail has reached the official "Scenic Point" and soon begins the descent towards East Glacier.  This is a great place for lunch and the turn around for you to head back down the trail.

Upper Two Medicine Lake

4.4 miles one way

Elevation gain approximately 331 feet

 

The trail head to Upper Two Medicine Lake begins west of the boat dock and camp supply store. Cross the bridge below Pray Lake and follow the Dawson Pass Trail to the left.  The trail follows above Two Medicine Lake.  The trail will begin to pull away from the lake and comes to a creek at about 2 miles.

2.9 miles on the trail the Dawson Pass Trail takes off the the right.

(At 3 miles you will encounter another trail that heads left back towards Two Medicine Lake....where you can make arrangements for a boat pick-up or drop-off  saving you hiking time if you choose.)

The trail crosses a tributary of Two Medicine Creek at 3.1 miles and Pumpelly Pillar is visible to the west.  3.2 miles a short side hike goes right to Twin Falls Junction. Return to the trail and continue on the trail heading toward Upper Two Medicine Lake. 

Bears often feed in this are - be sure you have your bear spray with you  - and be cautious, make noise and be alert for signs of bears.

Cobalt Lake Trail
5.7 miles one way
Elevation gain 1400 feet

The trail head is located west for the Two Medicine boat dock parking lot.  At two-tenths of a mile there will be a junction with the Paradise Point trail stay left for Colbalt Lake.  1.2 miles you will come to another junction with the Aster Falls trail stay right for Colbalt Lake.  You will cross Paradise Creek over a suspension bridge.  Coming to another junction with Two Medicine Pass trail at the 2.3 mile marker turn left for Cobalt Lake  (if you took the boat across Two Medicine Lake you will pick up the trail here.)

At 3.4 miles will be the junction to the Rockwell Falls spur.

Rockwell Falls

  The trail steeply climbs up from here and continues a gradual grade to Cobalt Lake 5.7 miles.

This moose was a nice surprise one day while hiking to Cobalt Lake.

Thoughts of Summer - Setting the date for your wedding

Congratulations!

You've just gotten engaged, now everyone wants to know when the wedding is.

How do you pick the perfect wedding date?

The date is the most important step in planning the wedding. There are lots of different considerations and 365 days to choose from.

Your wedding date will forever symbolize a special moment in time for you, your fiancé and your families
The date you choose can also honor another special memory, such as your grandparents’ wedding date or the first date you and your fiancé met.  The date also helps to set the theme of the wedding because of the season in which you are choosing a date.

When you set the date for your wedding, you must keep a few things in mind:

If your heart is set on a specific location such as a church or reception site, you'll need to check right away. Popular venues book up fast…some are booked two or more years in advance, so call your special location asap to get dates available. Please keep in mind if the ceremony is at one location and the reception at another, you'll need to check both locations for date availability.

Put both of your work schedules on a calendar so you can avoid work conflicts. Putting your work schedules on a calendar also lets you schedule time to enjoy all the wedding festivities and your honeymoon.

Keep in mind the special dates of your parents. Note: Lots of parents do not want their children getting married on the date of previous marriages that didn’t last .

Plan around vacation time available for you both because you want a nice long honeymoon and you don’t want to have to rush, you will need the rest and relaxation after ALL that wedding planning!

If someone in your family or your fiancé's family is having an important birthday, such as their 50th, you’ll want to select another date.  Check with both of your families to make sure family members are not celebrating other special events on the date you wish to select such as weddings, the birth of a child, Graduations, and Milestone Anniversary parties . You don't want to compete. You want everyone to feel invited to your wedding.

If you are having a destination wedding or an outside wedding, you'll need to keep seasons in mind. The last thing you want to do is to choose a date and get rained out, or worse, stranded due to a tornado or hurricane!  During the winter months, it may be difficult for guests who live far away to travel during adverse weather.

A great resource for checking long-range weather forecasts is in the Old Farmers Almanac's accessed online at: http://www.almanac.com/  The Farmers Almanac takes solar activity, among other things, into consideration to predict weather. It's not 100% perfect. It’s reliability is about 75%.  But it is way more reliable than using weather averages for your wedding location.

When will the sunset on your wedding date? A wedding at sunset can be quite beautiful. It's also important to know when the sun is setting for taking wedding photographs.

Another consideration, when will the Moon Set? Today, a wedding under the light of the Moon can make for a magical ceremony!

Dreaming of a romantic Flathead Lake wedding remember that as the light hits the water, it's important to consider the sunrise and sunset times.

Flowers - you want to make sure that your favorite flowers are available for your wedding date. So check with your local florist to see what kinds of flowers are in season for your date and if they are able to do all the floral arrangements for your date.   At Christmas, many venues put up additional decorations and floral arrangements, so you can take advantage of this and save money in your budget.

Also, check to see if the Minister, Caterer, DJ or favorite Band, Cake Designer, or Photographer are available by checking to see if the date you have in mind is good for them. This way, you can save yourself heartbreak later on when you find out that you cannot use a service that you really wanted.

Wedding Dates when your guests might rather be somewhere else.
New Year's and Christmas ( between the 23th of December and the 5th of January)
Thanksgiving USA, the fourth Thursday of November & Canada, the second Monday of October.
Super Bowl weekend
The World Series
USA, the weekend before April 15 - tax day!
Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend - we find that wedding guests often have other plans for these weekends. It's also harder and more expensive to travel on those weekends.
Weekends that include a Friday the 13th
September 11th
Daylight savings days (since your guests may either arrive an hour early, or show up horribly late.)
Religious Holidays

We would love to hear the story of how you

set the perfect wedding date! 

Please use the comment link below and share your story.

Best wishes

and Congratulations on getting engaged!



The Engagement Party

The newly engaged happy couple is so excited to share their good news with close family and friends.

 So it's time to plan an engagement party to announce their lifetime commitment to each other. 

Often times this engagement party serves the purpose of introducing the two families to one another.
 
Traditionally the engagement party was hosted by the parents of the bride.   However, today anyone can host the engagement party. 
The engagment party can be held at the home a close family member, at the couples favorite restaurant, or some other place that has special significance to the couple,  maybe where they had their first date or it could be a picnic at their favorite hiking spot.

Your engagement party depends on your budget and personal style. A simple or elaborate engagement party is acceptable:

• Desserts and coffee at the home of the bride parents,

• Champagne and hors d'oeuvres at the home of a best friend,

• a BBQ at the grooms brother's house

• a casual buffet at the brides sister's home, 

• a formal sit down dinner at the bride and groom's favorite local  restaurant

• or brunch hosted by the groom's parents

Those you invite to the engagement party should be friends and family very very close to you.

Invites can be a formal invitation especially designed and printed for you with reply cards, or a causal handwritten invitation.

Remember every host wants to plan an unforgettable engagement party, but never upstage the main event - the wedding.  

Try to create a theme or mood for the engagement party that maintains your own style.  If your guests perfer formal parties you don't want to force a casual cookout onto them. 

Hint;  Try the opposite of your wedding theme for your engagement party

.....if you are having a destination wedding at Walt Disney World, Las Vegas, Hawaii, Glacier National Park, New Orleans, or the Carribean balance it with a home-cooked dinner engagement party,  or if your are having a semiformal DAYTIME wedding have a swanky cocktail engagment party....ties optional,  or if you are having a formal black-tie wedding have a sit on the floor/ground engagement party. 

Be creative show your style enjoy your engaement! Congrats!!!

Thoughts of Summer - How did you set your Wedding Date?

Congratulations on getting Engaged!

We would love to here how you set the perfect date for your wedding!

Saturday, March 11th, 2011 - The Glacier Symphony & Chorale “In the Spotlight,” an evening of Chamber Music and Dessert at the Bigfork Center

The Bigfork Center is thrilled to have you join concertmaster Sam Taylor and select members of the symphony in a collaboration of violins, viola, piano and clarinet performing repertoire ranging from traditional to contemporary classics.

The Glacier Symphony and Chorale “In the Spotlight,” an evening of Chamber Music and Dessert. Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, March 11, 2011.

Joining the Symphony will be Bigfork gallery owners presenting a Miniature Art Show and Sale held in the lobby of the Bigfork Theatre for the Performing Arts before the show.

Schedule of Events

Friday March 11th, 2011

Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts

1:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m Art show and sale . The Miniature Art Show and Sale will feature acrylic, bronze sculptures, ceramics, copper sculpture, dye on silk, fabric collage, jewelry, mixed media, oil, photography, prints and watercolors. Admission to the art show is free. Ten percent of the sale of any miniature will benefit the Bigfork Gallery group’s art scholarship program.

6:30 pm Gourmet Desserts available for purchase and a No-Host Bar.

7:30 pm The Glacier Symphony and Chorale “In the Spotlight”
Concert tickets are $15 adults, $12 seniors, $5 for college students, and free for youth through grade 12. We recommend that you get your tickets early by visiting their website at http://www.bigforktheater.org/ or the Symphony’s website at http://www.gscmusic.org/ or you can purchase tickets at Art Fusion in Bigfork, Montana.

Contacts:
Amy Deaton for the Bigfork Center at 406-212-4309
Cyndy Thorsen for the Bigfork Galleries at 406--837-4366

Thoughts of Summer - Flathead Lake Fun and Facts

When planning your vacation to Bigfork, Montana and Flathead Lake, be assured you won’t lack for fun things to do. Fishing is fantastic here, and you can get out on Flathead Lake in a boat, canoe, sailboat or kayak.  Or hike at various locations around the lake on one of the many trails.

Facts about Flathead Lake

     Maximum Length   27.3 miles  (43.9 km)

  Maximum Width    15.5 miles  (24.9 km )

Maximum Depth  370.7 feet   (113.0 meters)

Average surface temperatures of Flathead Lake 

 36°F   (  2.3° C)  in mid-January

 56°F   (13.5°C)  in mid-June

 68°F   (20.3°C)  in mid-August

Flathead Lake is one of the 300 largest natural lakes in the world and is the largest natural freshwater lake in the west of the Mississippi. Of those large lakes, Flathead is one of the cleanest. • The Lake's major tributaries are the Flathead and Swan Rivers.

Numerous small streams flow directly into the Lake at its shoreline, particularly on the wetter East Shore.

Kerr Dam is located at the outlet of Flathead Lake in Polson, at the southern end. Regulation of outflow by the dam maintains the Lake's level between 2,883 and 2,893 feet above sea level. If runoff conditions in the mountains don't warrant flood threats, the Lake level is brought to 2,890 feet by the end of May and to full pool by June 15.

Maximum flow in the Flathead River generally occurs during spring runoff.

Open space on the shoreline includes the National Wildlife Refuge on the North Shore and State land managed by the Flathead Lake Biological Station as a refuge on the South Shore (Polson Bay).

Wildhorse Island, protected as a state park since 1978, near Big Arm Bay, is the largest island in the lake, at 2,100 acres. It is managed by the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks as a wildlife refuge. Accessible only by boat, you can enjoy the beach and hike the easy trails cross the island.  It is noted for its herd of Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, Bald Eagles, Mule Deer, Osprey and several Wild Horses. Native grasses and flowers are abundant.  For centuries, the Salish-Kootenai used the  island to pasture horses to keep them from being stolen by other tribes. 

 Wild Horse Island

The name "Yellow Bay" was derived from the yellow rock outcrop on the point which is Precambrian without fossils. The outcrop belongs to the Algonkian substrata, which also outcrops Glacier Park. Flathead Lake Biological Station was established in Bigfork, Montana in 1899 by Dr. Morton J. Elrod. This Flathead Lake Biological Station was moved to its present location at Yellow Bay in 1908 and is currently operated as a year-round academic and research facility by the University of Montana.

Studies at the Flathead Lake Biological Station show that water quality in Flathead Lake is among the best in the world.  In spite of its renowned purity, studies also show that the water quality of Flathead Lake has declined over the last decade due to the combined effects of increased pollution from human sources, erosion of the shoreline caused by dam operations and introduction of non-native flora and fauna.

 Yellow Bay


There are 25 species of fish commonly found in the Flathead River-Lake ecosystem.

Native fish include redside shiner, peamouth minnow, squawfish minnow, largescale sucker, longnose sucker, sculpin, bull trout, cutthroat trout, pygmy whitefish and mountain whitefish.

Lake trout, lake whitefish, and yellow perch are the most common nonnatives and have increased in abundance since 1970, whereas native fish species have declined.

Due to its massive volume and normally active winds over the surface of the lake, Flathead Lake does not freeze completely over most winters,

 although the bays often have an icy winter covering.

However, Flathead Lake did freeze over in the winters of

1978-79 all winter,

1987-88 all winter,

1988-89 March only,

1989-90 January only.