Brian McGeehan photo

There's nothing like grabbing the fly rods, waders and lunch (and don't forget the deet later in the season) and striking around for the nooks and cranies of a great creek. 

Historically it was pretty easy to just jump a fence and head out for your favorite hole. But nowdays it's best to make a rancher friend and get some local intel before you start. Local fly shops are a great place to get not only the latest information on access, but conditions, which can change rapidly easpecially through early summer. 

Brian McGeehan of Montana Angler Fly Fishing in Bozeman has a great write-up here about the McCoy Spring Creeks outside Dillon.  

For more fly fishing info check out Montana Angler Fly Fishing here. 

photo from www.bridgerbowl.com

That's because both Bozeman, and Whitefish are now on National Geographic's new list of the "25 Best Ski Towns in the World". 

The article praises Bozeman for having a "blue jean" atmosphere in town, with both Bridger Bowl, and the more exclusive Big Sky resort to choose from. 

Whitefish makes the list because of its atmosphere as well, and the close proximity of Whitefish Mountain Resort, which National Geo singles out for its diverse, family-friendly skiing for people of all abilitiies. 

Fernie, British Columbia also made the list. 

Read more in this article from MontanaNewsNow. 

If you're planning a trip this weekend, read the latest snow conditions about Bridger Bowl, Big Sky, Whitefish Mountain and Fernie Alpine Resort. 

While skiers and snowboarders keep the Montana slopes busy, we like to jump in the car or truck and hit the open highways, finding those spots where the blue skies and open vistas beckon.

One of the best drives for people living anywhere in Southwest or Western Montana has to be the loop through the Big Hole Valley.

The Big Hole is rather infamous for being the victim of temperature inversions, that can trap cold air down at the surface while the warm air and sunshine remains out of reach. But if you catch just the right high pressure system the fog is short-lived and the conditions can be spectacular.

Wisdom is often the cold spot in the valley, with temperatures that can be as much as 10-to-15 degrees colder than the surrounding country. But the people have a warm smile for you and its the only place around to grab gas and something quick to eat.

At the western edge of the valley, the Big Hole Battlefield remains open for history buffs in the winter, open daily from 10 to 5.

Heading south, the highway straightens out after the S curves at the Wisdom Airport (watch for that if you're gawking at the scenic beauty on the drive north). You'll pass thousands of acres of ranch land, and while you won't see the "Valley of 10,000 haystacks" of summer, the vistas are spectacular. Snow stretches as far as the eye can see, with the Big Hole's western rim punctuated by the southern peaks of the Bitterroot Range, known here locally as the Beaverheads. Some, like the solid Homer Youngs Peak, rise to more than 10,000 feet.

You can stop at the famous Jackson Hot Springs where the steam rises above town in the cold air, or push on south for the Big Hole Pass and further sights in the Grasshopper Valley.

Driving the Big Hole in winter is a day to remember. Just remember your coats, and your camera.

The Big Hole is accessible from several directions and can be reached in a long day's loop drive diverting off Interstate 15 at Dillon, or the turnoff to Wise River. Plan your gas stop accordingly by filling up before you start the loop, or planning to top off in Wisdom, where automated gas pumps are available 24/7.

See the full picture gallery for "Big Hole Winter".

FWP photo

All across Montana, and many of the Northern Tier states, wildlife agencies are reporting near record amounts of snowy owls flying around ranch and pasture land, and even showing up in more developed areas.

The distinctive white owls are natives of the Arctic. But Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks biologists say once every 4-years the owls come into southern Canada and even into the northern reaches of the U.S. And the experts say the large numbers being seen this winter may have something to do with the “boom and bust” cycle of the lemming population, which are the owls major food source.

FWP says the best places to see the snowy owls this weekend include any open lands, perching on power poles, rock piles, barns or any high point. They’re not hard to miss, measuring up to 2-feet tall with wingspans as large as 5-feet.

Biologists have seen the owls scattered all over the Rocky Mountain Front and North Central Montana and east along the Hi-Line. In Western Montana, lots of people have been reporting them around Polson and the Mission Valley, as well as some sections of the Flathead Valley in the outlying areas around Kalispell.

FWP recommends checking the Montana outdoor birding site for the latest info. 

The Yaak River Falls in early Autumn

No matter what time of the year you venture into this far, northwestern corner of Montana you'll find rugged vistas splashed with the colors of the season.

To see more, visit the Yaak Valley Forest Council website .

Spa Motel photo

Not only do the waters offer some of the best soaking in the Treassure State, and maybe the entire Western Hemisphere, but the pools were surrounded by original murals depicting the landscapes, people and history of Central Montana. That's significant in a location that was used by Native Americans for soaking for hundreds of years and first developed as a "vacation" destination in the 1860s.

However, time had left its mark on the spa and its rooms.

Now, the Spa Motel has completed a major upgrade including construction of a new outdoor pool kept at a comfortable 103-degrees. That's been added to an existing outdoor pool at 98-degrees and an indoor pool at 105-degrees. 

Spa Motel photoBut perhaps the most striking piece of work are the murals done by artist Mike Mahoney, who was commissioned to replace the old murals with his own reworking of the original historical murals that surround the pools. The paintings show grizzly, elk and bison along with scenes depicting the tribes and their use of the springs centuries ago. 

Reservations are recommeded for the newly-remodeled motel rooms, but drop-ins are also welcome.

For more information on the Spa Motel go to their website.