Whitefish, Montana, USA...

Chris managed to get a long weekend and as it was Labor Day Weekend (3 -6 Sept) we decided to drive to Whitefish, Montana USA. Although it was a 7 hour drive with the Canadian roads being so open and unpopulated it wasn't a difficult drive just long. We arrived at the American/Canadian boarder immigration where we had to complete the necessary forms, have our fingerprints and photo taken and then allowed to go on our journey. As we entered the Glacier National Park we took Logan's Pass road which took us up and over the mountains. At this point I was driving and it was a very interesting drive weaving our way up and down the mountain with lots of twisting and turning around bends and finally coming all the way down the mountain again.

We had chosen to stay at the Kandhar Hotel located on Big Mountain just outside Whitefish. One of the reasons to make the journey down to Whitefish was to check out Big Mountain for skiing this Christmas. So we checked in and went for a wonder around the mountain village to see what it had to offer. That night we had supper in the lounge area with a large log fire burning and fantastic pizzas. I also had a massage with 'Johnny Ray' who comes to the hotel each night for an hour and sets up his chair in the lounge for 10 minute massages - fantastic. We then jumped into the hotel's hot tub.

Saturday morning we headed slightly up the mountain to go on the Alpine Slide. The weather was perfect for whizzing down a mountain on a slide, back up on a chair lift and down again this time changing partners on the slide. After which we jumped on the Big Mountain chairlift which took us all the way to the top of the mountain for the amazing views over Whitefish. Unfortunately we didn't see any beers however the mountain we a great playground for mountain bikers which Fraser thought were fascinating.

We then left the mountain and stopped off at the Boat Club for lunch - perfect for people watching and everyone out on the lake in their speedboats and jet skies - a different lifestyle. So after a great lunch we visited the beach located just round the corner from the Boat Club and took a dip in the lake - a little cold! After getting a few supplies from the shops we made our way back to the Kandhar hotel and crashed in our room.





Sunday someone turned the temperature down drastically and the heavens opened with rain, although we were later told that it had snowed at the top of the mountain. So after a wonder around the town of Whitefish we joined in the American hobby of going bowling. Then back to the hotel hot tub and a movie. We were taken with Whitefish as it enables you to ski in/out from most of the hotels and houses so it is under consideration for Christmas. Monday after breakfast we packed the car and started the drive home, due to the snowfall we could not go back via Logan's Pass so drove the longer route which was actually also the quicker route back to Ralston.