June 3, 2010 - Driving out of West Glacier, we head 76 miles towards Browning, MT. We were so happy to see slightly blue skies, east of Glacier, but that was short lived as the winds were at it's strongest, driving almost sideways on the bike through the prairie grasslands of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. We originally reserved to stay in a Tipi at the Blackfeet Rez, only to be disappointed upon arrival. Apparently, the 100 mph winds from the morning tore the canvas on the tipis and they had to bring it down before they ripped the tents from the lodgepoles. We were totally disappointed at Lodgepole Gallery Tipis, as they did not call us ahead of time and let us know our tipi adventure we were looking forward to was ruined. We had no choice but to stay in their garage-turned guest dining room and pay $98 for food and lodging in our own sleeping bags on the ground (covered in cat hair, and which i'm super allergic to and sneezed and had to take claritin), as the wind was too strong to ride out. The only consolation was a great dinner and breakfast cooked by the Lodgepole Gallery owner, who cooked us traditional Blackfeet eats, where Charlie tried his first Bison and for breakfast, we enjoyed blue corn pancakes. We did however enjoy the wind-swept sunset at 10 in the evening with the big sky clouds looking rather strange and fear-inducing. Our tipi time was cut short, as we decided to leave a day early from mostly mediocre service and feelings towards the innkeepers (specifically the wife from the husband and wife team). Too bad because the Blackfeet Rez was spectacular.
We walked on their 200 acre range with views of the train in the distance coming into Browning. Also, views of the skeletal tipis.
The incredible prairie on the Blackfeet Rez.
The innkeepers' homestead with the sun lowering. Not fun staying in their garage-guest dining room covered in cat hair.
10 pm crazy wind-swept clouded sunset with the East Glacier National Park Mountains in the distance.
Another sunset shot.
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