It is easy to imagine that Western Montana, dominated as it is by the Rocky Mountains, should be a great place to be a climber. I’m lucky enough to live in Missoula, where the beautiful granite cliffs of the Bitterroot Range are a mere 40 miles to the south. It’s always fantastic to wake up on a warm, sunny spring day, gather friends and gear, and take a day trip hiking and climbing through Kootenai or Blodgett Canyons. Several things come to mind as I look up at these cliffs, aside from the excited and nervous anticipation of soon being so high off the ground. As I contemplate the ascent, I often wonder how these natural playgrounds got here in the first place. Listen to learn more…

This Field Note was written by Mike Peterson. Would you be interested in writing one? Contact Allison De Jong, Field Notes editor, at adejong [at] montananaturalist [dot] org or 406.327.0405. Please visit the Field Notes website at the Montana Natural History Center for more information.