Laying Low in Helena

As we watch the news of the Reynolds Creek Fire inside Glacier National Park, we wonder when we will be back in this area to visit the park.  We were supposed to leave this morning to head up to St. Mary, a small town right outside the east entrance to the park, stay until the 8th to visit Glacier and also cross into Canada to visit Waterton and possibly Banff National Park.  Oh well.  As you can see by this photo, taken yesterday afternoon, we did not want to risk our safety and our health, breathing in the smoke.

Looking west from St Mary Visitor Center of Glacier National Park

We will use this time while in Helena to do some quick repairs/fixes on the rig, look for a new small vacuum - the one we use broke yesterday, and I can do some quilting and Dave photo editing.  Our plans are to be here until Saturday the 1st of August, then head to Fort Benton, Montana.  I looked around for other sights to see and if the weather is right, we will do a day trip here and there.  There is also another wildfire burning south of us, near the town of Townsend which we drove through on our way to Helena.  Montana had very little snow this past winter and very minimal rain this spring.  The state is extremely dry and we may hear of more fires starting soon.

As to the dryness - one of our bucket list things to do this summer - hire a guide and take us by water to the Upper Missouri River Breaks, leaving from Fort Benton.  This area is only accessible by boat/canoe/kayak/ or backpacking in.  I heard from the tour guide company that they are not doing any tours - the river is below acceptable levels for safely motoring to the Breaks area.  Shoot.  The owner of the company said in his 20 years he has NEVER seen the river this low.  And, there were 2 companies that offered this service, the other company has folded due to not being able to run the river.  Who says there is not a global warming going on?  Big climate changes happening.