Back to current "What I know".....

October 4, 2005  Winter has started--fall was very short! I took some great fall pictures in Sunlight Basin-Crandall area, the leaves were turning and this week's snow has really pushed the fall season! Our old dog "Mallard" passed away this weekend. He went to sleep here at the Big Moose, the place he loved the most!  We will miss him greatly, what a great dog he has been.  Mallard would have been 13 in March, he loved the winter and snow, laying in the creek and rolling in the dirt to get muddy!

Check out my latest guest book comment regarding wildlife watching:
Big Moose guest comments-Click Here
 

Sept 20, 2005.  Absolutely gorgeous weather for the last couple of days, I am telling you there is nothing more relaxing than the blue montana sky.  As I was driving into Cooke City yesterday the views were astounding--"that's why I live here". When folks ask me "what do you do for entertainment", open your eyes and look at the beauty, smell that clean mountain air, "that's entertainment"..

Sept 11, 2005  We woke up to snowflakes this morning. I guess you could say fall is really here! We have two couples from Alabama staying with us and I was glad they got to experience snow, also out walking here they made friends with 2 mule deer last night and again this morning.  Today is a humbling day in rememberance of what we woke up to 4 years ago today, The Twin Towers Disaster.

On a great note--One of my "uncomplicated" friends from North Carolina sent me this e-mail that made me cry.  Sometimes I have to share with you "What others know"

--What I know is I left there 35 days ago and after spending 2 months at the Big Moose Resort...if given half a chance would be back there YESTERDAY.  Stayed with Bev, Todd, Chelsie, Sam and dear old Mallard was a joy.  Sitting on the porch and closing the day with friends while we watched the Montana sun sink into Yellowstone...my soul could not have been happier. What I know is I love this place that rests at the foot of the Beartooth Mountains.  I came to fish and fish I did however I was the one that was caught...caught in the love of the people, the land, the animals and all that is Cooke City and Cooke Pass. All that is Montana.  Patsy from North Carolina.

P. S. Folks if you make it to CC make it a point to look up these fine people:  Bev, Todd & Chelsie-Big Moose,

Rick and Catherine- Hoosier Bar, Razz- Miners Saloon,

Suzy, Jason & Stella- Elkhorn Lodge,  Jerry & Mary-Hoosier Bar (except Thursday..date night),

Matt & Mary-Stillwater Outfitters

Tell them Patsy said hello!!  See you in Montana

Patsy this photo I took this morning is for you friend, Sheep Mountain!

August 22,2005  Beautiful clear blue sky for the last few days, for those of you who have been to Montana you know what I am talking about!  Things have gotten quieter here with the kids going back to school so I went for a horseback ride at our neighbor's place, Skyline Guest Ranch. It was fantastic!  Our guide Wes (a young man familiar with this country clear back for generations) who has been spoken of highly by our guests who have had the opportunity to go on a ride with Wes, it was very relaxing surrounded by spectacular scenery.  I went with one of our guests Vicky from New Jersey, this was her first time here in Cooke City but her husband Roger and son have been here for years fishing every August. If you get a chance come and go on a trail ride you would have a great time!

August 17, 2005  The mountain air has been cool at night but temperatures during the day have been perfect in the 60's to 70's with an afternoon shower to keep things green as long as possible.

We had a great family for a few days from Conneticut, Kevin & Teresa with their 4 great boys enjoyed Cooke City at its best with fishing, fishing, fishing and more fishing but also spent some time on ATV's.  Kevin has been a long time visitor to Cooke City (back in his younger days) and now shares the beauty of Montana with his family!  At the same time we had a busy couple of weeks with the motorcycles and got to meet "Camo-Dan", the first Camo Harley to stay at the Moose and his buddy Roger from Wisconsin.  They meet up with our Cooke City Veteran Rick Porter @ Hoosier's bar where they experienced Rick's superb bartender hospitality, once someone gets taken care of by Rick's expertise & generosity they always go back!

August 10, 2005

WELL Thanks to everyones support we made our $40,000 goal on the fundraiser events, with the sale of the ATV Raffle playing a huge part, without the ticket sales we would of never have gotten close to $40,000.  So, thanks to all of you who participated!! This week has been a busy bike week with folks taking Scenic Drives coming and going to the Sturgis Rally.  The weather has been great for biking, backcountry trips, fishing, wildlife viewing and just relaxing, our temperatures are cool at night and in the mornings giving folks a break from the hot afternoons.  Guests have reported great fishing! Just a few photos of the fish fry &  bikers passing through.

The 2 women are Florence Zundel and her sister Diane Smith with Don Ellis (previous owner of the Antler or Anvil Lodge in the early days of Cooke City),  Diane was responsible for bringing back the "Old time Fish Fry" and her talent, love of old Cooke City, Silver Gate and dedication for this event shows with the huge success of it all!   Be sure to check out the chambers news with a write up and photos on the Fish Fry (Coming Soon!)  www.cookecitychamber.org

P. S. Don't forget to get your ATV Raffle tickets, we only have 4 days left until the drawing, you can go online www.cookecitychamber.org and buy a ticket or make a donation to help our community raise $40,000 toward a community center.  Check it out!! www.cookecitychamber.org

August 3, 2005  Wow what a busy weekend, folks are sure enjoying the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway.  The mudslides have detoured folks to use the Alternate Route, Hwy 296 and they are amazed that we could have 2 SPECTACULAR SCENIC DRIVES within miles from each other, so join in and head this way!

We continue to have great guests from all over the country.  The Roller's from St. Paul, MN were here for a week and the girls bonded with our 2 dogs and had to have a picture to take home with them, (Sam & Mallard, the dogs).  One time a guest came back the 2nd year and the old dog Mallard was laying on the porch and he commented "there is nothing better than coming back to your favorite place and the same old dog is laying in the same spot on the porch". Also the kitty "Trouble" becomes everyones friend, always a petting zoo at the Moose.

July 28, 2005  What a great day! The weather was perfect in the 70's.  Had a surprise guest show up, he has been a winter guest from Minnesota every winter since we bought the Moose, 4 years to be exact,we are accustomed to him showing up on a snowmobile, always riding a green machine (Arctic Cat) but with no snow he showed up riding Yellow!! It is great to share with the winter guests a bit of what we enjoy in the summer, tough choice to know which season is the best--guess we have the best of both worlds!!

July 26,2005 Well did we ever get a change in weather, yesterday rain, hail and at 10:08 PM a Earthquake! That's right a 5.7 on the scale,the old log bed shook as well as the whole house. The temperature dropped and today we have clear blue sky at 68 degrees here on the Pass.  We have had some great guests again this summer, some new and others repeats of sitting on the porch.  Come by and see us, the porch is always open!!

July 09, 2005  I had the pleasure of a hike to Kersey Lake with three local friends via the Clarks Fork Trailhead which is within 1/4 mile from the Big Moose. The experience of locals loving where they live! The scenery was fantastic, the lake beautiful and the company great!  The mountain is so green from all the rain and the wildflowers are the best ever!  The Clarks Fork Trailhead offers this "hidden treasure waterfall". 

 Our guests are enjoying spectacular wildlife viewings, here and in Yellowstone.  One group actually saw 4 grizzly's and every animal they had hoped to see.  I love it when folks have a trip that was more than they had ever dreamed!

June 15, 2005.  We had 2 great days of sunshine. The mountain ranges are a lush green and the wildflowers continue to grow! The mountain tops are still white but the warm weather is causing rivers to rise and I believe spring and summer are on their way.  The Beartooth Highway mudslides on the Red Lodge side are in the process of being cleared off the road and word is the construction could start in the next couple of weeks. Please note there is NO NEED to change your plans on coming to Cooke City, Yellowstone National Park or Red Lodge,  all access to these areas is easily obtained and you will still have a great vacation!

Beartooth Highway Update

June 5, 2005.  I know it for sure because I was there.  Took a trip to the Beartooths yesterday afternoon.  You can drive up the Beartooths from Hwy 296/Hwy 212 for 30 miles to the East Summit. The Top of the World is 11 miles from the Junction and you can go 19 miles on past that, this gives you spectacular views on the way up and  a totally different view on your way back down the same 30 miles. The barricade is set up 2 miles past the State line, there is a large turn out before the barricade and one right by the barricade. Here are some great photos!

The Beartooth Falls are awesome! The Wildlife viewing was great too--we saw a moose across from the Top of The World store, 3 Rocky Mountain goats on the East Summit. On the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway we saw this Grizzly, a cinnamon black bear, 2 large moose at K-Z Guest Ranch meadow, elk and deer.  It was a great Wildlife Viewing Day and 2 Scenic Mountain Drives--what more could a girl ask for?

May 31, 2005.  I took the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway to a meeting in Red Lodge today which is not a new drive for me as it is my main choice of travel 99% of the time when I leave the Big Moose, I guess I should say the only way out or in to the Big Moose is a Scenic Route, gosh I guess somebody has to suffer and live in this great mountain country, how lucky can one be?? I took in the breathtaking spring coming on summer views of Sunlight Basin & Dead Indian Pass.  The lush velvet green hillsides are spectacular with the wildflower color combination of yellow balsamroot, purple flax and the deep red indian paintbrush. 

Regional Maps

May 16, 2005

Demolition of Colter Pass History took place today.  The old round building, Joan & Bill's cafe has been demolished.  The building has been collapsing for awhile and today they knocked her down and burnt the wood pile.  Our local volunteer firemen were on the scene for back up!  Thanks to our local volunteer firemen Nick, Tommy, Brian & Drew for being there!

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