In doing my research a couple days ago, I saw that not far from here are the "Gates of the Mountains" located in the Lewis and Clark National Forest. About 30 minutes north of Helena, along 5.5 miles of the Missouri River (yes, the same one that Alex, Piper and I narrowly escaped alive from) high mountainous cliffs shoot up to towering heights on either side. This creates a beautiful winding canyon, snaking back and forth like a pinball game. This canyon was named by Lewis and Clark on the expedition when they were exploring the land of the Louisiana Purchase.
Though in theory one could hike parts of this phenomena, the only way to experience it from below or in its entirety is to take a boat (twist my arm, will you?). The two hour tour included a very talkative but informative captain who passionately cares about his passengers' experiences. He would regale us with stories of people he had met, tours he had given and history he had learned. He would pull over just to use his binoculars to help spot wildlife, as well as point out flora and fauna along the way. I got to see Bighorn sheep and even saw an eagle.
The experience was just delightful. The Missouri River is wide enough it didn't feel claustrophobic despite the daunting landforms on either side. The river had other boaters occasionally but oftentimes we were the only boat on any given stretch. I couldn't help but think of boaters around here, cruising by this beautiful land is perhaps common for them. I couldn't help but wonder what they would find astonishing and rare in PA that I may find commonplace.
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