We moved here last year from north Texas, just outside Kalispell, Montana.

I just wanted to share a few pics of things you don't normally see in Texas. This is a frozen waterfall near Columbia Falls, headed to Glacier National Park. About 30 minutes from our property. I suppose someone had the brainy idea to add some food coloring before it froze? LOL

We were attempting to navigate some pretty tough roads in January, but, it was a great adventure!

Made a pretty sight to see!

Pretty place enjoy it.
9 months of winter, 3 months of fall, a breath of spring and no summer at all.

In my younger days I installed the computer system at the McDonald's there in town. Knowing this and $2.50 will get you a cup of coffee.

Beautiful

Beautiful country up there, thanks for sharing

It was $1.83 the other day, sir.....

Beautiful country there where you are at no doubt.....just too damn cold 5-6 months out of the year for this flat lander!

Wife and I spent 4-5 days there on our honeymoon trip in last days of June and first couple days of July 1995 and it l snowed about 3" up at the Logan Pass Visitors Center on the Going to the Sun road the last morning we were there! We had a great snowball fight with some young kids and their parents who were from FL and had never seen snow before. lol

It can get pretty cold, but for me, the wilderness and natural habitat far out weigh the few months of frigid temps. We built a house in the lower valley on the north shore of Flathead Lake. It's flat land surrounded by mountain ranges. We can see Glacier National Park, Big Mountain Ski Resort and Flathead Lake, all from our property. But where we are hardly ever gets over 8" of snow at any given time. We can drive five minutes in any direction and find ourselves in 1 to 2' of snow during peak snow season. Our first freeze was in late November and we are beginning to see temps near the 50's now. The clothes worn up here are much different than what we have ever worn in Texas, they keep you from getting cold, much better quality for this climate. We take care of a few horses which means feeding twice a day. The barn is heated and I keep them inside if the temps dip below 5 degrees. The horseback hunting here in the "back country" is a lifetime experience. Panning for gold is my next adventure, some of the rivers actually produce some decent returns. And don't kid yourself, we have summer. We spent about 30 days here near and above 100 degrees. Fall lasted about 45 days until we reached our first freeze at night. What I'm saying is. it's very doable from a Texan standpoint. Sure, there are areas that make it tough to live here, but where we live is very tolerable during the winter months. This is an extremely conservative state, which we love as well. Sidearms are worn in the grocery store, church and restaurants........ it's a different culture for sure. Californians and people from Oregon and Washington are frowned on by the native Montana folks. This state is much like Texas in that regard. Bottom line is, we love it here. We dress for the winters and do things outside at 0 degrees, it just seems different. We don't miss the boiling temps during the summer in Texas where you have to find air conditioning. Even during the hot summer months here, it always cools off at night into the 40's or 50's. We sleep with our windows open.
Probably more than you wanted to hear, but don't be fooled, this is a great place to live, even for a died in the wool Texan. We should have moved here years ago. The horror story of 30 and 40 below, are extreme anomalies. Yes, it could do that and has once or twice in history. And it's all about where you live. Houses are build totally different here, our heat barely comes on when it's around 10 degrees or less. Our garage is heated as well. All I can say is, it's just different than the worst you hear about. West of the Rockies is a much easier winter to tolerate, the winds and snow drifts are not the same as central or eastern Montana. Sorry about the novel! LOL

I appreciate hearing what it's really like living there. I've always wanted to retire to the Rocky Mountains, but I don't want to deal with a lot of snow. It might happen, but it seems more and more unlikely the older I get.

Hoping to make it to that part of Montana one day.

Awesome

In about 2 years we will be neighbors!

Great information for sure and enjoyed reading it.

I do understand completely the cold is different there for sure. I've been in the Rockies in 0-10 degree weather and as long as you stay dry and the wind isn't blowing it is not all that bad really.

Your place does indeed sound like paradise! Flathead Lake is incredible without a doubt. And, some of those glacial lakes in the park are straight up mind boggling beautiful. Unbelievably clear water and the color is very hard to describe to anyone who has not seen them with their own eyes.

if I had it to do over, that's where I would be.

Beautiful!

Hope you enjoy it up there! Beautiful country!

Pure greatness.

😂 that’s hilarious

I love Kalispell, a good family friend is the former postmistress there, and after she retired she ran a ceramics shop. I used to love to go visit her.