Blogs from Fort Benton, Montana, United States, North America

Anyone with two neurons to rub together must be asking themselves "Why did they spend 3 nights in Winifred?" A good question. We were aware before beginning the trip that seeing any of the Missouri that looked anything like it did in 1804-1806 was going to require getting off the grid a little. Or in this case, a lot. Much of the river is now impounded by dams, encased in levees, or otherwise altered in ways that make it quite different from its earlier self. One stretch that has remained untouched is the White Cliffs area, which also has some of the most iconic scenery, often painted by Charles M. Russell and others. In 1977 Bill Clinton proclaimed the formation of the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument, not without some opposition from local ranchers who ... read more