The Land of 10,000 Haystacks

The western half of Montana is defined by basin and range topography.  If you drive more than 100 miles in any direction, you are bound to negotiate a mountain pass, cross a winding river, and cross through at least one handsome valley.  Honestly, I cannot think of a drive that I have grown tired of here—and I have been crossing these ranges and basins for my entire life.

Even for Montanans, the Big Hole Valley is a little out-of-the way.  Most of us go there simply to go there.  Nearly 7,000 feet in elevation, many miles wide, rimmed by lofty peaks, and still dominated by huge cattle ranches and real cowboys: the Big Hole is my favorite of all the wide valleys in Montana.  Long ago, the valley became known as “The Land of 10,000 Haystacks.”   In the early days, all of the haystacks were made by using “beaverslide hay stackers.”   Beaverslides were invented in the Big Hole as a way to stack the natural grass hays grown there.

At the center of the valley is the tiny town of Wisdom.  Though often Wisdom records the coldest daily temperature of all the lower 48 states, I cannot think of a more handsome town.  Down the road, Jackson boasts one of the better natural hot springs in Montana.  Driving toward the Bitterroot Range from Wisdom, you will encounter Big Hole National Battlefield.  At this site in 1877, the Nez Perce Indians skirmished with the U.S. Cavalry.  That is its own story—a sad one at that.

I have never been able to drive all the way though the Big Hole Valley without stopping to snap a few pictures.  I am posting photographs from a drive through the valley yesterday.  Included is a photo of some beaverslides.

--Mitchell Hegman