The Lower 47.

I just finished reading Montana: Stories of the Land, a pretty good high-school level history textbook. I know a decent amount of the story of Montana history you get from reading roadside plaques, but less about the non-geographic happenings of the Treasure State. Montana has a history which is more interesting than some states’ and less interesting than others, but what sets it apart to me is that there is no clear distinction between what is and what was. Few states can boast the fascination and complexity of history that, say, Texas has, but the history of Texas is now safely cached in parks and museums, and the lives and landscapes of Texas today are far removed from those of 100 years ago. In Montana, on the other hand, it’s not always clear where the line between before and now occurs. You get a strong sense of a place set apart, and leaving or arriving entails crossing borders both real and imagined.

So anyway, we departed for The Lower 47 and visited Wyoming.

It just so happens that parts of The Lower 47 currently have better skiing than Montana, the scenery is just as good, and the hotels are much, much cheaper.

I guess you don’t ever quite get tired of looking at this, do you?