WS00 Kalispell, Mt

 

We’re in Kalispell, Mt to begin a Bicycle Adventure Club ride called “Western Sunset”. Late arrival (11:30) last night due to weather.  This morning a assembled the bikes; we need to test them out.

Montana is a state located in the Western United States. The western third of the state contains numerous mountain ranges. Other island ranges are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name, derived from the Spanish word montaña (mountain).

Montana has several nicknames, none official,^[3] including: "The Treasure State" and "Big Sky Country," and slogans that include "Land of the Shining Mountains," and more recently, "The Last Best Place." The state ranks fourth in area, but 44th in population, and therefore has the third lowest population density in the United States. The economy is primarily based on ranching, wheat farming, oil and coal in the east; lumber, tourism, and hard rock mining in the west. Millions of tourists annually visitGlacier National Park, the Battle of Little Bighorn site, and three of the five entrances to Yellowstone National Park. Montana is bordered by the Canadian provinces ofBritish Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan on the north, Idaho on the west,Wyoming on the south and North Dakota and South Dakota on the east.

Kalispell is a city in and the county seat of Flathead County, Montana, United States.^[1]The population was 14,223 at the 2000 census. Kalispell is the largest city and commercial center of Northwest Montana. The name Kalispell is a Salish word meaning "flat land above the lake." Kalispell is the nearest population center to Glacier National Park.

Tomorrow we ride to Hot Springs, a distance of 65 miles. The weather forecast is good, although cold in the morning.