Family day at Kootenai Falls

October 28th, 2007

Saturday I couldn't face doing homework, so we went on a family outing to Kootenai Falls, Montana. The trailhead is right off the highway about 45 minutes from our house. We arrived early in the morning to a very cold and frosty day. Madeleine was bundled up about as warm as she could be in her new snowsuit, ready for winter.

The hike is interesting and short, two essential elements for any successful family adventure. You first descend down a steep slope to the railroad tracks, where there is a caged bridge that takes you up some metal stairs and down the other side. Then comes the footbridge, a la Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, minus the crocodiles. Crossing that bridge is just about the most unsettling thing I've done on a hike. I can handle steep hills and drop-offs, but a bridge that sways in the wind and, if broken, would hurtle you hundreds of feet below to churning frozen waters is right at my limit.

We continued on to hike up the slope of the valley, where we got some good views of the lower part of the falls.

Pictures are on our Picasa site or in the slideshow below.