Bear Creek Road: Accessible beauty within reach for seniors

“Doubly happy, however, is the man to whom lofty mountain tops are within reach.” 

— John Muir,

Naturalist

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There is a certain serenity I feel when in the wilderness.

The ability to get away, even for a moment, is paramount for the mind, body and soul.

It is for that reason, after any workday, I jump in the truck and head north on Highway 37 and look for a nice spot along the river to wet a fly line.

Sometimes, it’s for a couple of hours. Oftentimes, it’s much more brief, even 40 minutes or so.

Still, the result is the same: Rejuvenation; regeneration; quiet time.

Other times, those drives just take me to a general vacinity. Mostly, I leave a note on my desk that says, “If I’m not back by Monday, I headed up to ...” and then I’m off.

Recently, that note indicated a trip up Bear Creek Road. It was a nice, delightful ride past piles of bark and saw dust, remnants of loggers who seek firewood.

Today, I write about Bear Creek Road because senior citizens who read of my travels tell me, “When I was a kid, I used to go up to so-and-so, but I can’t do it anymore. I can’t hike like I used to.”

Well, seniors, that’s the beauty of Bear Creek Road. It’s there for you, and you can drive all the way in.

That’s right. You take Bear Creek Road just about nine miles in to where the road makes a 90-degree left turn and heads over Bear Creek, except you don’t cross the bridge. As the road makes the turn, there is a lesser road that proceeds straight ahead.

This is the road you want. Just stay on it, taking you through some great, scenic woodlands for about three miles or a little more to a meadow with a grassy cul-de-sac turnaround.

At this point, you are as far as you can go. 

You are, literally, right up against the Cabinets, boxed in on three sides.

The slopes are lush, green and full of wildlife. On this day last week, I spotted three elk cows feeding, and they didn’t seem too concerned about the big white truck with the intruder with binoculars.

The best part is, for seniors, you can drive right up to this spot. No hiking. You ARE there.

It’s beautiful and accessible in your car. Shucks, the road in is level and even accessible for most compact cars.

Take it in. Take it ALL in: The scenery, the wildlife. Refresh.

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Also, last week I went to Christ Lutheran Church for the Heavenly Harps concert, and, yes, it was ... well, heavenly.

I went after work last Thursday, Aug. 23, and sat in the back.

Karin and Joy Gunderson, a mother-daughter musical duo performed terrificly.

I leaned back, closed my eyes and just listened to the two perform on their harps, and they sang, too.

Songbirds, both.

If you missed them, you passed on a great performance, but you can still hear them, as they sell their music online, at christianharpmusic.com.

It was truly a terrific performance, and the proceeds go to their dream of opening a hospice.

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Finally, last week photographer Paul Sievers, reporter Ryan Murray and I had the distinct privilege of touring the Revett Mine at Troy.

It was quite an experience, as the mine employs 212 local workers, about half of whom are from Libby.

The environmental concerns are paramount, explained CEO John Shanahan. If you ever get the opportunity to take the tour, do it. It really is amazing!

 (Alan Lewis Gerstenecker is editor of The Western News. His column appears weekly.)