Mission Mountains: Difference between revisions

Recorded human contact with the Mission Mountains began with the native peoples thousands of years ago and runs up to today. The Salish and Kootenai people have used traditionally used the mountains as a place for fishing, hunting, berry picking and for performing sacred ceremonies. [6]<ref name="gorp article">{{cite web| last = | first = | title = Mission Mountains Wilderness | work = | publisher = GORP.com | date = 29 Apr 2002 | url = http://www.gorp.com/parks-guide/travel-ta-flathead-national-forest-montana-sidwcmdev_069222.html = 15 Sep 2010 }}</ref> Many say they were, at times, also used for protection against enemies.

Major outside first the range came in the 1920's. Forest service employees Theodore Shoemaker led several parties of visitors thorough the range between 1922 and 1924, one which included members of the Great Pacific Railway Company, which owned a great deal of land in the range. On a 1923 trip he triangulated the locations of several peaks, which led to the first map of the high country. [6]<ref name="gorp article">{{cite web| last = | first = | title = Mission Mountains Wilderness | work = | publisher = GORP.com | date = 29 Apr 2002 | url = http://www.gorp.com/parks-guide/travel-ta-flathead-national-forest-montana-sidwcmdev_069222.html = 15 Sep 2010 }}</ref>

The first major protective action for the Mission Range came on October 21, 1931 when 67,000 acres of land along the east side of the Mission Divide was classified as the "Mission Mountains Primitive Area". The Great Pacific Railway Company owned 30 percent of this land at the time of the classification, which was exchanged over the course of years for other land in the Flathead National Forest. [6]<ref name="gorp article">{{cite web| last = | first = | title = Mission Mountains Wilderness | work = | publisher = GORP.com | date = 29 Apr 2002 | url = http://www.gorp.com/parks-guide/travel-ta-flathead-national-forest-montana-sidwcmdev_069222.html = 15 Sep 2010 }}</ref>

The range has about 45 miles of official trails. Experienced hikers can, however, break off onto the plethora of game and Indian trails that often cut through the rougher terrain. Horses can be taken used on most official and some other trails, but Missions are a rough and before riding in the Missions riders should consult local experts. People wishing to take horses into the range need to consult the Flathead National Forest requirements, which include hay restrictions and other rules. [6]<ref name="gorp article">{{cite web| last = | first = | title = Mission Mountains Wilderness | work = | publisher = GORP.com | date = 29 Apr 2002 | url = http://www.gorp.com/parks-guide/travel-ta-flathead-national-forest-montana-sidwcmdev_069222.html = 15 Sep 2010 }}</ref>

The southern end of the Mission Mountains includes a large grizzly bear protection area which is usually closed to hikers from July thru September. This allows the bears to feed on lady bugs and cut worms, and attempts to keep bear-human contact to a minimum. [6]<ref name="gorp article">{{cite web| last = | first = | title = Mission Mountains Wilderness | work = | publisher = GORP.com | date = 29 Apr 2002 | url = http://www.gorp.com/parks-guide/travel-ta-flathead-national-forest-montana-sidwcmdev_069222.html = 15 Sep 2010 }}</ref>

The Mission Mountains have a wide range of [[flora]] and [[fauna]]. Deer,[[Mule muledeer]], [[elk]], [[white-tailed deer]], [[mountain goats]], [[moose]], [[black bears]], [[grizzly bears]], [[coyote]], [[wolverine]], lynxs[[lynx]]s, bobcats[[bobcat]]s and [[mountain lionslion]]s have all been spotted in the range.

Smaller animals found in the Missions include [[hoary marmotsmarmot]]s, [[yellow belly marmotsmarmot]]s, [[snowshoe rabbit]], [[pica]], [[chipmunk]], [[squirrel]], [[porcupine]], [[muskrat]], [[badger]], [[skunk]], [[beaver]], [[marten]], [[weasel]], and [[mink]]. [6]<ref name="gorp article">{{cite web| last = | first = | title = Mission Mountains Wilderness | work = | publisher = GORP.com | date = 29 Apr 2002 | url = http://www.gorp.com/parks-guide/travel-ta-flathead-national-forest-montana-sidwcmdev_069222.html = 15 Sep 2010 }}</ref>

Western Montana's famous [[huckelberry]] is also found all over the slopes of the Mission Mountains in the mid-to-late summer. They are a favorite for hikers and [[grizzly bearsbear]]s alike.

The most common trees[[tree]]s found in the range are the [[ponderosa pine]], [[western red cedar]], [[douglas fir]], [[western larch]], [[western white pine]], [[lodgepole pine]], [[limber pine]], [[whitebark pine]], [[Engelmann spruce]], [[alpine fir]], [[grand fir]], [[western lark]], [[quaking aspen]], [[alder]], and [[Rocky Mountain maple]]. Cedars most often grow in the creek bottoms while others are spread throughout the landscape.<ref name="gorp article">{{cite web| last = | first = | title = Mission Mountains Wilderness | work = | publisher = GORP.com | date = 29 Apr 2002 | url = http://www.gorp.com/parks-guide/travel-ta-flathead-national-forest-montana-sidwcmdev_069222.html = 15 Sep 2010 }}</ref>

Up in the higher reaches of the Missions one finds the [[alpine larch]]. Found between the elevations of about 6,500 feet-7,000 feet this tough little tree can be found all over the range, twisted and tangled along high ridges and surrounding its peaks.