The Bar W Guest Ranch

2875 HIGHWAY 93 WEST

WHITEFISH, MT

I’m sorry that I haven’t been able to keep up with all the information about the Bar W Ranch, the internet here has been non-existent (what can one expect from rural Montana?)  We have done so much in the last two days, time has literally sped by for me.  I haven’t been on a horse in years, but got oriented and have done a trail ride and am even considering coming back and doing the cattle drive next year!  We also tried our hands at skeet-shooting, the 20-gauge shotgun packed a wallop on the return, but handled well (for me at least).  Chantel, alas, did not get to go fly-fishing, it seems the Bar W has many activities, but fishing isn’t their main drive (horses are!)  The people who come here are from all over the world ~ we had campmates from Australia, the U.K. and all over the U.S. of A.  No sign of the mountain lion that supposedly comes around from time to time nor a brown bear or grizzly.  I tried my hand at the amateur rodeo that they held here at the ranch, I didn’t win any events, but I was happy for trying.  My horse, Big Gus, got skittish around barrels and I knocked down a pole in the pole-straddling event.  I didn’t think my hips would hold up, but they’ve done great so far.  I expect we’ll all pay for the trail ride for the next couple of days, but it wasn’t too long, only a little over two hours.  Mom got to show her riding prowess after much boasting, she can still handle a horse, though her time out of saddle has been much less than Chantel or mine (mine being practically non-existent).

I like how the ranch is very much family style when it comes to meals and you can participate at whatever level you like.  Too bad our time was so short, but it is well worth another visit at a later date.  Have a look at the slide presentation below for some visual memories of the Bar W!  Next big stop, Yellowstone National Park!

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