Escaping the Everyday

It’s been a week full of wildlife! Last Tuesday, we took a trip to Billings, about two hours from Bozeman, for Jake’s final financial exam and decided to make a day of it.

This past Saturday marked the first time Jake, and I pursued our own activities. I spent a day hiking with a new friend, which was delightful. We’re focused on establishing a community here, and it’s gratifying to see us both forming friendships.

The Marble Table

The Marble Table is a farm to table restaurant located in Billings, MT. We met one of the owners who provided a brief overview of their restaurant. They launched it in 2020, following the peak of the pandemic, and eventually expanded into an adjacent vacant space in the building next door.

All their sauces are crafted in-house, earning the label of elegant comfort food. The head chef, who is also a co-owner, collaborates with two others in the kitchen, which is remarkable given the volume of food produced.

The owner, Jen, whom we met, works at the front of the house; she is incredibly welcoming and humble.

Zoo Montana

The zoo in Billings, Montana may not be the largest, but it was fantastic to see all the animals active and visible.

We observed wolves, tigers, grizzly bears, bison, and more. The park was relatively quiet, and our morning visit likely contributed to the animals being so lively.

The zoo hosts a variety of events, including festive decorations for Halloween and Christmas. Additionally, they offer educational activities for children, like summer camps, field trips, and guided tours.

Spanish Lakes

~16 mile out & back | 3,100 feet of elevation |

Spanish Lakes was absolutely stunning! The day was quite hazy due to a recent wildfire, and its effects were obvious in the air. In the photos I captured, the haze is visibly evident.

We didn’t let that stop us though! My new friend, Lauren, her two dogs, Cassie, and I decided to tackle this trail for the first time as a new adventure.

We soon discovered that the trail was also a favorite for horseback riders. Whenever a horse passed by, we would move the dogs to the side to prevent them from startling the horses in an attempt to play.

Cassie had never been so close to a horse before, and I was somewhat nervous about her reaction. Initially, she simply stood there, marveling at their size. After a few encounters, she determined they weren’t frightening and began whining, eager to play. She handled it so well, and I couldn’t have been prouder of her!

I have also never seen Cassie sleep so hard after a hike!

Hyalite Peak

Jake tackled Hyalite Peak alone, a stunning yet known to be a challenging hike. He chose to trail run it, a task that was far from simple. The smoke from the wildfires in Idaho only added to the difficulty.

The morning in the mountains was unexpectedly cold, turning brutal. He was roughly a mile from the peak when he had to turn around because of the biting wind chill. Surprisingly, there was even snow at the peak.

I felt proud of him because it’s rare for people to set aside their egos, which is often when serious injuries can occur.

He did 15 miles with 3,400 feet of elevation gain!

Anyways, we don’t have too much going on in the next week or so but I’m sure we’ll find some fun adventures to talk about! The week after that we are going to Salt Lake City!

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