Wild Montana Outdoor Adventures for Women
Montana Outdoor Adventure for Women Option Number One:
National Wild Turkey Federation Women in the Outdoors Event
PO Box 6504
Helena, Montana 59601
(406) 442-5454
http://www.treasurestate.com/MTNWTF
mtsnorider@earthlink.net
This annual event is held at the Helena Gun Club in Helen, Montana every year, usually in the month of September. It offers women ages fourteen and over the opportunity to gain first hand experience with archery, back country cooking, shotgunning, outdoor survival, and wildlife conservation. The mission of this event is to give women the chance to experience outdoor experiences that have been traditionally reserved for men, in a supporting environment. In addition to seminars and classes in outdoor skills, there will also be a luncheon, silent auction, and give aways for participants. This is a one day event (Saturday) lasting from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
This event is conducted mostly outdoors so you will need to bring a jacket and dress in layers. Helena is just on the other side of the Continental Divide and the weather will vary greatly from morning to evening, so be prepared for anything from rain to snow to hot sunny weather. Sunblock, a hat, and sunglasses are also recommended to help protect your skin and eyes from the elements and from solar radiation. You should contact the NWTF directly for more information on other items that you will need to bring.
If you want to make this a true outdoor adventure you can supplement this event with a weekend camping retreat at any of the local campgrounds.
The Buzz Inn RV & Campground 1-888-449-1291
Basin Canyon Campground 1-800-433-9206
Ladysmith campground 1-800-433-9206
Or if you don’t want to camp, you can stay at a local hotel or B&B for the weekend.
Best Western Helena-Great Northern Hotel 1-800-829-4047
Alta Vista Lodge 1-406-443-5359
Barrister Bed and Breakfast 1-800-823-1148
Visit www.travelocity.com for more Helena hotel listings.
Montana Outdoor Adventure for Women Option Number Two:
Bob Marshall Wilderness
Swan Valley, Montana
If you are looking for the ultimate test of your adventurous spirit, then you should consider planning a backpacking or horse-packing trip through the Bob Marshall Wilderness. It is 1 million + acres of roadless wilderness, filled with healthy wild populations of large predatory mammals, birds, rodents, fish, etc. This area can be accessed through a number of trailheads including one in Choteau, Montana and one in Condon, Montana. You can pack in on your own, or hire a guide.
If you are an experienced camper or trekker, then you should be fine on your own, however, if this is your first outdoor adventure I would highly recommend that you hire a professional guide to lead your group through the Bob, as it is locally referred to. Not only for your safety, but to also insure that you see everything there is to see. This wilderness not only is home to a spectacular array of wildlife, but it is also home to petroglyphs, archeological artifacts and locations, lakes and streams, and geological wonders like the Great Wall of China that runs through the center of the park system.
This place is great for a women’s retreat, a girlfriend reunion, or a place for women to get away from the hassles of the modern world. There are many books available on camping and hiking in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Buy or check out a few to get an idea of what you want to see, where you want to enter the wilderness area, where you will set up camp, and what trails are available to help guide you through the area. Many local guides are happy to cater to women only groups, and if you prefer, you can request a female trail guide. You can also contact the National Forest Service in Montana for maps, safety tips, recommendations on what to see and where to set up camp, as well as land use restrictions and bear danger precautions. (http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/flathead/wilderness/Wilderness.htm).
When planning your trip remember what you pack in you will need to pack out, and there are no convenience stores inside the Bob Marshall. In addition to the usually camping gear like cookware, stove, sleeping bag, tent, water, food, etc., you will also need to bring bear spray. This is a very important item to have. You can pick up bear spray (or pepper spray) at most convenience stores, sporting goods stores, and wilderness stores in western Montana. You will also need to bring bear proof containers for your food and rope to hang your supplies in a tree at night so you don’t attract bears. It is also recommended that you take a first aid class and wilderness survival class before you leave on your outdoor adventure. This wilderness is a true wilderness and you can go days without passing another human being.
If you would like to hire a guide to lead your group through the wilderness you can visit the following sites for referrals:
Visit Montana
http://visitmt.com
Montana Travel and Tourism
http://search.montanaweb.com
Montana Outdoor Adventure for Women Option Number Three:
Bob Marshall Wilderness Ranch
16416 Chalwain Road
St. Ignatius, Montana 59865
(406) 754-2285 local phone number
www.wildernessranch.com
burns@wildernessranch.com
If you would prefer a ranch to stay at with guided activities for your girls only retreat, then you may want to consider the Bob Marshall Wilderness Ranch. It is located 21 miles north of Seeley Lake in the Swan Range Mountains. The ranch is open year round, and they offer a wide variety of activities and adventures that you can experience. They offer sleigh or wagon rides (depending on the time of the year), 1/2/4/8 hour horseback riding trips, fishing excursions, hunting excursions, and snowmobile adventures. You can book this ranch for your women only retreat from anywhere between one day to several weeks. If you have a small group, then you can also just rent out a single cabin for the duration of your vacation. The ranch provides fine dining, picnics, and fresh caught fish and game. They provide you with the amount of guidance that you want from supervised activities to completely hands off. For more information about pricing, space availability, and general information, please contact the Bob Marshall Wilderness Ranch Directly via one of the contact methods listed above.
Montana Outdoor Adventure for Women Option Number Four:
Wildlife Adventures, Inc.
1765 Pleasant View Drive
Victor, Montana 59875
(888) 642-1010 toll free number
(406) 642-3262 local phone number
(406) 642-3462 fax number
Located in the southwest corner of the state, Wildlife Adventures, Inc. offers women an outdoor adventure catered to their wants and needs. The lodge operates year round and has a guest capacity of 36 people. They offer an on-site restaurant that provides fine dining for its guests, and for day-trippers. They even have a conference center that can hold up to 70 guests for a day only women’s retreat, event, or reunion, and they have an additional classroom that is available above the barn that can hold 20 people. During the summer and fall the lodge offers wagon rides, a BBQ diner ride, western entertainment, and a nightly camp fire. They offer special programming for women only events, as well as providing guests with the opportunity to explore the following activities: archery, backcountry tours, BBQ cookouts, big game hunting, bird watching, boating, breakfast ride, catch and release fishing, fly fishing, golf, guided fishing trips, hayrides, wagon rides, hiking, horseback riding, horsemanship clinics, horseshoes, ice fishing, lake fishing, local sightseeing trips, natural horsemanship, nature hikes, overnight campouts, photography, rafting, rifle range, rodeo, roping lessons, snow shoeing, star gazing, structured riding lessons, trail riding, volleyball, wakeboaring, water skiing, wilderness pack trips, wildlife viewing, and X-Country skiing.
This lodge is located near shopping so if you forget to bring something chances are you will be able to buy it either at the ranch’s gift shop or at a local shop. However, you should pack clothes that are appropriate for the season you will be visiting. Spring and Fall can have very erratic weather ranging from below zero in the morning to well above 50 degrees by mid-afternoon. Your best bet is to bring layering clothes, a light jacket, and a warm jacket. For the summer, the weather is warm to hot, but often rainy. You will want to bring normal summer clothes, as well as a light long sleeve shirt, pants, hiking boots, tennis shoes, water shoes, sunscreen, a hat, socks, underwear, a rain coat, and a light jacket. For winter months you will need to bring warm clothes, layering clothes, snow boots, winter activity equipment, hats, gloves, scarves, thermal underwear, sunglasses, etc. The weather does get below freezing in December and January so pack accordingly to stay warm.
Weekly rates run $1,010 to $2,150 per person most of the year, or $105 to $180 per person for the daily rate. To reserve you room(s) you will need to book early and put down a 30% deposit upon making your reservation. The lodge won’t hold your space until they receive your deposit. If you plan on renting out the entire lodge then you will need to make a 50% deposit to hold the dates. If you cancel at least two weeks in advance you will receive your deposit back.
For more information about pricing, programming, activities, reservations, and general information please contact the lodge directly via one of the contact methods listed above.
