Prior to 2010, Montana, the Big Sky State was one of the remaining 6 states to which I had never traveled.     Now, I have seen a small slice of Montana which encompasses Kalispell, Glacier National Park and Flat Head lake. 

Looking out the window from the small plane window I could see Kalispell below and was anxious to enjoy the new experiences presented.  I was there to oversee/observe the making of a television commercial and was working with the fabulous Ron Foth Advertising crew.   The “talent” we were filming was “Jungle” Jack Hanna and his wife Suzi.   I briefly interacted with Jack in a previous photo shoot at the Columbus Zoo but this one took Jack away from the hustle and bustle of work to a more relaxed atmosphere. 

I picked up my rental car around noon, phone my Kim, my Ron Foth contact, only to find that shooting was to start promptly at 8 am the next morning.   Having the rest of the day to myself I offered to take a couple free crew members up to Glacier National Park for an afternoon of sightseeing. 

Glacier National Park

Getting to know some of the Ron Foth crew away from work was also fun; however, I found it curiously funny on one particular winding and narrow stretch of road with a steep unguarded edge that Kim suddenly began to ask me about my happiness and love of family.   Needless to say, no calamities were endured and like the alternative title for The Hobbit we made it “There and Back Again”. 

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Glacier national park was very picturesque.   The only downside is nearer to Saint Mary’s Lake there had been a forest fire not too many years previous so the expected stand of pine trees was now just a sad stand of blackened tree trunks

Flat Head Lake

Returning to the log cabin I was staying at on Flat Head lake I couldn’t help but soak in the piney smells of the forest and revel in the views of the nearby lake.  Many times, I wish that family could share this type of moments with me instead of traveling alone.     Time to rest and be ready for the new day.

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Photoshoot moments

For those of you that know photoshoots are primarily composed of long stretches of preparation by the crews with short intervals of filming before tearing down and moving to the next location.   Most of the fondest memories I have of this shoot were actually not the shoots themselves but times of “normal” human activity, sharing meals, telling stories, and enjoying each other’s company.   Here are a few examples that I hope exemplify this.

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Von Trapp Experience

While together with the Ron Foth crew, we typically ate breakfast at a big picnic table with everyone helping to prepare the meal.   Jack Hanna joined us and began to regal us with a story about his having hired a landscaper to help with his Montana home and, upon arrival of the landscaper, Jack saw an additional 4 little heads in the pickup with Dad.   He introduced himself as Mr. Von Trapp.   Jack said, “The only Von Trapp’s I have ever heard of were from The Sound of Music.”  The landscaper replied, “That was my family and these are their great-grandchildren.”  

Now that was an amazing story, but even more amazing was 10 minutes later the Von Trapp kids arrived and began serenading us with the songs from the movie a cappella.   I had no idea that these young kids could sing so beautifully.

Riding with Jack Hanna

If you are like me you always wonder what a celebrity is like away from the people and when the cameras are off.   Are they the same or are they more like Ellen DeGeneres who seems so sweet on camera but purportedly is anything but once the cameras stop rolling?   I am happy to say Jack Hanna (and Suzi Hanna too) are wonderful people both on and off camera.  

I actually had the pleasure of staying in a nearby cabin to Jack’s Montana home and could walk up to his house in the morning.  When I arrived the first morning, Jack was already busy on the phone discussing a brown bear encounter at Glacier when he tossed me his car keys and said, “Would you mind driving in case I get another phone call?”   While he may have had one or two calls we mainly just sat and chatted.  Later in the day Suzi joined us, it was even more fun as they have a good time together.   Before returning to their home that afternoon we stopped and picked up a couple boxes of delicious cherries which were just off the trees.  Parking at Jack’s and Suzi’s home I was invited inside and we all enjoyed a few cherries and a soda.

Playing on Flat Head Lake

The second evening we all piled into Jack’s boat to zip across the lake to eat dinner.  Given that I had not worked so closely with celebrities/television personalities, it felt odd yet fun to just relax with Jack, Suzi, and a few of the Ron Foth Crew.  Jack reminded us that Flat Head lake is the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi and that more than one boater who didn’t watch the weather have found themselves in a battle for survival when the lake gets rough.   Luckily on this evening the lake decided to be quiet and peaceful.  We took a more leisurely pace going home fully sated from dinner, listening to Willy Nelson on tape, while enjoying a cool evening in Montana.

I hope you enjoyed the stories and pictures of my Montana trip and hope it may pique your interest to make some Montana memories for yourself.   My slice was fun and I would love to take my family there for an enjoyable Summer vacation.   I appreciate any feedback or comments so please feel free to contact me or leave a comment.