Rocks on the Move
Without fanfare but with lots of volunteer help, a couple of major rock moves have taken place in the area once covered by Glacial Lake Missoula with coordination by our local chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute.
An 8 ton erratic left behind by the floods in the Bitterroot Valley was identified on the property of local rancher Ron Bell, who played on it as a child. Permission was given for it to be removed to a location just outside the Ravalli County Historical Association Museum in Hamilton in early summer. Donaldson Brothers donated their men and equipment to accomplish the move. The museum has placed four large signs around it to create a sort of “kiosk” interpreting the floods, and may also create a more temporary indoor display as part of a grand opening to be held at a future date. The display is being funded in part by a tourism grant from the Montana Department of Commerce to the Montana Natural History Center in Missoula and from other contributions.
The Bitterroot Valley was one of the “arms” of the floods extending southeast of Missoula nearly as far as the present Lake Como, and there are a number of lesser known features in the area. Another 8 ton erratic is located on the grounds of Lone Rock School, moved there in 1985.
A smaller boulder was also just moved in July to a location on the other major arm of the floods extending to the northeast of Missoula in the Blackfoot/Clearwater Valley. This stone is not an erratic but one of the large markers recently donated by Knife River Construction and engraved by Garden City Monument awaiting future placement to identify the highest water level of the floods in several locations. This marker was placed with equipment provided by Mike Paterni near Ovando on the property of the well known local bar and restaurant, Trixi’s Antler Saloon, with the permission of owners Cindy and Ray French. A ceremony to celebrate this placement is also being planned for a future date.
Plans are underway for the placement of other markers in the next few months