Travel Bug: Travel with Flooding, High Winds, and Later, Dams and Waterfalls

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

Travel with Flooding, High Winds, and Later, Dams and Waterfalls - Wednesday, June 15, 2022

I did not sleep much last night due to the possibility of the Yellowstone River overflowing its banks into our campground. About every hour until 2 am, I walked over to the berm where there was no concrete wall on top of it to check the status of the river. Staff from the RV park were outside reinforcing the height of the berm. The water level had gone above their top red line and was approaching flood stage.

In the morning at 6:43 am, we received a text message on our phones letting us know for our safety it would be best if we evacuated the park. Here's the exact text message:

"ATTENTION THIS IS THE BILLINGS KOA!

"We have a foot left on our river bank before the water reaches our lowest point. The river was supposed to crest yesterday 6/14 at 15.2 ft somewhere between 2pm-8pm. The river has continued to rise and we feel it is best to begin evacuating the park as a precautionary measure. We will be offering refunds for last night and any nights remaining, however, we will handle that automatically for you as we feel your safety comes first and the first priority should be for you to evacuate the park. Please do so in a timely, yet safe and orderly manner."

We were on our way out by 7:30 am. We were told we would be compensated for the previous night and any further nights remaining on our reservation. We were reserved for one more night, but we never received a refund for that night which had already been paid in advance, even though we did not stay the night of the 15th. I sent an email to the park and left a voicemail asking for a refund for that night, but never heard back from them.

Nevertheless, we were able to make an extra night's reservation in Great Falls, Montana, our next stop. On the way northwest, we traveled I-90 west. Along I-90, we saw many places along the Yellowstone River that had overflowed their banks. The wind was getting pretty strong.

At Big Timber, Montana, we turned north to take U.S. 191 and U.S. 87 to Great Falls, Montana. The wind was so strong in Big Timber, Montana, that we pulled into a truck stop and backed in with our truck and 5th wheel pointing into the wind. Other trucks and RVs were there as well. We spent about an hour there and then decided to head north. Unfortunately, that meant the wind would hit us broadside. We were buffeted around with 25-40 mph winds. Gusts were predicted to be 50 mph.

The trip was harrowing going north. Thankfully, the roads were almost empty. At Judith Gap, Montana, we again pulled off the road into a large vacant lot. The wind was merciless. Another RV pulled in next to us, along with a pickup truck pulling a 5th wheel. The pickup truck was having trouble keeping the tarp on the bed of the truck. We took a break and had lunch for 45 minutes.

We made it to Great Falls, Montana, in mid-afternoon. That gave us time to go exploring. What? Us explore? Of course, we did. Our goal was to see the sites where the waterfalls are (or used to be) before they put the dams on them.

The weather had moderated after 259 miles of driving. Once we had the 5th wheel unhooked from the truck and hooked up to water and electricity, we went for a drive.

On our way to see the dams along the Missouri River, the longest river in the United States, we spotted what looked like the old railroad station. It looked magnificent in the afternoon light. I made Bob stop so I could take photos.

The former Chicago, Milwaukie and
St. Paul Depot, Great Falls, Montana.

Great Falls is filled with painted buffalo. This is probably the most creative one.

"Rainboffalo," by Chris Miller.

The former Chicago, Milwaukie and
St. Paul Depot, Great Falls, Montana.

And then, we were off to see the dams. First up, Black Eagle Falls and Dam.

Black Eagle Falls & Dam. In 1890, it was the first
hydroelectric dam built in Montana and the first
on the Missouri River.

Looking upriver toward the city of Great Falls
and Black Eagle Falls and Dam.

Looking down the Missouri River from
Black Eagle Falls and Dam.

Black Eagle Falls and Dam on the Missouri River,
Great Falls, Montana.

It was a few miles to the next falls and dam. We passed the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center. Then, we stopped at a National Forest Service office parking lot to see the sculpture of geese.

We also drove by the entrance to Giant Springs State Park/Giant Springs Fish Hatchery. We will go to the springs and hatchery another day, along with the Lewis & Clark Historic Trail Interpretive Center.

Crooked Falls, downriver from Rainbow Falls
on the Missouri River.

Rainbow Falls and Dam upriver from Crooked Falls.

In June and July 1805, Lewis & Clark and the Corps of Discovery had to portage their canoes around five major waterfalls on the Missouri River. The distance was 18 miles.

The chore of portaging canoes 18 miles
around five major waterfalls.

How the railroads helped Great
Falls grow.

Captain Meriweather Lewis loved the beauty
of the falls in this area.

Geology's role in creating waterfalls.

The Rainbow Falls hydroelectric plant was completed in 1910. It provided power to the Butte mines and Anaconda Washoe Smelter 150 miles away. Originally steam power was generated, but it was converted to electricity in 1913. See the historical marker below.

Rainbow Falls was as far as we wanted to drive on this road this evening, so we turned around to go find "Great Falls of the Missouri River."

On our return trip through town, we found more history markers. When you have waterfalls in the West, you can count on hydroelectric power and mines located in the vicinity. Great Falls is no exception.

Hydroelectric development.

Rainbow Falls Hydroelectric Plant.

In 1891, the Boston and Montana Consolidated
Copper and Silver Mining Company was built. In 1918,
the Anaconda Company converted it into an electrolytic
copper and zinc refinery.

Black Eagle Falls and Dam in a different light.

Anaconda Copper Smelter & Refinery history.

Now for our true exploration...how do we find the "Great Falls of the Missouri"? I entered Ryan Dam into the GPS and off we went. We took U.S. 87 north looking for Ryan Dam Rd. However, that wasn't the road we wanted so I looked more closely at the directions. We were supposed to turn on Morony Falls Rd. It was only a short way back to get on the right road.

Holy cow! Morony Falls Road is a horrible, narrow, bumpy, paved two-lane road. We drove 20-25 mph and even that felt too fast. The only reason we are out here is that a lady in the RV park office said it is her favorite dam.

Fields of golden grasses lined the road and we saw a number of pronghorn and deer as we went by. It took a long time to get to Ryan Dam Rd.

Once we laid eyes on the falls and the dam, I just kept saying "Wow! Wow! Oh my gosh, look at that." I did not expect the dam and falls to be that big! Silly me. I took numerous photos. It turns out this dam is our favorite one, too.

The place was deserted. It was dusk and we had the place to ourselves. Only two other cars came and went while we were here.