WWW.TRAILBLAZERMAGAZINE.US • December 2011 | 83
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lose your eyes and imagine the perfect win- ter landscape—snow-covered evergreens and frosted Alpine peaks, shaggy brown
horses snorting warm geysers of breath into the frigid air, harness bells tinkling in the distance. Take a deep breath and inhale the sharp clean air; gasp as it electrifi es your soul. Where are we? Big Sky Country—Montana—of
course! And whatever marketing genius came up with that moniker, they were dead-on accurate. T e sky seems endless, stretching from horizon to infi nity, interrupted only by the undulating curves of the mountains or the silhouet e of a soaring rap- tor. It has the undeniable ability to make one feel small, yet with big, bright and endless possibilities. Boundaries and limitations disappear. Montana is also known as the Treasure State, and it truly is,
DARBY, MONTANA Triple Creek Ranch—Many
properties aspire to the presti- gious Relais & Chateaux level of service and elegance; they all, however, don’t make it. It’s an exacting selection process with numerous criteria, among them extraordinarily high levels of cuisine, charm, courtesy and character. Triple Creek has not only achieved that status, but is also listed among the top 50 guest ranches worldwide. So, for the holidays we thought you might like to splurge a bit and treat yourself to the best. Heck, it’s been a tough year so why not say farewell to 2011, send it on its way with a smile and a wave, as you dine, sleep, ride and relax in style. The ranch, snuggled high up in the Bitterroot Mountains, will be adorned in its holiday fi nery. It’s truly an adult winter wonderland to dream about so pack your best boots and giddy up on up to the Triple Creek. The holiday season features gourmet
Triple Creek Ranch
meals, fine wines and live entertainment as well as traditional décor and a fi reworks extravaganza. Can you imagine anything more beautiful than fireworks viewed from alpine heights? If you’re game, turn down the hot chocolate, don’t turn down the covers, and turn up the excitement with a nighttime horseback ride, or go ice-fishing in the dark on Elk Meadow pond. You might also wait until daylight and turn into a kid again: go sledding, birdwatching, cross-country skiing, snow shoeing or saddle up a snowmobile. For the truly laisse faire of mind, curl up
CONTACT INFO: » 5551 West Fork Rd » Darby, Montana 59829 »
www.triplecreekranch.com »
Info@TripleCreekRanch.com » 406-821-4600 or 800-654-2943
before a roaring fire and escape with a good book. Your luxurious accommodations will
be housed in the cabin of your choice, but the term cabin doesn’t really fi t – let’s call them by their fancier French name: cabine rustique. Rates are a bit steep but they’re all-inclusive and you do get to enjoy an extensive collection of Western-inspired art, massage services, fine wines and distinctly non-rustic cuisine. Yee haw, or wait…bon appétit!
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especially for horse-country folks; Miles City is even called the Cowboy Capitol! T is is where Custer made his last stand, and you may decide to lay claim to some land too once you spend some time here. But don’t be surprised if you get called “loony”—
just tell them it could be because just north of Missoula you discovered the largest population of nesting common loons in the western United States. Montana off ers fantastic winter (or summer for
Bucks and
Spurs Guest Ranch
that mat er) trail detours; we have discovered some of the state’s best. So whether your goal is to end the year in style or begin the new one in spectacular fashion, you will love these idyllic trail detours. Your newly recharged soul will positively thank you.
BY PAT BARNHART
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