The Montana Hi-Line : The Western
Edge.gif)
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| The
Rocky Mountain Front near Browning |
The
Montana Hi-Line, at least according to most Montanan’s,
runs between the North Dakota border on the east side to
the town of Browning on the west side. True, US Highway 2
continues on and one towards the Idaho border. However, in
Montana, when people refer to the “Hi-Line”,
they generally mean this part of Montana, which is characterized
by sweeping views, seemingly endless plains, numerous small
towns and economic struggles against population loss.
As such,
I suspect it is fitting to begin the journey down the Hi-Line
in the town of Browning. If there ever is a town
with massive potential in Montana, Browning has to be it.
You see, Browning sits in a stunningly beautiful location – right
at the base of the Rocky Mountain Front and Glacier National
Park. Indeed, the entrance to Glacier National Park is about
10 minutes up the road in the town of East Glacier. Browning
is also the main city that is located in the Blackfeet Indian
Reservation.
Yet,
this town struggles. Of all the towns on the Hi-Line, Browning
has to be the most depressing of towns to pass through.
I suppose there are many reasons for this, but regardless
of the reasons (I don’t claim to know anything about
the struggles faced by people who grow up and live in Indian
Reservations), it is very clear that Browning has some immense
problems. I’ve read estimates that up to 70% of the
population of Browning are unemployed, despite its stunning
location that almost certainly should lead to tourist development.
Moreover, alcohol and alcoholism is a chronic problem on
the reservation. The downtown area of Browning is hardly
inspiring. And if that wasn’t enough, recently the
whole Indian Reservations police system was taken over by
the Bureau of Indian Affairs due to corruption and fraud.
In a
nutshell, Browning is a town with vast potential but has
to overcome some immense social problems before it will
ever be able to reach it. What’s the solution? I really
have no idea. And that is all I have to say about Browning.
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| Vast
Expanses of Grass highlight the Western Edge of
the Hi-Line Country |
Browning,
as mentioned, is located right at the base of the Rocky
Mountain Front. As one travels east of Browning
on US Highway 2, the traveler leaves the mountains slowly
behind, entering the vast expanse of the Montana plains.
Yet, the plains are hardly flat. While there are indeed many
flat areas in the plains of Montana, things are hardly “flat
as a pancake” as many people expect.
Initially,
as one travels east of Browning, the plains are almost
exclusively grass, as a combination of dryness and
supremely high winds don’t make for real good agricultural
conditions. As such, immediately beyond Browning the visitor
will see large herds of cattle roaming around on the hilly
plains.
Soon,
though, as one approaches the town of Cut Bank, the traveler
will notice a subtle change. Agricultural conditions
improve a bit as one travels east from the Continental Divide,
with the soil becoming better, the wind a little less fierce
and a touch more water. As such, as one approaches Cut
Bank,
vast expanses of grass start to be checker-boarded with agricultural
fields here and there, particularly wheat.
Next Page : Cut
Bank, Montana
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