Smokejumper Visitor Center Archives

“Autumn Color Extravaganza in Missoula, Montana” is the name of this YouTube video produced by Dave and you can click on the link at the end to see more of his nature travel videos.

Fall is a beautiful time to feel the cool, crisp air, see the changing autumn colors of the leaves, hold hands while walking outside with a loved one, hear the flowing of our local rivers, watch ducks float on top of the water, sip marshmallow-topped hot chocolate, and there are so many more experiences to be had.

Hosts Brady and Elaine welcome guests to have a Blue Mountain Experience at their Blue Mountain Bed and Breakfast in Missoula, Montana. Conveniently located near the University of Montana, but surrounded by majestic mountain views and the sparkling Bitterroot River with easy access to the Lewis and Clark walking trail.

There are so many things to see and do during your stay:

Shop downtown Missoula or their antique mall
Learn about aerial firefighting at the Smokejumper Visitor Center
Watch a local theatre performance
Visit a local art gallery
Take a historical walking tour of Downtown Missoula
Visit the Missoula Public Library
Check out the local music scene
Hike the “M” known as Mount Sentinel
Watch Griz football at the University of Montana
Golf the greens of Missoula
Rent a bike and go mountain biking
Explore a Montana State park
Dine at one of their award-winning local restaurants

Better yet, stay inside and watch a movie on their big screen or read your favorite book. Play a game of pool inside. Or sit outside and watch their serene pond and enjoy their mountain retreat.

You could come alone to recharge your batteries, bring a friend to grow your friendship, bring a romantic partner to enhance your love, or come with a small group of people to spend time together. Blue Mountain Bed and Breakfast is the perfect place to getaway to see autumn color!

Written by Kristi Dement of Bed and Breakfast Blogging

Many guests of our Missoula Bed and Breakfast have found the Missoula Smokejumpers Visitor Center an interesting place to visit.

The idea of patrolling the skies to look for forest fires was first broached not long after the end of WWI, and the initial test flights took place in the spring of 1919. By 1925, air patrols over Montana, Idaho, and Eastern Washington were in place. Lieutenant Nick B. Mamer and R.T. Freng were the first two pilots for the patrol; they flew patrols in the Northern Rocky Region for a decade, from 1925-35.

Initially, the flights were used only for patrols and to photograph the region. It was not until 1929 that aircraft were used to drop supplies to firefighters on the ground; By 1935, it had become common practice for planes to drop supplies to firefighters, but it was widely deemed too dangerous for men to parachute to fires in order to fight them.

Indeed, there were many obstacles to overcome before smokejumping could be tried. Simply finding the appropriate equipment required a Herculean effort – the jumpers needed to land safely in all sorts of conditions before fighting the fires. At last, the first fire jumps were made by Rufus Robinson and Early Cooley on July 12, 1940 – just nine days after they completed their training at Seely Lake, north of Missoula.

Learn about the smokejumpers when next you visit our Missoula Bed and Breakfast.

There are approximately 80 smokejumpers stationed and working in Missoula. Free tours are offered daily year round: between Labor Day and Memorial Day, visitors are asked to make an appointment at least 2 days prior to your visit.

If you’ve ever marveled at smokejumpers, or wondered what the work they do is like, plan to visit the Smokejumpers Visitor Center the next time you stay at our Bed and Breakfast Missoula MT.

Smokejumper Visitor Center

Autumn Color Extravaganza in Missoula, Montana

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