Mission Mountains
[2] The features of the Mission Mountains strongly reflect work of the last few ice ages, the latest of those being just over 10,000 years ago.[3] Three million years ago, at the end of the Cenozoic Era, western Montana would have been full of tall mountains, but it was the next geologic process that made them what they are today.Large glaciers began to form in the area 2–3 million years ago; this was the beginning of the Pleistocene Epoch.The glacier reached hundreds of miles down the Rocky Mountain Trench, ending as far south as St. Ignatius, Montana.The northern half of the range was largely rolled over by the Flathead Lobe, which was much like a huge moving ice sheet.Rain, snow, ice, wind, and other forces continue to work at the alpine landscape of the Missions.Recorded human contact with the Mission Mountains began with the native peoples thousands of years ago and runs up to the present.The Salish and Kootenai people have traditionally used the mountains as a place for fishing, hunting, berry-picking, and for performing sacred ceremonies.People wishing to take horses into the range need to consult the Flathead National Forest requirements, which include hay restrictions and other rules.[5] Non-tribal members passing through land belonging to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes are required to carry a valid tribal lands-usage permit, which can easily be obtained at local sporting goods stores.The pass is good for one year and allows access to the east side of the Mission Range, stretches of the Flathead River, and other areas.The southern end of the Mission Mountains includes a large grizzly bear protection area which is usually closed to hikers from July thru September.[5] Western Montana's famous huckleberry is also found all over the slopes of the Mission Mountains in the mid-to-late summer.
Mission Mountain (disambiguation)ElevationCoordinatesUnited StatesMontanaRocky MountainsLake CountyMissoula CountyFlathead LakeSwan RangeSwan
River ValleyMcDonald PeakJesuitSt. Ignatius MissionSt. Ignatius, MontanaBelt Supergroupsedimentary rockstectonic platesmudstonemudcracksProterozoichematiteRipple marksice agesPangaeaNorth American PlatePacific PlatesubductionupliftCenozoicfaultsglaciersPleistoceneRocky Mountain Trenchpyramidal peakserosionRonan, MontanaSalishKootenaifishinghuntingtriangulatedGlacier National ParkNational Park ServiceFlathead National ForestWintertrail bikesmotorcyclessnowmobileshang-glidersmountain bikesConfederated Salish and Kootenai TribesFlathead RiverFlathead Indian ReservationConfederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead NationMission Mountains WildernessWilderness Act of 1964Mule deerwhite-tailed deermountain goatsblack bearsgrizzly bearscoyotewolverinelynxesbobcatsmountain lionshoary marmotsyellow-bellied marmotssnowshoe rabbitchipmunksquirrelporcupinemuskratbadgerbeavermartenweaselhuckleberryponderosa pinewestern red cedardouglas firwestern larchwestern white pinelodgepole pinelimber pinewhitebark pineEngelmann sprucealpine firgrand firquaking aspenRocky Mountain maplealpine larchMount CalowahcanList of mountain ranges in MontanaHelenaTopicsClimate changeCongressional delegationsGovernmentGovernorsHistorybibliographyPeopleProtected areasState symbolsThe Last Best PlaceTransportationAbortionCannabisGun lawsLGBT rightsEastern MontanaThe FlatheadRegional designations of MontanaWestern MontanaYellowstoneLargest citiesAnacondaBelgradeBillingsBozemanColumbia FallsDillonGlendiveGreat Falls