Distinctly Montana Magazine

w w w . d i s t i n c t l y m o n t a n a . c o m 37 When more than twelve million tourists flood into Montana each year to enjoy our thousands of attractions and activities, both natural and manmade, stupid questions are a natural byproduct. Now, thanks to online reviews from TripAdvisor, Goo- gle, Yelp, and other sites, we can easily see that it's not just silly questions that come from people whose brains may have been squeezed by their perception of being trapped hundreds of feet beneath the earth. These online reviews, especially of the one-star variety, reveal a virtual tsunami of ignorance that folks seem to have no trouble sharing with the world at large. Ridiculous expectations, lack of research, basing an entire vacation on a rumor—the factors that lead to a scathing review are endless. And so are the laughs—mostly unintended—that come from these one-star posts. Caves, not caverns, are the main attraction at Pictograph Cave State Park just outside of Billings. In- digenous peoples had used the cave walls for hundreds of years to record their history with colorful line drawings and illustrations. While the cave surfaces are roped off from the by EDNOR THERRIAULT A FEW YEARS AGO, I STOPPED WITH MY FAMILY AT LEWIS AND CLARK CAV- ERNS STATE PARK. My two kids and I paid our fee and joined the group heading up the paved path toward the entrance, leaving my claustrophobic (and relieved) wife behind to relax and read her book. As is the case with so many state and national parks, our tour guide was part walking encyclo- pedia, and part stand-up comedian. While we studied stalactites and sta- lagmites, our guide regaled the group with several memorable questions previous guests had asked him. "Is the whole cave underground?" is one I re- member. Also, "Why didn't they build this closer to the interstate?" Unimpressed Montana's One-Star Reviews The pictographs are so faded or destroyed that you have to use your imagination. TERRIBLE! Pictograph Caves State Park

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