Distinctly Montana Magazine

12 D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 2 3 W e've all heard of the Loch Ness Monster, the mythical ser- pent that purportedly dwells in the peat-infested waters of the Scottish Highlands. "Nessie" may be second only to Big- foot when it comes to popular folklore surrounding a cryptid. In western Montana, we have a monster of our own. Flossie—some call her Flessie—supposedly lurks in the chilly depths of Flathead Lake. The Flathead Lake monster doesn't seem to care what she's called, as long as someone is watching whenever she flashes her flanks on the surface of the biggest natural freshwater lake in the West. (We refer to the elusive creature as "she" for the scientific reason that it is frequently depicted with long eyelashes.) Indigenous peoples who lived near the lake for thousands of years before any white settlement have their own traditional Creator stories about the monster, mostly originating with the Kootenai tribe. Sullivan's Hill near Elmo was originally known as the Monster's Backbone. According to the tribal story, the monster lived in what they called Monster Lake and was some- times treated to huckleberries by a bird. The bird's husband be- came jealous and killed the lake monster, which now lies forever in the form of Sullivan's Hill. Some say you can even see red patches along the hillside, remnants of the monster's blood. The first recorded "official" sighting of Flessie occurred in 1889, the year Montana achieved statehood. James C. Kerr had converted a 30-foot sailboat into the steamship U.S. Grant and was ferrying cargo and about 100 passengers between Polson Bay and Selish, the northern port on the Flathead River. Kerr saw what he thought was a log up ahead of the boat, but as he drew near, everyone aboard saw what they described as a whale-like crea- ture swimming along the surface. One terrified passenger pulled out his rifle and took a shot at the thing, but it plunged back un- derwater. It bears noting that the steamship had recently been outfitted with a full liquor bar, but that's probably a coincidence. Flathead Lake Flathead Lake Monster Monster Sti At Large Sti At Large The The by EDNOR THERRIAULT ORIGINATING WITH THE KOOTENAI TRIBE. SULLIVAN'S HILL NEAR ELMO WAS ORIGINALLY KNOWN AS the Monster's Backbone.

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