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w w w. d i s t i n c t l y m o n t a n a . c o m
N
OT BY COINCIDENCE, some of the most talked-about
waterfalls in Montana lie in the most populated areas.
These falls are usually described as some of the "best"
waterfalls you can visit.
But "best" is a subjective quality, and the attractive bits of
a waterfall are not always enough to mitigate the unattractive
bits—namely, people. Yes, people. Hordes of them. They make
waterfalls deeply unappealing to people like me—namely, mis-
anthropes.
Public access to public lands ought to take priority again
in Montana, but this isn't the point up for discussion. Anyone
who has worked in the service industry will understand that the
"public" has a reputation for many, many reasons. And all these
reasons make it that much more difficult for outdoorsy misan-
thropes to recreate in peace.
So don't expect peace when you go to these beautiful, inspir-
ing waterfalls. They are stunning, and evoke the finest tranquil-
ity nature has to offer, but you'll have to enjoy it cheek-to-jowl.
TO MONTANA WATERFALLS
by LINDSAY TRAN
SO GO AHEAD—CHECK OUT THE WATERFALLS ON THIS LIST.
THEY ARE REAL WATERFALLS. YOU WILL GET THE SOUND, YOU WILL GET THE SMELL.
YOU WILL ALSO, WITH SOME LEVEL OF PHYSICAL CONTORTION,
GET A PHOTO THAT CONVEYS THE IMPRESSION OF YOUR BEING ALONE
IN THE WILDERNESS, TAKING IN THIS MIRACLE OF GEOLOGY ON YOUR OWN TERMS.
TOM
RATH
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