Shifting Sky View From Mount Sentinel - Missoula, Montana

Even though Mount Sentinel's M trail is less than a mile long, the 11 switchbacks and 620 feet in elevation gain make for a decent little hike. (Okay, I understated there - it's really a huffer-puffer! Unless you are one of the very fit 20-something athletes who lapped us - running! - both up and back before we were even all the way up.) 
But the Big Sky view is worth every demoralizing wheeze - or, rather, "views", plural, from the lovely little rest-&-view-the-vista benches mercifully situated at multiple switchback turns.
Overall, a good time was had by all - and we wisely balanced out the activities with a stop for handcrafted ice cream a la Sweet Peaks.

Seriously Spring - Missoula, Montana

A fabulous evening for ice cream at Sweet Peaks! 
(Griz Tracks flavour for me - click here to make your mouth water. Their website indicates ice cream ships every Wednesday to anywhere in the lower 48 United States...just sayin'....)

Next up: a calorie off-setting stroll downtown along the Clark Fork River.

And after that, we finally had supper - legendary Mo Club burgers. 
The Best Husband Ever observed that they are cooking on the same grill as decades ago when his dad ate there as a young man, and the long-time seasoning of the grill contributes to the special taste of their burgers.

A veritable best-of-Missoula evening!

Good Night For Ice Cream - Missoula, Montana

Evening's golden gloaming is the perfect time to walk downtown Missoula's Higgins Avenue toward Sweet Peaks Ice Cream, my fave venue for locally sourced, ever-changing wunderkind flavours. 

Recent samplings included Moscow Mule, Raspberry Beet, Licorice Chocolate Fleck, Orange Cardamom, Rhubarb Swirl, Salty Caramel, Huckleberry, & Orange Juice Sorbet. 

(Full disclosure: While I HAVE been there three times in the past seven days, I did NOT have a scoop of ALL those flavours. Rather, I went with people amenable to  trading a taste, plus added the influential magic words, 'I'm buying!')