Brad_Bergum
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Registered: 03/06/08
Posts: 200
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Reply with quote | #1 |
The kind of business described in the article would actually be a pretty cool kind of business to run out of Winifred (especially since the airport is so nice now).
http://lewistownnews.com/articles/2009/06/29/news/doc4a424baa160fa738516161.txt
Obviously, a Winifred-based business would likely include a pilot that had a more ... how to describe it ... "real-world" perspective of the land and the area around Winifred and would be able to not only expose the tourists to the beauty of the area, but also give them some insights to the people who work the land and the community that is dependent upon the land. It would likely be so much more interesting and insightful to the tourist than simply a detatched conversation from the perspective of an "environmentalist" that lacks the broader view of the story of the land and the people of the area.
A guy could pick people up in Billings or Great Falls or Lewistown (or anywhere for that matter) by plane, fly them up to Winifred and give them a tour of the area by air, and then maybe even take them downtown or give them a tour of a working farm/ranch by wheeled transport so they come away with a broad amount of knowledge and insight. Then fly them back to wherever you picked them up when they were ready to leave (they could even stay a few nights in between).
This might even be the kind of thing that would appeal to some people with some deep pockets (which would allow for pricing that would make it well worth a guy's time to do this sort of thing).
Anyway, just an idea ... it makes a lot more sense to me for somebody from Winifred to make money on people sight-seeing the Winifred area than some outfit from elsewhere.
__________________
Brad Bergum
Winifred High School 1990
Montana State University 1995 |
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Brad_Bergum
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Registered: 03/06/08
Posts: 200
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Reply with quote | #2 |
Since the link will get archived in about a week, here's the full text from the News-Argus article:
Perfect day for a plane rideThe transition from farmland to breaks is evident. |
by Don Miller
News-Argus Staff WriterPublished: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 10:08 AM MDT It was the perfect day for an airplane ride when this reporter had a chance to fly over the Missouri Breaks during one of the most beautiful times of the year.
On Friday morning, I met my traveling companions at the Lewistown Municipal Airport for our two-hour tour of the Missouri Breaks and the CMR Refuge. On board were Dave Mari of the Friends of the Missouri River Breaks Monument, Jared White of The Wilderness Society, Donnie Sexton of Travel Montana and Bill Berg of the CMR Refuge in Lewistown.
Our pilot was Bruce Gordon of EcoFlight.
EcoFlight advocates for the protection of remaining wilderness and wildlife habitat through the use of small aircraft, and provides educational programs designed to encourage an environmental stewardship ethic among citizens of all ages.
First in, Mari and White, crammed into the back seat. Next were Sexton and I. Berg climbed into the front seat, and we all strapped ourselves in and donned our headphones.
Sexton, armed with a couple of cameras, was busy taking pictures for Travel Montana. According to a news release, the Montana Department of Commerce has developed a mini-site, http://www.MontanaHighPlains.com, to define three nationally recognized, iconic areas of Montana’s high plains – The Missouri River Breaks National Monument, The C.M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge and the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area.
We headed to the PN Bridge to start our tour over the Missouri River.
As we passed over the Judith Mountains and headed north, the landscape of Montana changed from pristine mountains to a land cut into by time. As our trek continued, Berg shared with us the different areas of interests and history of some of the areas we flew over, with Mari adding some additional information.
After reaching PN Bridge, we turned east and enjoyed the scenery of the Missouri Breaks, turning around at Fort Peck and heading back west for more photo ops. Some of the sites we saw from the air included the PN Bridge, Cow Island, Stafford Ferry, Fred Robinson Bridge, the White Cliffs, CMR elk viewing area and the different forage that grows along the river, including cottonwoods and why the wildlife is drawn there as summer wears on.
Two hours after taking off, we landed back at the airport, safe and sound, but ready to go again.
To those who believe Montana isn’t God’s country, they haven’t seen Montana, especially the Missouri Breaks from the air. According to the High Plains Web site, Montana has more unspoiled nature than anywhere else in the lower 48 states.
__________________
Brad Bergum
Winifred High School 1990
Montana State University 1995 |
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