Flathead Lake Lodge

Were happy to say that Bigfork resident, friend and FLL supporter Jack Hannah and his family are safe and sound after a exciting encounter with a Momma Grizzly and her two cubs. Have no fear, our hiking guides are outfitted with pepper spray…and really heavy hiking boots so there is no question of who is the slowest. Now that is customer service!

Check out the video shot here at Flathead Lake Lodge!

Even thought it wasn’t the 85 degree 4th of July of the last few years, the Lodge fire trucks still made sure the crowd was cooled off.

Have you been contemplating visiting Flathead Lake Lodge this summer? Well don’t worry, there are just a few openings left and still time. Give us a call (406.837.4391) or email, info@flatheadlakelodge.com to inquire about these Last Minute Deals.

Summer is just kicking off and what better way to enjoy a long weekend than with the family in beautiful Montana!

This photo of Echo Lake and the Swan Mountains was taken by Laine Averil last week while flying around the valley with Austin Aviation. The Lodge is excited to offer this new Helicopter Tour activity to guests through out the summer. Austin Aviation is sure to offer guests a truly unique view of the Flathead Valley and the ‘Crown of the Continent’ ecosystem that includes Glacier National Park and the Great Bear, Scape Goat, and Bob Marshall Wildernesses.

Look for Austin at Monday morning ‘Sign Ups’ throughout the summer!

 

We’re excited to congradulate Averill family member, Quindee on finishing 6th overall in the Big Sky Region of College Rodeo, competing for Montana State University. In just her first semester of College Rodeo, Quindee and her horse Buster finished 6th in the region competing in barrel racing and just missed qualifying for Nationals. Congradulations, and we are looking forward to watching you again in the fall!

ps. when you are at the Lodge this summer, tell her you would like a little barrel racing lesson…

We know you have all seen the pictures of the monster pike caught by Lodge staff over the last couple of years. A few years back, Sous Chef Zach hauled in a 49 inch 28 lb monster. Then last fall Chase Averill landed a 46″ 31lb hog on an 8 weight fly rod out of Flathead Lake. What we didn’t know until recently is that Chase’s fish would have most likely been the North American record for a Pike caught on a fly rod.

Check out this article in the Daily Interlake about another local angler.

Well…Chase’s lack of smarts to have his fish properly weighed and recorded probably cost him the North American record for pike on a fly…but he did get the picture of the Month, so we’ll consider it a second place prize.

Nothing quite reminds you  it is spring in Bigfork like the abundance of food, wine, music and over-fed happy people wandering around town during the annual Taste of Bigfork. Each year the many different restaurants, bars, and wine shops put their award winning talents and dishes in front of the hungry locals  for an all day eating peruse through town.

The Lodge’s very own Chef Brian Lesyinski prepared a Smoked Buffalo Lasagna to much praise. His Recipe is below, so now the only thing to do is go whip it up and enjoy!

Smoked Buffalo Lasagna – (Serves 8…or 2 Cowboys)

Ingredients

2 yellow onions (smoked and diced)

8 tomatoes (smoked and diced)

1/2 lb all natural, grass fed ground Buffalo

3 bulbs of Garlic (smoked and diced)

1/4 c tomato paste

1/4 c chopped fresh basil

2T brown sugar

2Tchopped fresh oregano

1T fresh thyme

1/2t dried red peppers

1c tomato sauce

15 lasagna noodles

30 oz ricotta cheese

1c grated parmesan cheese

2 1/2 c smoked mozzarella

16 oz fresh spinach – (Sauteed in olive oil, cooled and chopped)

2 eggs

Salt & Pepper

Sauce

Cook buffalo in large pot over medium heat. Add smoked onion, dried red pepper, smoked garlic. Turn heat down and add smoked tomatoes, tomato paste, fresh basil, fresh oregano, thyme, brown sugar and tomato sauce.

Lasagne

Cook noodles in large pot of boiling salt waer until almost tender…about 7 minuets. Drain, cover with cold water. Combine ricotta, Parmesan, and mozzarella cheeses, spinach, salt and pepper to taste. Mix in eggs.

Drain pasta & pat dry. Spread 1/2 c sauce over bottom of 13″x9″ baking dish. Place 5 noodles overlapping to fit. Spread half of cheese & spinach mixture evenly over noodles. Spoon 1 2/2 cup sauce over cheese, spread with spatula. Repeat layering with 5 noodles, remaining cheese and spinach mixture 1 1/2 c sauce. Arrange remaining 5 noodles over sauce, spread remaining sauce over noodles and sprinkle with 1/2 cup of smoked mozzarella.

Cover with parchment paper & aluminum foil. Bake lasagna 40 min at 350 degrees. Uncover and bake until hot and bubbly…about 40 minuets. Let lasagna stand 15 min. before serving and enjoy!

Congratulations to Flathead Lake Lodge Barn Manager Mr. Jason and his lady friend & former FLL wrangler Miranda Knowles who took home a couple of custom-made saddles, purse money and the title of Champions at the Lolo Peak Wrangler Team Roping Championships.

Jason and Miranda took 1st place int he Featured Roping with a combined time of 30.26 seconds for 4 runs.

Check out their winning run in the video below…fast forward to the 9:11 mark.

 

A little unknown fact about Bigfork is that the village is actually not incorporated. This means the town runs on almost 100% vollunteerism to keep it character and accomplish the towns issues.

Earth Day is no different. Each year hundreds of Bigfork residents spread across Greater Bigfork with gloves and garbage bags in hand, pitching in to Clean the Fork before the busy summer season arrives.

However, on the Sunday following Clean the Fork might be when the true die-hards show up to clean. For over 30 years a group of Bigforker’s and Averill’s have shown up at 6am the following Sunday to ‘Hose the Streets’, often braving near freezing temperatures. Thanks to all those who helped get Bigfork cleaned up for the Summer, and especially gang who always show up to help clean the streets downtown. It is the continued spirit of volunteerism that truly makes Bigfork the unique little town it is.

Well, we thought it was spring here in the Flathead Valley…but then we remembered we are in Montana and it snowed 4 inches out of nowhere. So, with our snow boots put away for the season, we figured what better way to stay warm than a little Flathead Lake Lodge Trivia. Hopefully you all have been studying up before another great summer on Flathead Lake is here.

Good Luck!

(If you are on Facebook go to https://www.flatheadlakelodge.com/ to take the quiz!)