The Travels of Nancy Chalmers -- LOVE MONTANA: Fabulous Day in Montana

As I quoted in a previous blog, “ If you live in a state with a cold winter, get out or move!!” So I'm getting out and enjoying winter. And this time my trek was to the Whitefish Winter Carnival. The official carnival takes place February 4-6, but there are activities held starting in January with the crowning of the King and Queen. This year's theme is the “Carnival Marvels at the Comics”. Thank goodness it warmed up by Saturday (fabulous, sunny day, about 35 degrees), because we had high temperatures during the week of ZERO. Now that would have put a crimp on everything.

The carnival is steeped in tradition and “folk lore”, and there is a story behind the carnival and the King and Queen. And over the 52 years, Whitefish has remained faithful to the fable. So let me relate some of this tale to you.

Once upon a time....there lived a god named Ullr who reigned over winter activities in the Nordic regions. Aiding him were his Prime Minister and Queen, who were skilled in creating the beauties of winter. But as time went by, his subjects became more engrossed in exploring the world and its oceans, and paid less homage to their god-king and the festivities of their winter season. Ullr became a god all but forgotten except in dim tradition.

(2011 King Ullr and his Queen of Snows)

After centuries of brooding and searching for a place of rest, Ullr and his two remaining subjects came to northwest Montana. So struck with its beauty, they decided to settle and selected Big Mountain, looming over Whitefish, as their adopted home.

Their rest was short-lived as they soon found their home was also the abode of a fierce band of snowmen called Yetis, who attempted to kidnap the Queen. Ullr and his followers prevailed and learned to live with only occasional skirmishes with the Yetis.

Eventually humans invaded the Whitefish area with axes, guns and wagons. Ullr observed these people as they civilized the valley, and saw that they also enjoyed the sports of winter. Seeing his chance after centuries of loneliness, Ullr assumed the garb of these people and went among them. The Yetis, however, would have nothing to do with the settlers except for attempts to drive them away. Ullr helped the settlers and became their hero and true King. It was proclaimed that there would be an annual fete at which King Ullr and his court would rule – a celebration called the Whitefish Winter Carnival.

CHARACTERS OF THE CARNIVAL:

YETIS

Pranksters and thieves of Winter Carnival's most previous relics, the Yetis are a playful group who enjoy a good practical joke. They live in the deep wilderness behind the Big Mountain, and return each Winter Carnival to challenge King Ullr as well as kidnap his Queen of the Snows.

PENGUINS

One of the oldest costume groups, the Penguins are a good-natured group who can be found waddling around town and at various Carnival events. They love to have their photo taken, and you can certainly try to have a conversation with them, but you'll understand their banter only if you speak Penguin.

VIKING DIVAS

Jovial women sworn to protect, the Viking Divas spend their time kissing the townspeople and leaving their famous “V”, the mark of safety against the Yetis.

THE PENGUIN PLUNGE

To participate in this event, you truly need to be NUTS!! But nuts for a good cause, such as the Special Olympics. The “plungers” pay $100 each (or have pledges for far more than $100) for the chance to jump through a hole chopped in Whitefish Lake. Some people just come in their bikini/bathing suit, while many people took the chance to dress up in crazy costumes (the theme of the Carnival involved the comics, so many super hero's were in attendance).

(The "Plunge Hole", including the divers who help get those crazy folks out of the water)

People can jump as individuals (one such person raised $5,000 all on his own), or in teams. The largest team was a group of “polar bears” who do this kind of thing often, and they had 50 people in their team. The police force for both Whitefish and Kalispell were plungers. There were 4 men from the US Army, and a large group of 39 people from a local company.

I saw kids, old people, a group of people wearing toga's, people in bikinis or trunks, people wearing masks, people in “tu-tu's”, Spiderman, Superman, people walking barefoot in the snow. I even saw one guy jump in the lake HOLDING his young son (looked to be about 5-6). You should have seen the look on his son's face when he hit that cold water. I believe that father may have scarred that poor kid for life (where was Mom?).

(See the man holding the kid? What was he thinking! Also notice the masks -- not sure what that means, but there were about 50 of them)

(A group of the "Toga's" -- Before and After)

It was an absolutely beautiful day – the sun was out in force, and the sky was blue. Whitefish Lake is large, and it appeared to be totally frozen (several cross country skiers were crossing the lake). And the view towards ski slopes of Big Mountain was spectacular. It was a fabulous day in the valley!!! I was there for several hours, and felt toasty warm.

Many, many spectators turned out to see the “plunge” and were lined around the hole chopped by the Whitefish Fire Department. The huge chunks of ice, some up to 1 ½ feet thick, were by the plunge hole, so I figured I was pretty safe standing ON the lake. And everyone wanted to get a good view of the “plungers”.

(A Bulldog leaving his mark on the big chunks of ice)

BLACK STAR BEER BARTER

As part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival festivities The Great Northern Brewery in Whitefish hosted The Black Star Barter on Saturday. The Great Northern Brewery was started in 1994 for the purpose of brewing Black Star Golden Lager. Whitefish, MT was chosen as the location because of the clean air, the pure water and the nice people.

“Black Star is a double-hopped golden lager based on traditional European Pilsner style beers. It is brewed with both Bavarian Mittelfrüh and Czech Saaz hops and two row malting barley.” I'm actually not sure what that means, but I got a FREE 12 pack of Black Star at the Carnival, and of course I had to try it. Very good.

What would you do or trade for a year's supply of Black Star beer? That's the entire premise of the “barter”. Black Star signed up contestants to barter their most over-the-top, outrageous submissions, and share their fantastic creations to try and win a year’s supply of beer. You have to decide – what is 52 cases of this crisp, refreshing, double hopped golden lager worth to you? Just so you know, that's one thousand two hundred and forty eight beers!

While I didn't see the entire competition, one gentleman was giving away a picnic and trip on the “Road to the Sun” in Glacier Park in an original Model T (I would have loved this). Another entry was from a bakery, offering the brewery a custom designed cake of their choice. There were two college age girls singing “The Drunken Maiden” song, and they actually could sing. One of my favorites (from those I saw) was a guy who offered a trick – he could make a fist full of coins disappear. Then he proceeded to stuff them in his nose!!! He offered to start taking them out, but the MC thought that might be disgusting (and obviously, he didn't win). I'm not sure what the winning submission was, but when I walked into the area, I was standing right behind the winner. He was telling folks he just entered to get the free 12 pack and bag of gifts given to each contestant. And I would think that might have been the incentive for most of these folks -- FREE BEER.

And I'm not above taking free beer. No, I didn't enter. But after the competition, they were giving away a free 6 pack of beer.....so I'm pushing my way to the stage, like everyone else. When I got there, they had run out of 6 packs, but lucky me – I got my own 12 pack!!! I turned around to leave, and the guy behind me has his 3-4 year old son standing at his feet. He did tell me the kid had been carded!! This was really a lot of fun.

(Self-Portrait: A girl and her beer)

GRAND PARADE

Every carnival or festival needs one – a local parade. And a huge crowd showed up in Whitefish. I always enjoy a parade, particularly parades put on by local volunteers, and mostly made up of local residents. And this one was no disappointment.

(Best seat in the house -- beer keg in front of the Brewery)

Along with the parade, the Yetis are still roaming around the downtown looking to kidnap the queen or otherwise disrupt the proceedings. And the Viking Divas are out capturing the Yetis or giving a kiss along with putting a “V” on your cheek so you are safe. The Penguins are waddling around just having fun with the kids.

Of course, there are floats, drill teams, large vehicles advertising something, horses, and of course, kids. I loved seeing some of the winners from the 2011 Skijoring World Championships, held the previous

weekend in Whitefish. There was a very spotted Appaloosa ridden by a lady wearing spots who was swinging her lariat – the fun thing was that the horse had his own lariat which she put in his mouth, and he could swing it as well!! Everyone was dressed up in costume – big and small Spidermen, snowmen, a group representing a bowling alley dressed up like “pins”. B

ut my favorite was a group called “Working Women of Whitefish”, and what would you think empowered women would wear? “Wonder Woman”, of course. Complete with the golden lasso. And they put on a bit of a drill and show for the spectators.

(Pack horse in the parade was carrying a canoe -- he spooked and tried to turn around. Almost took out a bunch of spectators.)

So it was a GREAT day in GREAT Northwest Montana. You know.....I think I am starting to enjoy winter. And I know that today, I was very happy that I am now a MONTANAN.