Great Falls, MT

We had to leave our campsite in Devils Elbow, because it was reserved for the week-end, so we headed to Kings Hill National Forest Campground. Roger wasn't feeling a 100% so I drove through the mountain passes and valleys to get there -in the rain - did OK - good experience using the air brakes!
The campground is near Kings Hill Fire Lookout Tower (a little over 8,000 feet) so we drove up to see it. We thought it was abandoned but, there is a full time "Forest Engineer" on duty. She invited us "up" to see the view - awesome! It was a beautiful clear morning and we could see 13 different mountain ranges - one as far away as 100 miles. She explained how she calculates the location of fires and reports them to the firefighters on the ground. She lives in a 10 x 10 room with a small gas stove; a small refrig; a twin bed; a desk and her "fire finder." Notice I did not list a sink or a toilet! She has electricity and a phone but no internet or TV. She has one day off every 2 weeks and spends that getting groceries and water to take back for her next duty time. She has been doing it for several years and loves it - said she averages about 15 visitors a day! She stays until the first snow "that sticks" and then she works at the ski slopes during the winter.
On our way to Great Falls we stopped at a trailhead leading back to Memorial Falls. It felt so good to go hiking again! But the altitude does make a difference!
The drive to Great Falls followed a clear, bubbling stream that took us through a canyon with cliffs on both sides  and then eventually opened up to vast plains. As we got closer to Great Falls the plains became huge wheat fields. I don't know how to describe how big they were - miles and miles along the road and as far as the eye can see in all directions. They were like infinity pools - they just drop out of sight on the horizon! We saw one field where there were 4 huge combines, one after the other, harvesting the wheat. A long way from the small family farm!
The last picture is of our lunch picnic spot!
We are now at Dicks RV campground - our home until we get the levelers fixed. Great view of the railroad tracks - hope that isn't an idication of noises in the night!
PS - It is such a small world! We met a couple on the boat tour the other day whose daughter lives in Napoleon, Michigan - near where we grew up. And today we met some bikers, on their way to the Sturgis rally, one of them has a brother that lives in Bulverde, TX - near our house in Spring Branch!