100 Million Years of History in Southeast Montana

Physical Requirements

This trip is physically demanding. It involves:

• Hiking on uneven ground and unestablished trails (ie: cow trails amongst sage brush pastures)
• Sitting on the ground, digging, and sifting for fossils
• Walking and standing outdoors, exposed to the elements (sun, wind, rain)
• Extended periods of standing (up to 2 hours)
• Picnic lunch (chairs, no tables)
• A six-hour drive to the program destination from Bozeman and a 20 minute drive on dirt roads to the field site, both in your personal vehicle

There is a local medical facility, however some emergencies may necessitate air ambulance (helicopter).

Description

Registration opens on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. and closes Monday, April 8, 2024.

Journey to Southeast Montana and discover 100 million years of history. The area is known for its sandstone formations, active paleontological history, and open plains. En route, we will meet and attend a hosted tour of the O'Fallon Historical Museum in Baker, Montana, brimming with homestead history, local artifacts, and historic buildings.

From Baker, we will continue south to our base in Ekalaka, Montana, part of the Montana Dinosaur Trail and home to the Carter County Museum. The Museum is well known for its extensive dinosaur collection and impressive architectural accents made from petrified wood. Most of these geologic and archeological wonders were found within a 100-mile radius of the town.

We will spend a day with the Carter County Museum's Curator of Paleontology, enjoying an insider tour of the Museum and an afternoon in the field, participating in a nearby paleontological dig.

Evening discussions will involve learning about local history and stories of the area with longtime residents and a direct descendent of the town's namesake, Ijkalaka. Ijkalaka was a Sioux woman and the wife of David Harrison Russell, one of the area's first white settlers and scouts.

On our final day, we will hike amongst the unique topography of Medicine Rocks State Park and learn about the flora and fauna of this "big medicine" area, a gathering place for Indian hunting parties.

Meals and Lodging

Your travel program tuition includes activities and meals from dinner on June 25 to lunch on June 27 (two dinners, two breakfasts, two lunches, snacks, and beverages).

Travel and lodging are the registrants' responsibility. OLLI has secured a block of rooms for OLLI registrants in the two modest, locally-owned motels. We will provide information for making your lodging reservation and a list of nearby attractions to extend your Eastern Montana exploration in your confirmation email after full payment. Pets are not allowed on this program.

Scholarship

Apply for a needs-based scholarship before registering for this program. The application deadline is March 13, 2024.

Apply for a needs-based scholarship to take this offering.