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On the drive from Whitefish to Big Fork, there is a stretch of highway that passes through immense fields. Eight towering trees stand between the road and distant mountains, like a wise council of elders surveying the surrounding land. I would always admire these trees from afar during visits to Montana. Now living in the area, I had a big idea: I’m going to turn off that highway, drive into the expanse, and see just how gigantic those trees are. Well, I did just that and part of me wishes I hadn’t. The reality: they are less than a quarter-mile from the road, seem to be dying at one end, and are not all that tall. They are “average tall” trees… sitting in a very open field… with nothing to provide height context — so their enormous size is an exceptional illusion. This misperception reminds me of visiting Mont-Saint-Michel in France. Based on the tourist-book photos, I was expecting a serene day-trip to this tranquil tidal island... Now, I will not diminish Mont-Saint-Michel’s appearance — it is like a Romanesque layer-cake dramatically rising from the bay. However, I found the confusing to/from shuttles, multitude of visitors, and tourist-shop maze surrounding the abbey to be extremely dispiriting. Waiting for the return shuttle, I saw that my friend Jill’s expression matched my feelings: “What. A. Racket.”
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