Since the Flathead Valley is essentially a bowl, we sometimes (too often in my wife’s opinion) get a winter condition where high pressure traps thick fog in the valley. This is called an inversion. It can be a beautiful, still, cloudless day above, while at the same time being dense London fog where we reside. If it persists for days (and it sometimes does), one can begin to suffer from cabin fever and mild claustrophobia.

Fortunately, modern technology provides us with a remedy. When these foggy conditions persist, we simply check the mountaintop webcams of the valley’s two ski areas. If they show sun, we drive uphill to seek it. We will generally go snowshoeing or skiing (both the fun kind and the cross-country kind). But sometimes we will simply go for a walk on the plowed ski area roads. And if it is warm enough, we have been known to take out the lawn chairs, wine, cheese, and crackers, and just sit and enjoy an inversion sunset from a mountaintop perch. A little sun can go a long way for your mental health!

The upside of an inversion is that it can create some breathtaking mountaintop views. Here are some: