Montana’s Frozen Past: Crazy Facts About Big Sky’s Ice Age

I’ll be honest, cold weather is not my favorite. Anything below 20 degrees (unless I’m skiing) and I’m curled up with a blanket, clutching a cup of coffee, and bringing my space heater into play. You might be thinking, “Well, why the heck are you in Montana?” Valid question. The truth is, Big Sky Country has too many redeeming qualities to leave behind, and there’s something oddly satisfying about surviving a Montana winter. You come out of it like a champion, ready to brag about it to anyone within earshot.

But here’s the wild part...our winters now? They’ve got nothing on Montana’s past. Not that long ago, this state was practically locked in an ice age. We’re talking about a time called the Little Ice Age. It lasted roughly from 1300 to the mid-1800s, and scientists say volcanic eruptions and low sunspot activity helped trigger the deep freeze.

Imagine temperatures so frigid that the Missouri River stayed frozen solid for months. Records from explorers like Lewis and Clark describe nights hitting -45°F in the early 1800s. That’s the kind of cold where boiling water thrown in the air turns into snow instantly.

Here are a few chilly fun facts about Montana to really put it in perspective:

So next time you’re scraping ice off your windshield in Bozeman and muttering under your breath, just remember, it could be worse.