The Triple Rock Ranch is in western Montana (USA) , situated in a rural mountain valley on the banks of the Big Blackfoot River. Our log home sits on the edge of a wooded grove with open pastures filled with native prairie grasses out the back. A lush, natural and undeveloped state forest of mature fir, Ponderosa pine and tamarack lies directly across the river from the house. The land totals 31 acres, with 1800' of river frontage. Originally built in 1992, it was significantly expanded in 2001.

Set in an exceptionally private location, the house has approximately 3300 square feet of living space, with three bedrooms, three full baths, sauna, jacuzzi, and a 110 foot long covered deck overlooking the river. There are no mosquitos, so the porches are all open air without screens. The only "pests" are the dozens of hummingbirds that buzz around the decks. The great room is 50 feet long with a 21 foot vaulted ceiling at one end. This room includes a fireplace, TV viewing area, reading nook, flytying table, billiards table, computer nook, and Internet access via a high speed wireless network. The bar overlooks the river and is made from the trunk of a lightning-killed Ponderosa pine found next to the house. It also has a unique freestanding curved log stairway (purported to be the largest of its type in the country) leading up to the second floor. Upstairs are three bedrooms, one of which is a loft bedroom. The two-person "Soft Tub" jacuzzi in the main bedroom is set against a window wall overlooking the river.

The home has all amenities -- large fully equipped modern kitchen, washer/dryer, two gas fireplaces, and a 2-car garage. There is a gas cook grille on the east deck. There is also a 100 year old restored historic Homesteader's Cabin that sleeps 4 located just 30 paces from the main house. A 2-person hammock hangs between two shady Douglas fir trees along the river's bank. A stone firepit is situated between the main house and the Homesteader's Cabin, with plenty of firewood stacked nearby. This makes a wonderful place to barbeque or to gather around a fire at night while gazing at the incredible Montana night sky.

The home has central air conditioning, but it rarely comes on because of the great insulating value of the logs. There is a robust but very quiet propane-powered generator that provides backfup electricity for the entire residence should there be a prolonged electrical outage.

A new barn was built in April 2006. Two horses, an Arabian and a quarter horse, have taken up residence.

The house was featured in the July '04 Log Home Living magazine, but unfortunately the magazine no longer has the listing online.

The home is situated in Nine Mile Prairie, a small, genteel valley at the juncture of the Garnet, Swan, and Mission Mountain ranges in western Montana. There are a few vacation homes about a half mile away, but they are rarely occupied. The property abuts a 1000-acre cattle ranch with their farmhouse 2 miles away across the valley. This family makes wonderful neighbors. Our other neighbor is a 37000-acre (that's about 60 square miles! ) world-class 5-star resort, "The Resort at Paws Up Ranch", which takes up most of the rest of the valley. The resort has two great restuarants and a bar, all located at the resort headquarters 6 miles away. They also have a full-service health spa, set up in very posh tents in a grove of Ponderosa pines near the river. Seeley Lake, the closest town, is 25 miles to the northeast. Missoula, home to the University of Montana, is 35 miles west.

The Big Blackfoot River, less than 100 feet from our front door, is probably the most scenic river in a state known for its scenic rivers. This river was the basis for Norman McLean's novella and Robert Redford's subsequent movie "A River Runs Through It". One of Mr. McLean's favorite fishing spots is on the property (in past years he was a frequent guest here, sitting on deck of the Homesteader's Cabin, sipping whisky and spinning yarns with his friends while waiting for the evening hatch). The river flows past red rock cliffs, some of which can be seen from the deck, and through several canyons and prairies. It has a great mix of challenging whitewater rapids (the 2004 U. S. National Whitewater Canoe Championship was held 4 miles upstream) interspersed with smooth pools of deep, gin-clear water.

The Big Blackfoot River is considered a "Blue Ribbon" trout fishing river, one of 12 in Montana. Several species of trout, including some enormous bull trout (over 15 pounds) can be caught right in front of the house. Despite this, you could walk the banks fishing for a week and not run into another fisherman.

There is a wide variety of wildlife in the area. Bald and golden eagles regularly cruise by at eye level of anyone sitting on the deck. Try that with your favorite music playing on the outside speakers while watching the river and the wildlife in the waning light of a Montana evening, and you'll experience just about the finest way there is to do nothing.

Deer and elk are regular visitors, sometimes grazing within a few feet of the house. You'll hear coyotes at night in the distant hills, along with the occasional wolf. Bighorn sheep frequently graze on the side of the road.

Missoula, a smallish (50, 000 pop.) but classy college town, is 40 minutes away on a quality highway (plus 4 miles of gravel road to reach it) .

The old mining town of Garnet, Montana's most intact ghost town, is located nearby, high in the Garnet Mountains and a somewhat thrilling 13-mile gravel road drive from here.

Our "town" of Greenough (pop. 83) is located in western Montana, right in the middle of the Rocky Mountains and close to many famous regions. Glacier National Park is a beautiful 3-hour drive north. Yellowstone Park is a beautiful 4-hour drive south.

Nine Mile Prairie was travelled by the Lewis and Clark party 200 years ago during their epic voyage across the North American continent. They actually traversed our property on July 5, 1806. If they returned today, they would easily recognize the area as little has changed in the intervening centuries.

The weather here is typically beautiful. Summers are dry and sunny with warm days (85-90 deg. Farenheit) and cool nights (40-50 deg. Farenheit) which make for great sleeping with open windows. Humidity is 10-15%. Winters are stunningly beautiful -- cold, crisp, clean, quiet and very white. There is even more viewable wildlife during the winter, as the river becomes their only unfrozen water source.

We have two sturdy 4-wheel drive vehicles (2011 Subaru Outback, 2005 Ford F150 4-door SuperCrew pickup truck) that could be made available in an exchange.

Swaps need not be simultaneous. we can always find someplace to go while you are here.

Open to any new and interesting ideas..

We are Jerry and Deborah. I (Jerry) ran a software business for 22 years, but traded that hectic lifestyle for a more serene one in "Big Sky" country. Deborah is a marketing consultant, telecommuting for a large New York-based business.

We both enjoy fishing, hiking, whitewater rafting, and travelling. We have several dogs that enjoy life here as much as we do. We also have two horses, Flash and Kilcullen.

The dogs will be elsewhere during an exchange. The horses will be here but are very self-sufficient with an automatic waterer and plenty of graze.