Montana is downwind of Mt St Helen's, being only one mountain range away. Additionally, it is heavily forested and has in the past beenm plagued with forest fires. That could account for to what you are referring.
More likely though, "micro-soot polution" in Montana would be coming from from "power plants, car exhaust, diesel-burning trucks,(especially)and wood-burning stoves among other sources" (quoted from the New York Post).
No, sadly. I live there only in my dreams. It's like tourist Hawaii - I visited Montana once and fell in love with the wide open spaces and crystal clean lakes. I spent the night in under a Hop Cap in the bed of a 73 Ranchero and have always wanted to return.
Dreams and reality seldom marry and when they do, the divorce is often messy.
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"I intend to live forever -- so far, so good."
