Montana: One long day

[ttora4runner]

“What am I thinking” crossed my mind as my alarm buzzed at 2:45 am. “Is this trip really going to be worth it?” was my second thought as I laid there thinking about the upcoming five and half hour drive up to Bannack, Montana and the surrounding area. As I pulled myself from bed I told myself “Yes, it's going to be worth it.” After packing a few things for the trip I was out the door a little before 4am to start the drive.

The weeks up to this I had been thinking were to go for Memorial Day wanting to get away for a day or two. I had thought about heading back to Dinosaur National Monument to do some hikes or head to Great Basin National Park or back the 4-Corner region for another visit. For one reason or another none of those places felt right even though those areas offer many areas to explore and get away from it all.

After a recent trip to Great Falls, Montana to deliver some construction supplies to a job site I learned of a Ghost Town located just off I-15 SW of Dillon, Montana. Bannack State Park. Since none of my other choices seem to work for me I made the decision to head north into parts unknown. With all the weird weather that we had as of late I kept careful watch to make sure all would be good for the trip. Always keeping plan B in the back of my head. With the 40-50% percent chance of rain/snow I made the decision to chance it and head on out.

At 4am you don't see many people on roads besides some truckers and those crazy souls like myself out and about. The trip up was pretty uneventful. Once out of Idaho Falls vehicle traffic died off quite a bit with the occasion car zipping on by. Once reaching the Montanan border traffic died off even more with stretches of road with you being the only soul driving on.

As I neared my turn off dark clouds loomed in the background for where my afternoon adventure would take me but for now the skies where still clear with the occasional cloud. The route back to Bannack was via a paved road for the majority of the way with just a short stretch of dirt as you entered the park.

Fortunately, it was myself and two other couples there when I arrived. By the time I left about a dozen more families had entered the park.

Bannack State Park

View from the cemetery

Hotel Meade

2nd Floor

Looking out

Salon

Old Wagon

Old International pickup

Yes, the gas tank is under the front seat

Cemetery

 

[ttora4runner]

Back in town

Ye' old church

Barn

Old jail house

For one reason or another these stairs kind of creep me out

School and Masonic Temple

2nd Floor

Before heading out of Bannack I checked with the park staff too see if they knew if the route back to Lion City was open since I was able to find little information before leaving that morning. To my dismay the route back was still closed due to amount of snow that they have received this year.

After a quick lunch I was back on the road headed to my next destination the old town-site of Farley, Montana. As I traveled down the road my mind was racing what was the weather/roads going to be like as I entered the dark clouds looming over the interstate. Too my surprise the dirt road back to Farley was dry until you reached the mouth of the canyon as a snow storm was blowing raging. Soon enough though I reached the town-site to do a little exploring. I figured the snow would just add to it all.

 

[ttora4runner]

Into the storm

Farlin, Montana

Snow storm

Watch your step

Old mine location??

Soon enough the storm passed and I was on the road again to head to the old site of Glendale, Montana just outside Melrose. Fortunately, the skies had cleared up enough to allow the sun to pier though and warm up the day.

 

[ttora4runner]

Along the route back to Glendale I came across this old cabin and just had to check it out. A quick little walk up the hill I was there. Too my surprise I came across a mine shaft that is still open just to east of the cabin with a single plank over it where it looked like an adventurous soul would venture. I'm adventurous but not the adventurous. As I was looking down into the mine a bird flew out from under some rubble scaring the crap out of me. I wasn't expecting that. Having my fill of that I was back on the road.

Creepy open mine shaft

Second cabin and foundation I came across on the way out.

Once arriving at Glendale I was a little disappointed to find that the reaming structures were surrounded by a bared wire fence. Drat! The only structure that is still accessible is an old 2 story house/store that has had the second floor ripped out and was being used for storage.

Glendale

 

[ttora4runner]

Earlier in the day I had learned that the route back to Lion City was still closed due to snow. My curiosity got the better the of me and I decided to continue on back to see how far I could get. A little ways past Glendale the road turns to a primitive road and starts to ascend up into the forest of the Pioneer Mountains. Route finding is not overally difficult and can be done in a vehicle with high ground clearance.

As I headed on the down the trail I was keeping in mind any open spaces where if I had to turn around I could. About 3/4's of the way back I ran into the first little bit of snow covering the trail but soon after I had too stop as the snow now covered the road that laid ahead.

After some thought I made the decision how ever stupid it may have been to continue on by foot seeing that I had only a little ways to go. Keeping to the sides of the trail along the tree line I made my way back along the trail.

Along the way I came across debris from an old structure that now laid littered along the hill side. After some exploring I continued on back a little further. However, the route became un-passable to those retarded enough like myself to continue on without the use of snowshoes or ski's. I thought to myself “I should've planned this a little better like the individual ahead of me who was wise enough to bring skies with him” (his tracks were still fresh and his vehicle was just down the way from where I parked).

I'm not sure what site this was – Hecla ??

Further down from the debris

End of the trail for me. Lion City will have to wait for another day.

I made short work of the trail back to my vehicle to change into a dry pair of socks and pants. To head back out towards home.

Heading back out

Not wanting to head back quite yet I decided to explore up the road a little bit from Glendale to see what laid beyond and there is a lot that lays beyond.

Once more quick stop was made in Melrose at one of the local parks by Beaver-Head river to grab a little bit of grub and to relax a bit before starting the now six and half hour drive back to Bountiful, Utah.

 

[ttora4runner]

On the way back I made two other quick stops one at an old structure that lays just off I-15 and another a bridge that for one reason or another caught my eye.

Came across this old grave that was marked by a BLM/Forest Service Marker

Bridge

There was a part of me hoping to see an old steam locomotive come across the bend bellowing smoke as it climbed

Just outside of Malad, Idaho I ran into foul weather that would last for the remainder of the trip. Once home and unpacked it was back to bed being up for almost 22hrs. Looking back at the trip I wished I would've stayed along the way to take it all in but at the same time I wouldn't change a thing.

Thanks for sticking though my ramblings. I believe this is one of my longest write-ups in along time.

I will return to Montana another day.

 

[HenryJ]

Thanks for painting the picture and taking me along. Story well told.

 

[maxama10]

:Wow1:

COOL trip! Thanks for sharing.

 

[19psi]

Very nice. I hope to make it up there one day soon.

 

[czenkov]

Nice. On our trip to Glacier last year in the Defender we saw a lot of this type of track right alongside the main highway. Your write-up makes me think this area is inundated with explore-able roads. Thanks for the pictures and details. Looks fun.

 

[rambrush]

Needless to say great info. We have 20 acres north of Wisdom towards Anaconda, we stop in Dillion on the way North and I have not found these sites yet.

Now looking at the topo's so we can do some exploring in August and check out these sites while we are up there.

Thanks for sharing

 

[Richie]

Very cool! I would love to explore the back country of Montana.

 

[Whitey]

Great stuff man. I'd love to see it someday.

 

[ttora4runner]

Thanks for the replies all. I didn't even stratch the surface on this trip of what there is too explore.

 

[Michael]

Thanks for the great report and the photos! A real change from the Yuma/Colorado River area where we last traveled I just got back from a trip to Utah a few weeks ago (Grand Staircase-Escalante) and I'll be making more trips up your way in the next year or so.