Jerry, I remember starting the morning, by finding out I forgot to pack coffee. It was looking pretty grim, but you came to the rescue. It was a good trip after that. - Brad
Brad
My Journey
- Thread starter YukonMontanaTannerTrapper
- Start date
Brad
jmnielsen
Tinkerer
@JerryYukonMontanaTanner Landlocked public land is a huge issue (especiialy within the hunting community) that has yet to be solved. There is currently over 6.3 million acres of state owned public land that are landlocked by private land with no access and over 9.5 million acres of federally owned land.
In a situation like yours, they basically do own the land but without paying anything for it.
Edited to add this: https://www.trcp.org/unlocking-publ...tm_medium=slider&utm_campaign=_hpslider080520
In a situation like yours, they basically do own the land but without paying anything for it.
Edited to add this: https://www.trcp.org/unlocking-publ...tm_medium=slider&utm_campaign=_hpslider080520
Pacific Northwest yetti
Expedition Medic
I have been on both sides of the issue, Unfortunately the majority of those who are on it are not as respectable and careful as Jerry and those here. The bad ones, bugger it up for the good honest ones.
Ive had gates left open, so bulls get in the wrong area, breeding in the wrong season. Livestock that is able to get off property, People who are not careful with firearms, shooting livestock, dogs,stock tanks, starting fires, leaving trash out. Destroying fences, domestic dogs chasing and killing calves, and sheep. if someone gets hurt on your property you can be held liable, even if it was their fault. ( Like, trying to pet a cow) As crazy as it sounds, cows kill about 20/ppl year on average.
I dont know what the answer is, its a fine balancing act for sure.
We always tried to allow it, for example the ranch I grew up on has a amazing mountain bike single track trail, we have open to the public... But again, all those things listed above happened there as well..
Some places do a permit, and check in, check out thing- but thats almost a full time job in itself.
Ive had gates left open, so bulls get in the wrong area, breeding in the wrong season. Livestock that is able to get off property, People who are not careful with firearms, shooting livestock, dogs,stock tanks, starting fires, leaving trash out. Destroying fences, domestic dogs chasing and killing calves, and sheep. if someone gets hurt on your property you can be held liable, even if it was their fault. ( Like, trying to pet a cow) As crazy as it sounds, cows kill about 20/ppl year on average.
I dont know what the answer is, its a fine balancing act for sure.
We always tried to allow it, for example the ranch I grew up on has a amazing mountain bike single track trail, we have open to the public... But again, all those things listed above happened there as well..
Some places do a permit, and check in, check out thing- but thats almost a full time job in itself.
The same issue with the Crazy Mountains. Places where public land is land locked. Wealthy ranchers have had people arrested and caused rangers to loose their jobs or be re-assigned. They are sitting at the table. Half Moon Campground on the East side requires you to cross a dude ranch. Open and close the gate behind you. At least one civilized person.
Spell check sucks. Last post was supposed to be "views" not fees. Ha!
Spell check sucks. Last post was supposed to be "views" not fees. Ha!
YukonMontanaTannerTrapper
Explorer
Brad.....yep, I really enjoyed that weekend.....I don't have those opportunities often.....
jmnielsen.....you mentioned hunting in your post.....I read online that there's a herd of approximately 700 elk that reside in that area that I speak of and they're basically his. And I've heard that to be a local issue with hunters around Lewistown, Montana.....
Arjan.....like PNWY says, there's two sides to the issue.....not an easy answer.....
PNWY.....I understand completely but here's what I'm thinking. I don't know for sure but I'm guessing that they have locked up all of maybe 50 miles of access excluding 2 or 3 access points (I think.....I don't know for sure). These owners, being multi billionaires, could easily afford to devise a system to give people foot access to the public lands through their property. Where there's a will, there's a way.....but that's simply the thinking of a simple man.....
JD.....oh.....I couldn't figure it out.....
We continued driving in an easterly direction until we connected with Red Hill Road.....and here we headed north on Red Hill Road back towards Lewistown, Montana....driving up into the mountains.....
Red Hill Road divides the Big Snowy Mountains which are to the west, and the Little Snowy Mountains which are to the east.....
I had hoped at some point that we would leave the N Bar Ranch behind but we seemed to drive forever.....and the No Trespassing signs never ended.....
It seemed as though by far the only traffic on this road were the farmhands.....lots of tractors and semis hauling hay down the road.....
Once we got to the high point of Red Hill Road and I realized that there really was nothing here.....
.....I just pulled over to the side of the road and decided to make that spot my camp for the night. Ranch hands passed by.....they all simply waved and we spent a great night camped on the high point between the two Snowy Mountain Ranges.....
jmnielsen.....you mentioned hunting in your post.....I read online that there's a herd of approximately 700 elk that reside in that area that I speak of and they're basically his. And I've heard that to be a local issue with hunters around Lewistown, Montana.....
Arjan.....like PNWY says, there's two sides to the issue.....not an easy answer.....
PNWY.....I understand completely but here's what I'm thinking. I don't know for sure but I'm guessing that they have locked up all of maybe 50 miles of access excluding 2 or 3 access points (I think.....I don't know for sure). These owners, being multi billionaires, could easily afford to devise a system to give people foot access to the public lands through their property. Where there's a will, there's a way.....but that's simply the thinking of a simple man.....
JD.....oh.....I couldn't figure it out.....
We continued driving in an easterly direction until we connected with Red Hill Road.....and here we headed north on Red Hill Road back towards Lewistown, Montana....driving up into the mountains.....
Red Hill Road divides the Big Snowy Mountains which are to the west, and the Little Snowy Mountains which are to the east.....
I had hoped at some point that we would leave the N Bar Ranch behind but we seemed to drive forever.....and the No Trespassing signs never ended.....
It seemed as though by far the only traffic on this road were the farmhands.....lots of tractors and semis hauling hay down the road.....
Once we got to the high point of Red Hill Road and I realized that there really was nothing here.....
.....I just pulled over to the side of the road and decided to make that spot my camp for the night. Ranch hands passed by.....they all simply waved and we spent a great night camped on the high point between the two Snowy Mountain Ranges.....
YukonMontanaTannerTrapper
Explorer
The following day we finally came across our first access point to the Big Snowy Mountains.....but without internet access I had no idea where this trail would lead us.....we moved on.....
The next access point that we encountered.....well, this one I was familiar with.....
A woman I met the previous day told me to take this trail.....she said that she just loved it.....it was her favorite.....
The trail passed through a dense forest which was filled with massive stone walls.....
Eventually the trail dropped down into a canyon.....
.....and followed the meanders of a creek.....and what was remarkable here was the manner in which the creek disappeared into the rocks and further downstream it would reappear.....
I'm assuming that this is once again the actions of the water flowing through the limestone base. In the next picture is a spot where a water spout shot up through the dry creek bed. It made a sound like someone gargling forever and ever.....Tanner was totally freaked out by that sound.....
Lots of amazing rock features along the trail.....
.....and a forest floor covered in wonderful colors.....
The next access point that we encountered.....well, this one I was familiar with.....
A woman I met the previous day told me to take this trail.....she said that she just loved it.....it was her favorite.....
The trail passed through a dense forest which was filled with massive stone walls.....
Eventually the trail dropped down into a canyon.....
.....and followed the meanders of a creek.....and what was remarkable here was the manner in which the creek disappeared into the rocks and further downstream it would reappear.....
I'm assuming that this is once again the actions of the water flowing through the limestone base. In the next picture is a spot where a water spout shot up through the dry creek bed. It made a sound like someone gargling forever and ever.....Tanner was totally freaked out by that sound.....
Lots of amazing rock features along the trail.....
.....and a forest floor covered in wonderful colors.....
YukonMontanaTannerTrapper
Explorer
Arjan.....thank you.....
JD.....it's odd that this area reminds so much of the Yucatan Pennisula in Mexico.....they're so different yet similar. The stone in these mountains are so porous that it creates amazing features much the same.....
ITTOG.....yep, nice trail and probably got a lot better.....we only hiked a few miles of it and turned back due to the time of day.....
Now it was time to complete the circle.....
.....and now we were back on Red Hill Road headed north.....
We passed through miles of a perfect mix of forests and ranch lands.....
Eventually the road descended from the mountain pass and we traveled through a picturesque valley where the fields were a lush green from the daily waterings .....
Such a beautiful drive on a road we shared with few others.....I couldn't have been more pleased with my decision to circumnavigate the Big Snowy Mountains.....
JD.....it's odd that this area reminds so much of the Yucatan Pennisula in Mexico.....they're so different yet similar. The stone in these mountains are so porous that it creates amazing features much the same.....
ITTOG.....yep, nice trail and probably got a lot better.....we only hiked a few miles of it and turned back due to the time of day.....
Now it was time to complete the circle.....
.....and now we were back on Red Hill Road headed north.....
We passed through miles of a perfect mix of forests and ranch lands.....
Eventually the road descended from the mountain pass and we traveled through a picturesque valley where the fields were a lush green from the daily waterings .....
Such a beautiful drive on a road we shared with few others.....I couldn't have been more pleased with my decision to circumnavigate the Big Snowy Mountains.....
YukonMontanaTannerTrapper
Explorer
Before we left the dirt & gravel of Red Hill Road behind, Tanner and I parked the rig on the side of the road and we walked together just taking it all in.....
Further along Red Hill Road we came across the East Fork Reservoir and of course we made a stop here and Tanner & I both jumped right in.....those cool waters were the cure for what ailed us.....a heavy layer of dirt and dust.....
And finally the circle was completed.....we had returned to Lewistown, Montana.....
It was good to be "home" once again.....we walked the streets as we always do.....
We made another new friend in Lewistown, Montana. I can honestly say that I've encountered few towns with so many friendly people.....
This guy had a sad story.....his 35 year old daughter had died in her sleep just the week prior. Seventy one years old he was, and now he's considered a new good friend in my book. He told me to come to his house for a visit.....and he's not the only one here that has passed on that same invitation.....this is true Montana.....
I came here to the Big Snowy Mountains to visit an ice cave.....but I've been blessed with so much more.....
Further along Red Hill Road we came across the East Fork Reservoir and of course we made a stop here and Tanner & I both jumped right in.....those cool waters were the cure for what ailed us.....a heavy layer of dirt and dust.....
And finally the circle was completed.....we had returned to Lewistown, Montana.....
It was good to be "home" once again.....we walked the streets as we always do.....
We made another new friend in Lewistown, Montana. I can honestly say that I've encountered few towns with so many friendly people.....
This guy had a sad story.....his 35 year old daughter had died in her sleep just the week prior. Seventy one years old he was, and now he's considered a new good friend in my book. He told me to come to his house for a visit.....and he's not the only one here that has passed on that same invitation.....this is true Montana.....
I came here to the Big Snowy Mountains to visit an ice cave.....but I've been blessed with so much more.....
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blanketslayer
Member
I'm hoping to hit Montana for my 40th next year and these posts have me wondering if I will want to leave. Glacier is a place that I've wanted to visit for a long time, and maybe Lewistown and the Big Snowy area will hopefully be a part of that trip.
