On The Road w/ KC ~ August 6 - ?

[Pskhaat]

KC, hope you have some very serious time now to think about and consider the proper window dressings for your camper.

Love reading what you have to say here, please keep 'em coming. I'm living though you right now

 

[seth_js]

...Legends of the Fall, Dances with Wolves and A River Runs Through It...

Three of my all time favorite movies.

Freak'n awesome!

 

[datrupr]

Keep it comin' KC. Now, I do not have XM, but I might have to check my Sirius for a channel along those lines. I would love to drive up there and hook up with you and compare notes, but I unfortunately spent all of my $$ on a trip to Mexico recently, so I am now broke and have no job. Perhaps if I come across a few bucks and I still have the time I will pack up and meet you in Montana. I have not been to Monana in about 15 years, I love it up there this time of year. Or, perhaps, we can compare notes another time.

 

[bootzilla]

Wow - just stumbled across this thread - beautiful country, and GREAT shots! Sounds like you are having an incredible time doing something I hope we all get the chance to do from time to time - just look and admire - nature, people - everything. :1888fbbd:

I like the Sirius, too - but if you are within earshot of Missoula again, you gotta tune in my buddies Craig and Al on 99.9 - they are great!

 

[bigreen505]

Thanks K.C.! Beautiful!

 

[Darren]

Oh man, you're killing me with your comments on part II, namely the potholed road! The pictures very much confirm you are having a stellar trip to this point. The initial God beams shot is magnificent; the one Bill pointed out with your maps, beverage and journal--perfect; then the ominous and amazingly cool cloud shot Chris mentioned is a winner for sure. Too cool you were able to meet with the WTW owner. Looks like your T has a "bit" more clearance than his F150. He may have lowered his, though, I don't know.

By the way, one year ago today I was on a pretty decent trip. I was roaming around somewhere in the Winds with you and remember it like yesterday. Good times, dude. Take care, and enjoy the rest of this trip like you know how and keep that camera at the ready--especially for any other, ah hem, hitchikers that might be walking along!

I want to live your life. My first step is to subscribe to this thread.

Too funny!

 

[kcowyo]

Darren, you're the ******** - :bowdown:

I hadn't noticed the date, nor can I believe a year has gone by already! That was a fun weekend and I'm glad we got to do a longer trip in Utah this year. Where we going next year? :jumping:

I didn't know if anyone else would like the maps picture, but I did. Took it only as a memento of what's becoming my typical morning routine but it turned out pretty well I thought.

There is some nice praise from some great photographers here. I am extremely grateful for the compliments. Those of you who know that I've shamelessly tried to take some of your style and make it mine, I hope you'll take it as the highest form of flattery.

Finally heading into the park today. Be back when I find a connection.

Thanks gents - :beer:

 

[flywgn]

Absolutely first-rate narrative and photos, KC. Keep 'em comin'!

I don't know about atheists in MT, but we agnostics don't have a problem.

We love GNP. I believe that next to the Great Basin NP it's the least visited and that means fewer persons. We tried to get into Canada via the west road last year but the border was closed. The drive up along the N Fork of the Flathead then cross at Polebridge (great tavern there for sandwich and Moose Drool) and back SE to Apgar is worth the dust and washboard.

Also, even though it's paved the Going-to-the-Sun road is well worth the hassle of tourists. Lake McDonald reminded us of the Lake District in England.

I'd say 'Have fun!' but it looks like you already know how to do that.

Allen R

 

[articulate]

Hell yeah....

Sometimes the map is right, the locals are right but the darn trail is closed anyway. I came across a few locked gates this weekend and no GPS, Supercharger, or Fridge can overcome that

The meat-n-potatoes of travel is the act of turning around and having your plans f'd up. For some reason, we keep on doing it.

Good stories, amigo:

If I put a dollar in a swear jar everytime I said "Dammit!" after hitting a pothole on the 100 mile loop around the HHR, by the end of the loop I'd have had enough money to pay to pave the whole thing. Dammit!

I was just reliving some tales the other day: every time we came into a little pueblito in Mexico, we'd forgotten all about the notorious speed bumps the Mexicans place in the middle of the highway. "Topes" is the Spanish word. We renamed them in Spanglish to "fuckin' topes." (sorry, don't let your kids read this...)

Which must be evidence of your nickname for me...

MarkF'nStephens

 

[oly884]

KC, you have no idea how excited you're getting me to get my FWC!!! Glacier is amazing, no questions asked. I plan on doing many trips to that side of the state.

 

[kcowyo]

Greetings from Libby, Montana!

This is my first stop and access to the outside world since last week. Libby is just a stopping point on my way to somewhere else but the library had wi-fi so I thought it time to check in.

Over the last week I had a surreal experience, a truly singular adventure in Montana. Although slightly prone to dramatics for the sake of decent storytelling, I cannot over emphasize the significance of the week I spent in Polebridge, Montana. I'm only a day away from it and have not fully processed all that happened and all that I've taken from the my time there. For now, I was searching for the solitude that you find at the end of the road but then found something truly special on the outer fringe and among the souls who flourish there. More on this week later.


"The injustice of travel is having to choose to stay or go."
- read on the Outhouse wall at the North Fork Hostel

"It's never a bad idea to carry two campfire chairs, even when travelling alone."
- KC



Part III -

• Entered Glacier National Park on Tuesday 8/15, via the west entrance
• Quick trip over the bumper to bumper filled, Going to the Sun Road. Yes, you should do it. No, I probably won't do it again
• Visited the majestic lodge at Many Glacier. As scenic as GTSRoad, but less crowded
• The famous Weeping Wall, wasn't. In fact, it was rather stoic due to recent drought conditions
• Made it within 7 miles of Canada on the Chief Mountain International Highway. Fun to think desertdude & desertgirl were on this same remote road just a few weeks ago
• The drought contributed greatly to the recent fires here on the east side of the park. Over 30K acres burned, as recently as last week. Saw several areas where the highway was still black from the fire jumping the road
• So most everything on that side of the park was extremely smokey and hazey, hampering pics and contributed to making the trip into Glacier so far quite underwhelming
• Start the day with a bad attitude (generators fall under the quiet hours policy, people!) and it will ruin your day, even in Montana
• Determined to not let my piss poor attitude ruin a trip I've been wating to make for years, I sought out the most remote spot in the area I can find. Somewhere I can chill out, give the gas card a break and let the annoyance of people wear away
• About 15 miles past the end of the road is Kintla Lake. Crystal clear water, rugged mountains and a serene setting for the ravaged soul. It was here that I made a friend, who changed not only the trip itself but made a significant impact on me as well. We journeyed to Polebridge together and both found that sometimes what you thought you didn't want, is exactly what you need.

For the perv's in the group, this wasn't some weird tantric sex thing, it was more than physical satisfaction. This was some deep **** that forced me to reexamine several things in my life. You've heard of that pop psychology craptacular book Chicken Soup for the Soul? This would be more like River for the Soul. Actually this past week was more like "Twilight Zone meets Big Fish" with Tim Burton in the directors chair.....


Until I can put it all together, here are a few interesting things that will be a part of the story about my time in Polebridge -

• The Guardian of the North Fork of the Flathead River
• A former dude ranch, now a Hostel
• Freekbass
• Huckleberry Bearclaws
• A smoking hot Brit with an old soul
• Polebridge Electric Company
• A three legged dog
• the Northern Lights Saloon
• Clinton Ferron and friends
• A liter of Crown Royal
• A 50 year old transgendered barmaid
• the Indian Medicine Wheel
• a double rainbow
• Three Little Birds
• 2 lawyers from Cali
• a 1963 RHD Land Rover SIIA
• Aurorafest 2006
• And, I feel a little bit better....

Some pics of things I've seen -

 

[kcowyo]

Oh yes, formal stats -

Total miles so far - 1,964
Total days on this trip - 16
Total nights camped - 15
Total states visited - 3 (WY, MT & briefly Idaho)
Total hot hitchhikers seen - 2
Total corndogs digested - I don't want to know


Plans from here including messing around MT for a few more days before making my way into Idaho via Lolo Pass, near Missoula, MT. Fires and smoke will determine my route.

...a few more pics -

 

[flywgn]

KC, your choice of subjects, photos, and journal entries are a treat to view and read. Many thanks!

Glad you made it to Polebridge and met Tripod.

Allen R.

 

[seth_js]

Hell yeah man, keep on keep'n on. Now I gotta pick my favorite of the lot... hmm, decisions decisions. I think I'm gonna go with this one:

 

[Pskhaat]

Dude, I am so in awe! And dearly need some stories from you over the campfire soon.