Slowing down and having fun. Back to Montana with ROF September 2024

[WU7X]

David planning for the next adventure.​

Bella wants to see what kind of cocktail Ben is enjoying.​

Our campsite borders Mill Creek. The sound emanating from the water passing over the stony channel is nature's symphony playing just for us.

Each of us brings a special skillset to the group. I want to mention Terri here. First of all, she is a retired EMT and having her with this group gives an assurance of prompt and proper first aid should the need arise. Second, she is one of the two best navigators I have ever been with while overlanding. While driving down any road you will find her with the proper Benchmark map on her lap and us giving pertinent and exact information about the countryside we are passing through. She reads a topographic map better than me, a retired field geologist. Third, she appears to be a gourmet cook. Every night I watched in amazement as David was feted with pork chops, or steak, or BBQ ribs, with all the trimmings. Each meal was incredible, each exquisite! Oh, one final thing; she is always adding to her field notes. Brava Terri!

Having good meals is a treat while overlanding. When I was a field geologist and on my own, I wasn't renowned for my culinary skills. Having a great cook like my Nancy along for the ride has changed everything. Prior to leaving she had prepared enough meals for every day we planned on being out. We froze the portions and we ate like royalty. We had so much food we had some left over when we made it home. I didn't lose any weight on this trip. Today there is no reason for eating Beanie Weenies or potato chips while in the field.

 

[WU7X]

DAY SEVEN, another easy day in camp.

The nights up here are cool. The days so far have been sunny. The smoke hardly noticeable. I'm beginning to notice that at my age this slightly higher elevation taps a bit of my endurance. I'm spending too much time in the chair. After a lazy morning breakfast I decide to take Bella for a walk up the two track leading past our campsite. It's a pretty good climb but Bella is scampering around enjoying all the new sights and smells. Ever wonder what it would be like having the olfactory capabilities of a dog? This area is captivating in its natural beauty. I walk for a bit, see something interesting, take a couple of pictures and catch my breath, then walk on.

 

[Ace Brown]

For me, maybe Gary too, the highlite of the trip was Branham Lakes. Two small glacial lakes nested in a bowl at 10,000 ft with towering granite peaks all around. Gary and I arrived at the lower of the two lakes where I promptly aired up my SUP and went paddling for a couple of hours. Of course my dog Kenda accompanied me. The campground at the upper lake was very small and laid out mostly for tent camping. When some folks left Gary and i moved up. My site was just big enough for truck and trailer. It was truly one of the best camping spots I have found. I could have stayed a week easily but mother nature had other plans. Overnight the nearby fire had jumped a ridge bringing it closer but the real problem was fairly heavy smoke coming right into camp. I really wanted to stay but when a firefighter came in and said there was no immediate danger but be ready I decided to move out. Gary had already moved down. So I hastily packed up and moved down well below the fire n smoke. Never did see any of our group down below. That morning we broke up and scattered.

Few shots at Branham Lakes.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[WU7X]

 

[WU7X]

DAY SEVEN continued...

Ace's pictures and comments above are exactly why I had wanted to get the group up there. I am so jealous Ace!

While Ace and Gary are up at the lakes the rest of us continue our lazy ways down below. At some point in time Gary shows up and sets up camp. He gives us the lowdown about the fire fighters, the change in the fire, etc. We are glad to see him. Ace drove down later, but missed where we were at. Lesson learned; always leave one of your radios on if the group splits up. Ace tried to contact by his ham radio but we had turned all our radios off. Still wish we could have made it up there.

This was going to be our last day/night together. Ben had to get to Bozeman the next day to pick up his wife. David and Terri, of course, would be going with him. Nancy let me know very gently that seven nights in a tent was enough for her on this trip, thank you very much. So our journey together would end in the morning. I was alright with that. This whole trip had been so enjoyable and relaxing, even with our several mishaps.

So the last afternoon and evening was spent chatting and having a good time together. As a fitting closure to our trip, we finally got a nice little rain storm pass through in the evening. That put the cork in the bottle of seven sunny days out in the Last Best Place.

David, Terri, Ben and his wife continued on together north of Yellowstone NP. Perhaps they can pick up the discussion from here.

Nancy, Terri and David thinking about new places to go next year.​

Gary, Ben, Bella and Dale enjoying our last day together.
​

 

[WU7X]

DAY Eight:

It is really hard to say goodbye to such a fine group of friends. David, Terri, and Ben headed north to Bozeman. Gary headed south. And Nanc and I headed west to Spokane. Gary extended his adventures by going through Death Valley on his way home! Ace will have to catch everyone up on his homeward adventures. I hope David and Terri do the same. Once back on blacktop, Nanc and I chugged up toward Butte. Garmin took us on a shortcut south of I90. It was another of those fantastic winding roads through the mountains. We were delayed a couple of times due to road work, but were really in no hurry. Just meandering along this two lane with little traffic instead of the interstate was well worth the wait.

Closing in on Missoula we ran into that wall of smoke once more. I can't imagine what the Bitterroot Valley and surrounding mountains are going to look like after the devastation caused by all these fires.



The trip home was really going along nicely. We made our obligatory stop in St Regis to get a cheeseburger and chocolate shake. We've been doing this for at least 40 years. When you leave the interstate at St Regis take a right at the four way stop. There is a little burger joint just to your left. A cute statute of Betty Boop stands in front and waves you in. It's a great place for a pretty good burger and shake, and to get the cramps out of your sore butt before the long jog over Lookout pass to Wallace, Couer d'Alene, and finally Spokane.



That's about it from me for this adventure. I think next year we should look at Colorado. Haven't been there in awhile. Hey Ben, come along and bring your wife!

 

[Pacific Northwest yetti]

I know that burger joint, I have stopped there a few times. Changed owners quite a bit. Now goes by "Winki's Diner"

 

[WU7X]

I know that burger joint, I have stopped there a few times. Changed owners quite a bit. Now goes by "Winki's Diner"

Yep, that's the place. It now has circular picnic tables with umbrellas! Talk about five star!

If you like commercial hot springs, head north from St Regis and spend a night or two at Quinn's Hot Springs and Resort.

 

[WU7X]

I just remembered the name of the restaurant in Dillon that we went to, and would recommend: Sparky's.

 

[Foy]

A little tardy on catching up on the ROF trip report and you folks certainly did not disappoint! I've got too much truck + camper to go along but it's sure compelling when folks like Dave and Terri are along! Cooking and navigating!--if Terri could read a geologic map she'd be pretty much the perfect Montana travel partner. And I can't guess how many hours I've spent in a camp chair with my Benchmark on my lap as Dave was pictured doing.
Great stuff, ROF Class of 2024!

Foy