|
|
Camping In Montana With Aliens
Ten minutes out of town, we found the dirt road that goes up to Storm Lake. We had been there before, shortly after moving to Anaconda, Montana. The road was hard on the car, but we couldn't resist going. This time we would hike up to the tundra and stay the night. My wife Ana had never been camping above the treeline.
There were a couple cars, but nobody in sight. The lake was sparkling in the sunlight, and the mountains of the Anaconda-Pintler range rose up all around it. It was quiet and cool here at 8,000 feet. We put on our packs and started up the trail. Twenty minutes later we were past the lake, and the trail steepened.
Hiking With Guns In Montana
After an hour of zig-zagging up the mountain we met another hiker. We talked briefly, and noticed the handgun on his belt. This is common in Montana. We've seen guns on the hiking trails and in the bars, and the bank tellers don't even blink when customers walk in wearing guns - they probably have their own.
We never did ask this hiker why he had one, and didn't find out until later that there are grizzlies in the area at times, something some "experts," have denied. At least we had our freon horn to blast if we met a bear, but then maybe that would just get the bear angry.
The trees got smaller as we climbed, and ended just before Storm Lake Pass. Ana waited patiently at the pass while I ran the five minutes - which became twenty - up to the peak of Mount Tiny, about 10,000 feet high. Small, compared to some of the surrounding mountains, but it seemed almost rude to give a beautiful mountain a name like that.
Later, past goat meadow, Ana waited again while I scrambled up the rocks to the top of Kurt Peak (also about 10,000 feet). I couldn't find the route where I came up, so I went back up, then down the west side and finally back north to the grassy slope where Ana was waiting.
Maybe it was foolish to leave Ana alone. Just three months later, two boys were attacked by a mountain lion on the hill just behind the town of Anaconda. The fourteen-year-old fired his gun to scare it off. Both boys were probably larger than my gunless wife. Fortunately, we didn't meet any cougars or bears on this hike, but Ana had other things to worry about.
Camping With Aliens In Montana
"I hear voices," she told me in the tent that night. I assured her there was nobody within ten miles of us, and then she was worried about aliens landing in the meadow. Well, it would make a good landing site. The wind threatened to shred the tent all night, sounding like the whispers or screams of ghosts - or aliens. By morning the wind relented, but it was well below freezing - time to get Ana home.
Despite the cold she hates so much, Ana couldn't help stopping to take in the view as we crossed the high meadows on our way home. Mountains, grey with rock, green with grass and flowers, and painted with white patches of snow, were everywhere. Lakes sat in valleys below, unvisited for weeks at a time. We'll be back there again, but perhaps with bear spray and alien repellant.
Notes:
Forty-five miles of the Continental Divide Trail pass through the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness. Other trails in the area are never heavily used. You can easily find mountains and whole valleys where you'll be the only human residents for as long as you stay.
About the Author
Steve Gillman hit the road at sixteen, and traveled the U.S. and Mexico alone at 17. Now 40, he travels with his wife Ana, whom he met in Ecuador. To read their stories, tips and travel information, visit: http://www.EverythingAboutTravel.com
Camping In Montana With Aliens
-
Top 2 Reasons Why Motorhomes Are The Wave Of The Future
Seeing the country (or even the world) in style ispossible with a motorhome. They've been expensive and probably will remain sofor a long time. A tank of gas, financially,doesn't go as far as it used to, but it certainly isn't that badconsidering all the place it can take you. This country is huge and soare the number of attractions that you could see in a motorhome.Motorhomes have always been popular among the more mobile of ourpopulation, but recent models have shown that manufacturers havebeen producing incredible automotive works of art.
-
A Few Tips for Camping Newbies.
*Depending upon your adventure [ hiking/canoeing/car camping ]don't take along every thing including the kitchen sink, that'swhy you go camping in the first place; to get away from it all!.......but always allow for the worst thing that could happenbecause sometimes it will; freezing cold, sick kids,pouringrain,insect pests,strong winds can all spoil a great time if youare not prepared for the worst and always take along thesunscreen/hat and mozzie repellent. *Obviously these notes are only a very broad outline....but youhave to start somewhere........
-
Camping In Montana With Aliens
The wind threatened to shred the tent all night, sounding like the whispers or screams of ghosts - or aliens. Camping With Aliens In Montana "I hear voices," she told me in the tent that night. Later, past goat meadow, Ana waited again while I scrambled up the rocks to the top of Kurt Peak (also about 10,000 feet).
-
Motor Home Living Part 1
But we now have virtual careers available and the cards dealt to us can allow us to look outside the box. Motor Home Living - Part 1 So here we are, in our forties, the kids have moved out, and we are tired of the rat race. Well that went to pot. This will be a 8 month project for us to get ready.
-
Great Family Camping Trips Make Excellent Traditions
There are excellent baby back carriers available allowing you to hike all sorts of terrain with baby in tow while keeping your back feeling comfortable, as well there are a numerous variety of baby strollers to select from which are great for using on trails. Once you arrive at your destination and set up you want to keep everyone as comfortable and happy as possible, whether its keeping the kids occupied without the use of video games or cooking a surefire dinner.
-
Travel at ease with Motor Home
Motor homes are great for camping, road trips, and simply living in style. It is quite expensive and is only necessary if you require thousands of miles of weekly travel, month after month. Following is a list of basic motor home types with brief descriptions. This means a complete motor home body mounted on a chassis provided by a truck manufacturing company.
-
Driving Your Motorhome For The First Time
O around the Motorhome campsite for any articles left there. Always obey rules and regulation and use common sense. Make sure you park level at the campsite. When traveling without reservation, the earlier in the day you stop, the better are your chances to get to a good campground.
|
|
|
