Montanoppo

"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion) 08/22/2020 at 17:58 • Filed to: None

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I was just informed by my sole (Washington) riding friend that we’ll be going to Montana in a few weeks. YOLO.

He offered to drive (Scion TC) which is good, because I don’t know how well I’d handle 900mile days in the saddle. W e’ll be leaving Wednesday afternoon and coming back Saturday evening. So really we’ll have two days of driving with two days to see Montana. Neither of us have ever been to the state.

Current plan is to head straight to Glacier N ational P ark, and spend our time there hiking and sightseeing. Is that a good plan? Any other reccomendations? Places we have to stop at on the way there (from Seattle). Killer food spots...? I’m all ears.

PowderHound > AestheticsInMotion 08/22/2020 at 18:07

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Watch out for bears. Glacier is cool but I haven’t spent much time there, only drove through briefly in winter. Whitefish/kalispell is probably the best hub for glacier and highlander Will probably have some great ideas for you there. Since you only have two days Missoula might be too far out of the way but it’s a great town. Plenty of fantastic breweries. You can do some bridge jumping. Music is usually great but there’s that whole COVID thing

For Sweden > AestheticsInMotion 08/22/2020 at 18:13

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When you share photos, tell people they were taken in Colorado.

For Sweden > PowderHound 08/22/2020 at 18:14

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It’s a 133 mile drive between Whitefish and Missoula

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > For Sweden 08/22/2020 at 18:27

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Apparently you know the drill ha ha.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > AestheticsInMotion 08/22/2020 at 18:30

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Email me at jbowland@yahoo.com With your phone number and you can crash in our spare room in the garage. There is water and a toilet in the garage.  I live about 30 minutes from Glacier and there is currently very little camping available anywhere. Seriously we don’t mind I had some coworkers crash here a month ago.

fintail > AestheticsInMotion 08/22/2020 at 18:58

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Gonna be crowded I bet. The hordes are out in force this summer.

Montana has a few Cracker Barrel, I think.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > AestheticsInMotion 08/22/2020 at 19:06

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That looks gorgeous.  Isn’t someone here in Kalispell?

Roadkilled > AestheticsInMotion 08/22/2020 at 19:30

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My wife and I drove from Seattle to Kalispell for a vacation last summer. It was a reasonable drive to complete in one day, but you will be getting in awfully late if you leave in the afternoon. It’s at least 8 hours if you include stops, and the time zone difference works against you.

Glacier was extremely crowded last summer and I wouldn’t expect it to be any better right now. The state parks and national forests in the area have good scenery and won’t be nearly as crowded.

If you want to go up to the pass in Glacier, I recommend getting to the park early, parking at Apgar and taking the shuttle. There are less crowded parts of the park, like Bowman Lake, but expect long drives on gravel roads. I was driving a Mazda 6, but some of the roads were shaking the fillings out of my teeth.

Enjoy the trip and try not to show up as an entry in the Flathead County Police Blotter.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > AestheticsInMotion 08/22/2020 at 19:34

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I could use a hand finishing my seats.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > For Sweden 08/22/2020 at 19:45

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“Yep, taken just outside Limon.  you should buy there.  It’s gorgeous...”

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 08/22/2020 at 19:47

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heh, “Free place to crash... you can help on this little restoration I’ve got going...”

< time ensues>

“Hey! There’s no doorknob on the inside of the garage doors!”

For Sweden > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish 08/22/2020 at 20:42

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Lincoln County!

‘sup

jminer > AestheticsInMotion 08/22/2020 at 20:45

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I love Montana but have spent most of my time there around Helena as that’s where a branch of my work is.

It’s beautiful, the people are nice and there aren’t many of them or tourists. There isn’t much of a food scene and everything closes at 9, it’s like a capsule in time and I love it!

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > AestheticsInMotion 08/22/2020 at 22:00

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Recommendation is that two days isn’t enough. I was just in glacier a couple weeks ago. You need a lot more time than that. Bring bear spray. Hike highline out and back for like a total of 15 miles.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 08/22/2020 at 22:04

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I know some camping spots just outside of the park on the west side at the back entrance towards apgar.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 08/22/2020 at 22:16

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The problem is now everybody know those spots and the North Fork is a shit show of rv’s and campers. Blankenship is a line of campers every night and it used to be only 2 or 3 at the bridge. We are not even going into the park right now and the east side is entirely closed by the Blackfeet tribe.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever 08/22/2020 at 22:18

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 I’m holding down the entire state of Montana for oppo. Located in Whitefish.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 08/22/2020 at 23:02

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North fork is what I was thinking of. Was just there a couple weeks ago and didn't have any issues finding spots. Only one RV in two days. Demers ridge could work too maybe.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 08/22/2020 at 23:37

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It should  be fine in September. There is a lot of land up the north fork.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 08/23/2020 at 00:50

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So many pullout spots along the road! Ours even had a pit toilet and seemed a popular shuttle spot for rafters. 

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > For Sweden 08/23/2020 at 00:53

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Your directions are wrong. They should go along the west side of the flathead lake and include a boat shuttle to wild horse island.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Roadkilled 08/23/2020 at 00:56

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Shuttles weren't running as of two weeks ago due to covid. Park is still busy. Logan pass parking was full by around 9am at the latest, and that includes pull off spots along the road within a half mile in either direction.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > For Sweden 08/24/2020 at 23:34

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midwest “close by” definitions are vastly different. 

For Sweden > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas 08/25/2020 at 09:36

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Nothing is more Midwest than...

[checking notes]

...being west of the Continental Divide. It’s basically Ohio.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > For Sweden 08/25/2020 at 12:09

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Doh.  Meant west/Midwest. Was thinking of some of the crazy distances some “out there” were traveling for oppohunt

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > AestheticsInMotion 08/30/2020 at 10:26

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So I went out to saddle mountain on Friday. The road is closed at the highway, but by a makeshift barricade that you could get a small RV around. I didn’t go further in than that, but I would imagine we could get all the way in to the trailhead/camping area.

Instead of going further in, I rode over to a locals-only type spot that you won’t find on any maps or camping apps. It’s a decent sized clearing in the forest tucked a few hundred feet back from the main road, even if you know what you’re looking for, the entrance is easy to miss, so I pinged it on the map.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/CU6nAtU7iMvZZMgy6

Don’t worry, the road is fine for the VFR, I've done it on the Monster.

AestheticsInMotion > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 08/31/2020 at 01:45

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Awesome! So camp in the hidden area and sneak through the blockade for the hike? Sounds good to me.

Did we pick a weekend already ..? I’m struggling to keep track of all these adventure plans. Not the worst problem to have!

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > AestheticsInMotion 08/31/2020 at 09:27

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You pick. I'm pretty much open. I don't usually make plans until a few days before each weekend.