Montana Campfires

Some photographs from our recent exploring and camping adventures over Memorial Day weekend in the beautiful state of Montana.

We (me and @Blackdawg and @turbodb) met up near the town of Wilsall.

IMG_4584 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4586 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4588 by mike digirat, on Flickr

Monte spotted this stray elk from our campsite. Barely got a photo before it was gone.

IMG_4589 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4593 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4597 by mike digirat, on Flickr

 

You never know what you might come across when out exploring.

IMG_4598 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4599 by mike digirat, on Flickr

From Wilsall we headed to Great Fall via a route that Lisa (@MTgirl) suggested. Was 90 miles of amazing dirt from White Sulfur Springs on Smith River rd.

IMG_4624 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4620 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4621 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4619 by mike digirat, on Flickr

 

Found this nice spot along the river to stop and get out of the trucks.

IMG_4608 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4602 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4609 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4612 by mike digirat, on Flickr

Somebody mentioned mushroom hunting and started to look around. Wow, look at all these Morels. They are everywhere.

IMG_4604 by mike digirat, on Flickr

Some of them were quite large.

IMG_4606 by mike digirat, on Flickr

Turbo doing his thing.

IMG_4617 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4618 by mike digirat, on Flickr

 

IMG_4615 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4632 by mike digirat, on Flickr

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IMG_4634 by mike digirat, on Flickr

 

Being a huge fan of the Corps of Discovery and all things Lewis & Clark, I've long had an interest in seeing some of the huge waterfalls on the Missouri river that they encountered in their explorations.

We got to check the first of the series of falls near Great Falls, Mt. Even though it is now damed, these falls are still quite impressive, especially this time of year with the high water flow.

IMG_4643 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4647 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4651 by mike digirat, on Flickr

From Meriweather Lewis' description, it must have been quite the sight to see back in 1805.

“I had proceded on this course about two miles with Goodrich at some distance behind me whin my ears were saluted with the agreeable sound of a fall of water and advancing a little further I saw the spray arrise above the plain like a collumn of smoke which would frequently dispear again in an instant caused I presume by the wind which blew pretty hard from the S. W. I did not however loose my direction to this point which soon began to make a roaring too tremendious to be mistaken for any cause short of the great falls of the Missouri.”

https://lewisandclarkjournals.unl.edu/item/lc.jrn.1805-06-13

 

After Great falls we headed to Helena. Our plan was to go from Helena to Deer Lodge without getting on pavement.

IMG_4659 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4657 by mike digirat, on Flickr

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Due to the time of year, a few re-routes were required.

IMG_4670 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4671 by mike digirat, on Flickr

 

Wow! Beautiful country (and photography) Too damn cold up there for this spoiled southerner though.

 

Thanks. Not that cold. You do see those boys wearing t-shirts and shorts right?

 

IMG_4675 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4677 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4678 by mike digirat, on Flickr

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IMG_4683 by mike digirat, on Flickr

 

IMG_4687 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4688 by mike digirat, on Flickr

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IMG_4700 by mike digirat, on Flickr

 

Due to time constraints, we move ahead in our program...

After Deer Lodge, we pounded pavement so we could get to our last campfire of the weekend. We found a nice spot at the top of hill with awesome views in all directions.

IMG_4727 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4721 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4722 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4719 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4715 by mike digirat, on Flickr

As we started to relax and settle in, we realized the evening light was getting to be amazing. so we all jumped up and grabbed our cameras.

IMG_4724 by mike digirat, on Flickr

 

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IMG_4734 by mike digirat, on Flickr

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IMG_4735 by mike digirat, on Flickr

It was a great weekend spent with a great group of folks. Can't wait till the next time.

 

Thanks Lisa.

 

Awesome! I'll add mine tonight. Great shots Mike! Fun times.

 

Thanks Monte. Yeah, add them here!

 

Amazing shots Mike! Was an awesome time. And hey, is this the beginning of you writing stories?

 

Just to get my report into the same place for easy reading.

Part 1: Day 1 & 2 - Big Sky and Green Hills - Montana in May 2018
Part 2: Snow, Sun, and Storms - Montana in May
Part 3: And Then There Were Three - Montana in May (part 3)
Part 4: Our Longest Campfire - Montana in May (part 4)

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