montanapalooza 2002

“I hope none of you felt that I was totally unprepared, not self-sufficient, and bascially depending on you to take care of me?!?
newgirl
10:28:45 AM
07/23/02

Newgirl - Making arrangements to share gear and pair-up is what preparing is all about. If the logistics had allowed, the group could have eliminated a lot more redundant gear..... like about ten extra stoves and water filters.”

“LOL! I almost forgot about the user friendly thing Briar! That cracks me up. I have to remember that. And no worries, I will totally continue to do this. Trying to get some of my Missoula-Hippie friends motivated as we speak . . .er . . .write.

Martyb, I just hiked a really steady, pretty fast pace. I also discovered on the way up that I don't really care for long breaks. It was way too hard to get myself back into the groove, so I took very short breaks on the way out. Mostly pee, drink wa-wa, and look around to see if any hulking griz was on it's way to kill me, catch my breath, and continue.”

“Darn Briar. I wish I would have known that. I am still a girl-girl, hiking or not, I like pretty nails.

Well, Marty, I guess we know now that Briar was the only non-hack out there. LOL!”

“Briar, I thought you kept you nails trimmed so you could grub in that duff looking for hot spots.”

“Newgirl, my only problem with you is that you left so ding dang early!


Kids!!!!”

“Oh, I almost forgot...after you left we were discussing finding a new name for you since you're not really a "new"girl any more. I liked "Newgear", but I can't remember the others.”

“Jerbear caught me primpin one time!!!! LOL Doing my nails!!!

That was fun!!!!,,, wasn't Aero!!! I still have some residual blackness pack in some cuticle gashes from that hike. Not to mention a few cooking pot blister burns on the fingers. What a blast!!!!


We should think about a loop trip for next year! It might be less troublsome.”

“How about girl-girl?

ng - lipstickhiker always hikes with lipstick on!”

“How 'bout "Speed-hiker"?”

“How "bout "used gear"? You are amassing an impressive collection of donated gear.”

“I like "newgirl."

Great pics by the way. Noogie yur even cuter than I imagined!”

“But didn't you have blonde hair in your first pic, behind the newspaper?”

“Newgirl - If you change your name, how 'bout calling yourself, 'unlimited'

or, 'unsurpassable?'”

“Thanks for posting the stories and photos. Makes me very anxious for the next five weeks to pass quickly so I can go see for myself. Hopefully, by the time we arrive at the end of August the skeeters will be gone. It sounds like a good time was had by all (except Prowler?)”

“NG,
I keep thinking of that skeeterdance you were doing about a hour into the hike and all the offers for a Deet rub down you received!!

Stevehiker , you mean you don't have that on file! Moohahaha!


How about ' Beartooth Betty'?????”

“chainsaw. That's what her new name should, chainsaw.

Scares off potential suitors even faster than "Penelope".”

“Goodcall, we gotta keep this one secret,,,,

Well then how about 'Bucktooth Betty'!!!!!!!”

“You guys are all too funny w/ the names. Phil, "girl-girl" cracks me up. Although, I get what your saying Pepper, "Usedgear" has the potential for real flaming. LOL! And "Bucktooth Betty." Geez, a girl might want to keep a secret, but that makes it sound awful. Don't anyone mention the skeeter dance around Jerbear. I'm sure I know what name he'll come up w/.

Steve, I used to have blonde highlights, which you prolly saw peaking over the top of the newspaper.”

“I know I'm not totally new anymore, but I'm so attached to my name. It is hard to decide if I should change it.”

“How about:
The-Hiker-Formerly-Known-As-Newgirl”

“DancesWithSkeeters?”

“Yeah Gearjunkie, the name will actually be a symbol that no one understands. LOL!”

“§”

“Here's a cool story if you guys get a chance. It's from the Helena paper just before we left on the trip. Granite Peak is the one we could see due north from Windy Lake at 12,799', the highest point in Montana.

Granite Peak”

“Of course, I'm only kidding...”

“

Here ya go.... My Photos are ready
Photo Galleries

Does anyone mind if I added links to their Webshots? A head shot of each of you above your links will follow soon.”

“I offered NG a pedicure but she couldn't settle on a color to do her nails in.”

“Hodgeman, that is cool! You got the whole trip right there! No problem with the links--Thanks!”

“Aero - We could send that link to Phil, for his TT trips page, since it will have everything together, when it's finished”

“Excellent!

Nice collection and links!”

“I have sorted through the whole Montanapalooza controversy and finally feel as though . . .with the facts at my command, and knowing all I now know, and seeing what I have now seen, that I am in a position to render my opinion.


Newgirl is smokin hot.


Thank you. That is all.”

“Hodge, that is so cool. I love that picture of all of us taking off at the trailhead.

Geezr, the colors you brought weren't really me. HeHeHe!

Lee, thanks so much.”

“Thanks for yet another set of GREAT photos! I showed the ones posted as of yesterday to son - he is PSYCHED!! Can't wait to show him the latest - he was asking if there were any of the fire. Now we know what we'll be seeing next month - GREAT GREAT GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BTW, HoBC, hope to make it up to Canada next summer for some (as our Vancouver friends call it) "Executive Hiking*," near Mt. Assiniboine.

[*Executive Hiking involves helicoptering in to a nice lodge and doing day hikes from there....]”

“It sure is nice coming home from work and finding a new set of photos to look through.

Hodge, great idea placing them together.

Aero, give me a minute and then check your e-mail.”

“Martyb - Assiniboine is awesome, and the beatiful lodge is a hundred year old, CP Rail Lodge, with cabins. It's right at the heart, of the park.... definitely where you want to be. They run there own chopper service, from the Spray Lake TH, to save you the 20 mile hike in.

If you want to go next year, you need to book NOW! Let me know if I can send you a little info.”

“Great Web Page Hodge.”

“Kick @ss pictures Hodg!

8D”

“Yikes! A whole year in advance?! I've seen their web site (I have it bookmarked!), and our friends have been there, so no need to send info - thanks, though. Guess I should get busy planning, otherwise we might get stuck with having to walk on some stinkin' trail or something....”

“Martyb Yup.... that's what they told me at the lodge. Here's some pics from last September, which is my favorite time to go.
Link”

“Dude the one of you on the edge rocks!!!!

8D”

“Thanks guys!!”

“No problem dude!

8D”

“You guys let Crazy Mike talk to the Friendly Ranger? geez. That's asking for trouble!”

“She was cool she had a shovel in her hands and that rocked to me she was ready for action!

8P”

“8D”

“Thats what I say!

8o”

“Sorry but y'all will have to cut'n'paste for my photos. This is the first time I have used Webshots so bear with me. I decided to stick to people (and dog) photos because there are already so many great scenery photos. Enjoy!!

http://community.webshots.com/user/ttphotos

(I'm sure some kind soul will provide a link before long!!)”

“Navi - I finally looked at your photos. Nice, but did you have to include that picture of me looking like a DRUNK SLEEP DEPRIVED COW??!!??”

“Sorry, folks. Just had to do it. Do you think we might get to 3000?”