montanapalooza 2002

“Still sAYS 999,bUT i WILL GIVE YOU A PRIZE! yEA”

“I have TOPO!, which began as a little startup in SF, and is now owned by National Geographic. It is simply digital USGS topo maps, including elevation data, so, yes I can do horizontal distance, as well as profiles. In fact, it will calculate the actual traveled distance, taking into account the slope of your route. For example, the program tells me that the horizontal distance of the East Rosebud trail is 25.61 miles, while the distance taking the slope of the trail into account is 25.81 miles. I find it to be an extraordinary program. I use it for hiking, of course, but also for running and making maps for work. I decided to get the Montana map set to plan for our hike in August - each state costs about 90-100 bucks. Well worth it in my opinion.”

“Newgirl,
Was it as good for you as it was for me??????????????”

“You DID it you r the 1000th poster! What do you want?”

“Dang it! Thought I would be 1000. Looks like my map post above was 1002, which makes newgirl 1000. Maybe I'll start a new thread....”

“First, I want to thank Geezr and Martyb, for posting mindlessly w/ me. I also want to thank Jerbear, for offering to give me a prize, since Matt doesn't seem to want to give me one.

I need to think about what I want. Any suggestions? What is a reasonable prize?”

“Martyb,
Can you do me a favor? Last year we dayhiked from the Quinnebaugh Meadows Trailhead, over Sundance Pass and out to the Lake Fork Trailhead. The signs at the trailheads say it was 19 miles and the trail guide says 21. Can you verify ? I think we came up with an elevation gain of about 3100' using several gps systems, but because of lost signals the distance varied.”

“I guess your prize is jerbear. I'd throw my hat into the ring but I'm happily married.

Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

“Geezr, Will do - it'll give me something to do at lunch today besides TT! BTW, do you use a GPS? I use a Garmin Etrex - love it! Another thing to occupy map nuts like me....”

“MINDLESSLY??????????????????????”

“MINDLESSLY?????????????????????”

“Martyb,
Yes, I use a Etrex Summit. I started out with a Model 12 and went to the Summit because it records an elevation profile. Plus it has the compass. Great fun! I still take a compass and know how to use it but a gps is REALLY the way to go. No declination to worry about and you know exactly where you're at. Mine has been through the mill and you'd have to work pretty hard to break it.”

“MINDLESSLY?????????????????????”

“Yeah, I went for the cheap one, but I still love it, especially how it interfaces with the TOPO! program. Have you seen their new product? It's a combo GPS and FRS radio - retails for about 170-220 bucks, I think, depending on bells and whistles. They call it the "Rino" because the two antennas make it look like, well, a rhino.”

“I'll party (like it's 1999) in Billings Saturday night, and crash in my previously pitched tent in Red Lodge...
What's it... an hour's drive?
Two?”

“Newgirl, may I suggest you not make any major purchases before the Pooloza. There seems to be enough loaners for you. Check out what everyone else has then make a much more informed choice.
Regarding your sleeping bag, IMO cotton would not be a good choice. If you would like to borrow my daughters bag (it will be my payment for you picking me up at the airport 8^) ) you may. It's a womens bag, rather light weight, compresses small, and is warmer than 45.”

“gojo,
It's 1 - 1 1/4 hours. There's several forest service campgounds south of Red Lodge, Parkside, Greenough, Limberpine. Not sure what the going rate is, or availibility. They've never been full when we've camped there. I think they're about 12 miles out of R.L.”

“Hour, Hour and half. No biggie dealy.

Om, I think I may have run across the cowboy for you, girlfriend! He's young, but we're talking the triple threat baby! And he just won some money at the Buckin' Horse Sale in Miles City. I'll have to see about getting some more info., maybe he wants to become a backpacker?! HeHeHe!

Jerbear, I decided that for my prize I want a shot the night of the 14th. So bring some liquor.”

“Navi, let me think on it. I'm kinda' excited to try out some of my own gear, but I understand your point on not making major purchases. Thanks to everyone, your generosity is overwhelming.

Gojo, you don't intend to drink a whole lot and drive to Red Lodge do you? Friends don't let friends . . .”

“Maybe we could just all meet up for a little dinn-dinn and drinking on the night of the 13th. Chief included. After that the people that want to head back up to Red Lodge and camp w/ Chief can do it and this way, maybe there will be some sober driver volunteers. Just a suggestion.”

“Newgirl, are you talking about the cowboy from the Bucking Horse sale that came through Billings? This was in the paper yesterday: He got drunk at the Billings Club and gave the barmaid, who he found out was a single mother, a $2000 tip on an $11 tab. The barmaid and the owner tried to talk him out of it but he wouldn't take it back and made them leave it on his credit card. He even phoned them from the next bar he went to make sure she got it. The next day some woman came into the bar and demanded that the bar owner give the guy his money back. he basically said, "no way, he was drunk and has to live with the consequences" . Here it is....
Cowboy Makes an a-tip-ical gratuity”

“Any of you Billings residents heard of this place? A geologist with Exxon came by yesterday and gave a few bottles of Wild Fly Ale and Renegade Red Ale. Is it worth drinking or is he trying to poison me.”

“Well no wonder the book says 21 miles because it would probably feel like at least that much! Are you nuts?! Heh heh...

OK, TOPO! sez: About 18 miles total, which tells me that the 19 on the signs is closer to the actual distance. You went from about 7900' to 11040 (the map shows a measured elevation of 11037 at the pass), which makes a climb of 3140. However, you also drop down about 100 feet just past Sundance Lake before beginning the switchbacks, so your total climbing was more like 3240. The downhill part appears to be a very consistent downhill slope - all 8 miles and 3850 vertical feet of it! How did your knees feel at the end??

Looks like a "fun" way for the 'palooza gang to "warm up" a day or two before the backpacking part starts....”

“ChuckD, drink up. Good stuff.

Aero, actually, I wasn't talking about that guy. But this other guy just came in to get some lumber (he's the one I was talking about) and he was telling me about the Drunken tipper. I think the poor sucker should have to stick w/ his tip. He was drunk (and prolly coming from the Buckin' Horse Sale, he'd been so for days) and that is one of the consquences. Bad decision making.”

“OH my goodys! Will ther be ratbits ther? That will be goooooood smellin!

And marmrats! O! I DO NOT like marmrats! Yall do not hafta be skeerd tho. I will pertek yall from the marmrats.

SNAKS?!!
I LOVE SNAKS!!!
My favert is Bref Busters and Puppy Rony and Marro Bones and regler biskits.

Fish gettin?
That will be goooooood times to!
And goooooooood smellin to!
I like fish gettin. I like eetin fish to if they was byside the fire for a minit but I DO NOT LIKE regler ded fish and guts! Ew!

Wild lammas?
They are skeery a littel bit but I will NOT BE SKEERD! I will say "go the nother way yall crazy wild lammas!" and they will prolly run the nother way.

Rok Rats?
NUFF SAYED!

What about tree rats? Is ther tree rats? It dont matter no ways cuz they all ways run in the trees so I can not smell ther stinky butts.

Who sayed they got a stinky "butte"?
"BUTTE"! BOL!!!
That is a crazy way to say butt!


I theenk Monny Looza will be the
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD TIMES!

BWT -
I pakked my pakpak
It had a goooood snak
But I ate the snak
Cuz I took it bak

I put in my swedder
But rane got it wetter
So I sayed "I better
Get out the wet swedder

Then I put in the puncho
And Chaloopy sayed "Sarabelle is a ho!"
So I sayed "Chaloopy shuld kno
What is a ho!"
(BOL!)

Then I put in my bole
But it got a hole
So I got out the bole
And put in the nother one that did not get a hole”

“It should be great times Sarabelle. Thanks for the snack suggestions. We'll look for them and be sure to bring some for you.”

“Martyb,
The hike ( we called it EGO-CHALLENGE ) was scheduled for 2000 but the fires and dry conditions closed down the Beartooths a day before we were going to do it. So, the actual event took place last year, July 3rd. Three of us did it, ages 53,49 and 44. We did it just to see if there was any "kid" left in a bunch of old men, hence the name, EGO-. All in all is was a great hike. I ended up with a blister on my left heel and we all required ibuprofin for our knees. As Aero can atest to it's a gorgeous hike and the views from Sundance are beyond description. If I recall there are 60 switchbacks to get from the valley floor to the pass. Fun though and there probably aren't a whole lot of people who have done it as a dayhike. Thanks for crunching the numbers. APPRECIATED!”

“We prolly will need some buddy to drive the truk cuz I will dreenk beers and be DRUNK! So I will not be abel to drive the truk neither. We will prolly need a dizzy nated driver...”

“Don't worry Sarabelle. We'll make sure that there is a dizzy nated driver for you and your dad. We don't want any Montanapalooza sad stories, only exciting ones.”

“Whats with all this 'jibber-jabber' about?

So who is spending Saturday night in the woods? Anybody?

212 looks to be littered with campsgrounds around R.L. How far a drive to Chief Joseph Campground from Butte? I have visions of a campfired steak and a 40oz. getting work over before dusk.”

“Chief Joseph from Butte? A long way. I think people who want to camp are still going to camp, I was just suggesting that we party in Billings before hand. It was only a suggestion.”

“I am soooo excited. I can't stand myself from the excitment. I think I may be morphing into some sort of Crazy Mike over my excitment.”

“newgirl...what is a "triple threat" ?
~~~~~~”

“Om, I'm not sure if he can dance, but he was blaring some Juice Newton when he pulled up, which I find pretty cool. The triple threat is when he has at least 3 outward qualities that make him worth a neck turn (me and my sisters came up w/ that one).
Here's his list:
-Dark curly hair
-Knows how to wear a cowboy hat right (this also shows he is authentic)
-Very nice Wrangler butt”

“" -Dark curly hair
-Knows how to wear a cowboy hat right (this also shows he
is authentic)
-Very nice Wrangler butt"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~”

“Om, does that mean you'd turn your head or not?”

“At this rate we'll reach 2000.”

“Oh, she'll turn her head alright!
Then she'll walk right up to him and say "Howdy".

Course, he'll melt.”

“What do yall kno bout butts?

...what never
/o:3”

“Sarabelle, I don't know as much as you do about butts, but I do know a little about good lookin' cowboys. Is your boyfriend a cowdog? I know some nice cowdogs that would love to show you around. Plus, a cowdog never, ever barks . . . so he wouldn't be gettin' on your nerves. HeHeHe!”

“I bet that cowboy that left the 2K tip isn't barkin' much either.

Probably doing some howlin' though!”

“I know, I know Geezr. What a moron. He got what he deserved. Shouldn't be getting so drunked up, I guess.”

“I'm not so sure how I feel. I must admit I don't have much compassion for drunks, but at the same time I've done it once or twice in the past. And being drunk doesn't give people the right to take advantage of them. Say you'd lost your purse in a drunken stupor, would you want the person who found to keep it?”

“Geezr, I never bring my purse while I'm drinking. I bring an ID and a predetermined amount of dough, which stays in my pocket. I rarely drink to the point of being in a stupor in a public setting. This is a good way for a girl to get herself in a seriously screwed up situation. Finally, I would add, that the barmaid, the guy's friend, and apparently the bar owner all tried to get him to tip her less. He insisted to the point of being a jerk about it. Too bad for him. Better luck next time Cowboy.”

“Ok . . . back to Montanapalooza. What you studying in school? ;-)”

“Business Management and Communications. (More like Mis-management and Mis-communications . . . LOL!)”

“Are you at Rocky or MSU-B?”

“MSU-B. Cheaper and more availability of night classes. Plus, Rocky is full of Trustafarians. I can't take it.”

“Trustafarians????????????”

“OK, just booked my flights for the Montanapalooza. Oops, except I'll be there a month after y'all. For some reason, United just dropped their fares 100 bucks, so I jumped on it. Coming in on 8/22, leaving 8/30, so there's a day or so on either end to rest/gear-sort/pack, as well as do a little socializing with Billings TT'ers if we can work it in. Oh, and spend time with mom, too - heh heh. The one potential glitch is that my dad is having arm/neck/shoulder trouble and is not sure how he'll do with a backpack. I'm guessing it will get sorted out by August, since he does have this trouble every now and then. Keep your fingers crossed! Worst case, we'll be forced into doing dayhikes, a shorter backpack route (so I could carry pretty much everything), going to Yellowstone, the Pryors, etc. - you know, really awful stuff to be forced to do....”