montanapalooza 2002

“Go Red Wings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

“I'm still not sure as to my lodging. I guess I need to decide soon. I can't stay with newgirl because I can't stand Wranglers. I'm a Levi man all the way.lol”

“jgeils - On the other hand... a pair of Wrangler's is cheaper than a hotel :-)”

“True. I also could justify spending another $70-$100 on new gear if I don't spend it on a hotel. :)”

“Hodgeman, I still want to come up your way and do some hiking. We'll have to talk about that on this trip. I've been to B.C twice and haven't got to hike yet. That's goin' to change. :)”

“jgeils - one email.... coming your way”

“What a guy, geezr, what a guy....


Hey, you're a 'wings fan??”

“Aero, Geezr, are we on for tomorrow?”

“Sorry, everyonbe, but I'm out of this trip. Too much stuff happen and I can't leave for he amount of time needed to get there, hike and get back. Have fun and post pics!!!”

“Martyb'
Yes Sir! I was raised in Michigan, so even though I now follow the Avs since moving west, I'm still loyal to the Wings.”

“Newgirl,
I believe Aero is in Miles City but will be back in time for brunch. So, will see you at 11:30. You can't miss me I'll be the best looking guy in the joint!

OK . . . I'll be the oldest guy in the joint.

I'll watch for you and newergirl. I'll be there with Malinda, my wife, and will wear a blue & green ball cap with the Backpacker logo.

Why don't you wear a black mini skirt and a skimpy halter top!!!!!!

Spiked heels wouldn't hurt either.”

“Martyb,
Your Dad e-mailed me yesterday. I tried to call him earlier but he was out fishing. I'll try again later. Leaving for another graduation party. If I had a little better arm I could hit his house with a rock. It's a small world.”

“Looking forward to it. I'll prolly go w/ Levis and a white button up shirt. Sorry to disappoint. LOL!”

“Red Wing shoes? LOL!”

“Geezr, glad my dad got in touch.

My wife grew up in Michigan, too! We'll have to exchange MI stories.

Sister-in-law called me yesterday, practically screaming about the 3 goals in the first ?? minutes. Then got another goal a minute or so later - went berserk again. I don't follow hockey much. As a 'Wings fan and Billings resident, you'll appreciate the photo at the bottom of this page:

Click here, go to the bottom.”

“I'll be there at 11:30. newgirl will be the one behind the large menu.”

“Up and at 'em, it's a great day to be a TTer”

“Too long without a post. How was the pre-hike planning luncheon?”

“Just 42 more days!!!!!!

I can't wait!!!!

8)”

“Jgeils & Crazy Mike,

I'm not sure just how much planning actually was accomplished, but I know we did some serious carbo loading!”

“Cool!!!!!

8)”

“I especially enjoyed meeting newgirl, newergirl and aero. Good to put faces to names.

We just discussed the trip in general terms and talked over a rough itinerary. Once Aero has a firm list of people and their arrivals, etc I'm sure he'll have a better handle on who we have to pick up, who's staying where and what we need to do to shuttle to and from.

If Aero and Newgirl are representative of the remainder of the bunch it's going to be a GREAT time.”

“this trip is going to be memerable!!!!! CANT WAIT! 41 days , 1 hr, 32 min left and Im heading out!!!!!!!!!! for along road trip!!”

“I wonder who's got the longest distance to travel??? It's about 930 miles, by road from here”

“If I go straight to Red Lodge, it will be about 65 miles, from my house.

If I go to Cooke City, then to Red Lodge, it will be about 100 miles.

Bummer.”

“Form Yahoo maps: 1371 miles from Torrance, CA to Cooke City. (or 1111 miles if we go straight to Red Lodge). Gotta check the maps for the best way.”

“Nice meeting you and the wife Geezr. I'm stoked.”

“Newgirl

We enjoyed brunch as well and I'm equally excited.

OK, I'm out of here. Malinda shampooed the carpeting in this room earlier and if she finds me in here before it's dry I'll be doing this trip with broken legs.

Back later.”

“Snow, you guys might actually try to drive to Billings and meet us there Saturday night 7/15. it might be shorter if you came up I-15, cut off on US 20 past Pocatello and go through Idaho Falls, W. Yellowstone and catch I-90 to Billings. We've got yard space!”

“...but she's flying - does that count?

It's 2360 miles from my house to my Idaho Bro's. I figure Red Lodge, etc, would be about the same. I will have logged prolly 5000 miles before arriving at Billings, tho. The MTpalooza is at the tail-end of my trip.”

“I think Om wins, if we are counting flying. That is trip.”

“I think we should just count the drivers. The winner gets one of those seat donuts.”

“I'm further than Aero!”

“I think snow nymph might be the furthest. Crazy mike is about 1,300-1,400 though, but I think he travels at warp speed.”

“I think crazy mike is WAY OUT THERE!LOL”

“Beam me up, Crazy Mike!”

“Jgeils,

Pre-Trip pack weigh-in = 31 lbs.
That's with food for five days and 32 oz. of h2o. Food will decrease by 1 lb/day. I think if I downsize my first-aid kit and a few clothes I can get under 30.”

“Good deal Geezr. I just got in some new gear from REI. New tent, Thermarest, lightweight thermals,etc. I really want to get the Marmot Precip raingear. Campmor has the jacket on sale and I found the full side zip pants on sale too. They are a little higher than the other pants, but it would be nice to open the sides for ventilation. They weigh about 19oz. combined . Not too shabby.”

“If I'm able to come it will be just over 1500 miles. I may have to fly though.”

“Ventilation is a nice plus. My GoreTex jacket opens under the arms and it helps. I really notice it back and forth to work with the bike. I think you'd be wise to go with the pants.

Without too many changes I can get down to 25 lbs. To go much lighter than that the BIG stumbling block is dinero. I just upgraded five years ago and Malinda doesn't understand ALL new gear. :-)”

“With the price of gas, plus lodging, food, etc it just might be cheaper to fly, though it seems like coming into Billings is always fairly high.

Plus you save burning up vacation days!”

“Nothin quite like a good road trip, though

Hey geezr - Be sure to get a hair cut, before the trip.... you might shave a few ounces there.

Jus teazin... ;-)”

“Arky I thought about driving so I could have my ride there with me, but my ticket is free and with driving I would have to consider cost plus wear and tear on my new vehicle. I may have driven though had I someone to go with me. I would have wanted to make it in about a day and a half, maybe two.”

“H of BC

I've already LOST all of those ounces!!!!!!!!!!!!!
;-)”

“Just ordered the precip pants. Talked myself into it. Now I have to talk myself into the jacket.:)”

“jgeils,
I've bee meaning to ask you about your user name. Is it your name, or do you like j geils?

We saw them at Cobo Hall in Detroit. Must have been some time in 73-75. Great live rock and roll band.”

“If I had a free ticket I would fly also. If I have to drive alone it will be cheaper to fly. My old Suburban is not shy with the fuel.”

“Our love's in jeopardy,baby.”

“No sooner than I hit the enter key do I realize my error. That is the Greg Kihn Band. I may be an idiot but I'm certainly no fool.”

“We're doing the tour thing, with a 10 day trip in WY after.

My pack should be 33-34 lbs. I could go lighter, but the camera (23 oz) and chair (17 oz)are going.”