You guys may get tired of my photos now that I am in one of the most beautiful places on earth and have to travel all through it for work. But, I will keep posting them anyway.

I recently returned from a job in Great Falls, Montana, and Island Park, Idaho. Instead of staying in hotels between jobs, I decided to do some camping. U.S. tax payers should appreciate this since it is saving them money in hotel and restaurant bills. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

First camping night was in the Gates of the Mountains in southern Montana. I took the boat tour of the Missouri river through "The Gates" and the tour guide stopped the vessel at their private dock and gave us a chance to use the restroom and stretch our legs. He said we could stay there for a while and catch the next boat back, since they run every hour 'til 1600. I asked if they run the next day and he said yes and I could stay the night but has never had anyone ask to before.

Well, this place was beautiful and I decided to stay there instead of driving to farther.

This is the western entrance to the The Gates from Upper Holter Lake.



From there the pics are from within The Gates.



















[img]http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/mediaperture/camping7.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/mediaperture/camping2.jpg[/img]

The picture below was taken from above where the Lewis and Clark expedition camped out back in the day. I say "above" because the camp site is now flooded since the Holter Dam raised the water level about 20 feet.

[img]http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/mediaperture/camping1.jpg[/img]

Years ago, a massive fire stripped the mountain in the background. This is Mann Gulch, where 13 firefighters lost their lives during the mentioned fire in 1949. During this fire, the head firefighter lit what is now known as a safety fire, where you burn the surrounding brush/fuel before the main blaze arrives to give you a buffer. It saved his life, but his subordinates had never heard of this and ran away in a panic. He lost most of his crew.

[img]http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/mediaperture/camping3.jpg[/img]

This is a crazy person I met where I got off the tour boat to go camping.

[img]http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/mediaperture/camping20.jpg[/img]

If you look in the trees to the right, you can see my hammock. It is about 3 miles north of The Gates. Crystal clear water. I didn't bother filtering it, and feel fine a week later. I saw a massive Grizzly just opposite the creek from my hammock while having breakfast one morning. He was disinterested in me, and I was scared and immediately drew my 45.

[img]http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/mediaperture/camping19.jpg[/img]

The rest are random pics from when I was camping in Idaho.

[img]http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/mediaperture/camping16.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/mediaperture/camping17.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/mediaperture/camping18.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/mediaperture/camping15.jpg[/img]

Great pics, looks like you had a great time. Love that part of the country.

Very envious, fantastic pics.. apart from the crazy person, that spooked me a little <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Very nice pics. Keep em coming!

Great pictures, I'd like to see more. Course as far as I'm concerned you can stay in 4 star hotels and throw expense account money at strippers every night, money better spent than most of my tax money.

I don't go near unfiltered water no matter how clean it is, maybe things are different out west, less beavers peeing all over? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

I was looking forward a bear all chopped to giblets with a big ole Scrapyard knife, but the thread is young and I will check back in.

Excellent pics of some beautiful country JJ! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Really nice pics of beautiful country JJ. And the narrative was pretty good as well! You should carry fruit roll ups to give to the crazy people like that and they'll leave you alone as long as you don't give them any meat!

Nice pics looks like a fun awesome place to be!

The kind of place to just dissapear into, thanks for the pics... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

I could deal with living the rest of my life there.

I don't know about that Randy; the winters have to be a real bear! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Trust me Tom, I'd find a way!