Back when I was a kid, my family used to go backpacking in the Rockies every summer. I ended up feeling that Montana was my favorite backpacking spot (NOT Yellowstone). Fast forward a couple decades, and I’m ready to take the whole Famn Damily out to Montana so they can experience it. The dog, the 3 year old, and the wife.
But wait. There’s a catch. Someone in the executive branch of the family (The female side) has absolutely ruled out backpacking for the first trip. We will only be allowed to…gasp…car camp.
Okay. That’s not too terrible. I actually know some great out-of-the way spots in Northern Minnesota that I have car camped at. Miles from anyone. Alone but for the trees. I prefer to throw it all in a pack, but it’s the great outdoors; car camping will work in a pinch, heck, with the three year old, I can see my wife’s aversion. But I have a problem with Montana. I don’t know it. The reason car-camping in Northern Minnesota is enjoyable for me, is that I have, over the years, gotten to know every little forest road and primitive site up there.
You may not want to post your secret sites for OG and all to see, so feel free to email me. I know I wouldn’t want to give up my favorite hidden gems. To an out of stater, I might suggest one if they swear to secrecy, since they’d only be there a week.
I’ll swear to secrecy.
A good experince will open my wife up to backpacking. That is something I truly want to expose my son to. I was 5 for my first hardcore backpack, and I still remember it fondly. It opened me up to a whole new world. I think more kids today need that experience.