# Montana (Glacier Nat'l Park) Dopefest: around July 1, 2006 **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 27, 2006, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/montana-glacier-natl-park-dopefest-around-july-1-2006/350094 "2006-03-27T15:45:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/montana-glacier-natl-park-dopefest-around-july-1-2006/350094/1 "2006-03-27T15:45:20Z")
Yep! A while back, I proposed [a thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=355613) about a Glacier Nat’l Park-based Dopefest/Campout in Montana. Well, it seems I’ve got a tentative return date, and I will suggest the planning date of 1 July 2006 for our “git together”. Why so far in advance? Because I’m deployed right now, but I’m relatively sure I’ll be home just before then. And if’n y’all are interested (and intrepid enough), I’ll suggest we go camping at a _real ghost town_: [Bannack, MT](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bannack%2C_Montana) during that week. So, mark your calendars, and bring your favorite beer mug. I’m thinking Saint Mary’s campground for Camp Cecil . . . but I’m open to suggestion. I’ll make reservations later on this week or early the next. Tripler Ghost stories ‘n’ beer. A perfect retreat. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/montana-glacier-natl-park-dopefest-around-july-1-2006/350094/2 "2006-03-27T17:07:26Z")
Aw, man, I’ll be in Glacier around _June_ 1. _shakes angry fist at the sky_ I don’t know if you’re aware of this (and if you are, I apologize), but Bannack is pretty far from Glacier (like 300+ miles). There’s a ghost town much closer called Alton, near St. Mary, which is right outside the park to the east. I don’t know if you can camp there, though. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/montana-glacier-natl-park-dopefest-around-july-1-2006/350094/3 "2006-03-27T17:56:29Z")
> [@gallows fodder](#): > > Aw, man, I’ll be in Glacier around _June_ 1. _shakes angry fist at the sky_ > > I don’t know if you’re aware of this (and if you are, I apologize), but Bannack is pretty far from Glacier (like 300+ miles). There’s a ghost town much closer called Alton, near St. Mary, which is right outside the park to the east. I don’t know if you can camp there, though. I knew it was a little ways away, but didn’t realize it was 300 miles. :smack: Well, since I will have two weeks off, I had planned on hitting up some ghost towns, with the keystone event being “Camp Cecil”. Either way, I think a ghost town and Glacier would be a cool combination if people have the time. Tripler Over the 4th of July week, no less! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![lurkernomore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@lurkernomore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkernomore)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/montana-glacier-natl-park-dopefest-around-july-1-2006/350094/4 "2006-03-27T19:47:42Z")
Trip, Isn’t the whole state a ghost town, comparatively? ::ducks:: Have a beer for me ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2006, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/montana-glacier-natl-park-dopefest-around-july-1-2006/350094/5 "2006-03-28T15:12:49Z")
DUDE. When you have to drive 45 minutes for groceries in a grocery store maybe three times the size of my living room and 90 minutes for a trip to the nearest bookstore… The western part of the state is growing in population, actually – it’s the eastern part (where I live) that’s seeing folks drift away. We’ve been having years of drought (though last year’s spring was very wet) that’s really hurting the ranches and farms out here, and there aren’t too many other things to do out here. Sure is [pretty](http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e120/rbraidotti/CusterNatlForest1.jpg), though. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2006, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/montana-glacier-natl-park-dopefest-around-july-1-2006/350094/6 "2006-03-28T16:27:08Z")
> [@gallows fodder](#): > > DUDE. When you have to drive 45 minutes for groceries in a grocery store maybe three times the size of my living room and 90 minutes for a trip to the nearest bookstore… [Hijack] Where are you at? Jordan? Circle? Glendive? I’m stationed in Great Falls.[/Hijack] Tripler Anywhere along MT200? ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2006, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/montana-glacier-natl-park-dopefest-around-july-1-2006/350094/7 "2006-03-28T17:14:43Z")
Ha! I wish! I’m way the hell out in Rosebud County, ~2 hours east of Billings, right off the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. My town has 500 people. And isn’t it sad that as soon as I typed that I thought, “500 people…I really shouldn’t be complaining.” (I moved here 2 years ago from the DC Metro area, though, so I should be excused.) But you know you’re in the sticks when you run out of milk at 8 pm and there is **nowhere** you can go to buy more. Isolation aside, I do love it here. Seriously. How long have you been in Great Falls? ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2006, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/montana-glacier-natl-park-dopefest-around-july-1-2006/350094/8 "2006-03-28T17:31:06Z")
D’oh! I forgot you said you were currently deployed…how long will you **be** in Great Falls? ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2006, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/montana-glacier-natl-park-dopefest-around-july-1-2006/350094/9 "2006-03-28T18:37:04Z")
My wife should be good and pregnant by then. I tried talking her into another camping trip to Montana this summer, but so far I’ve only been able to get her as far as the Black Hills. And then only in June. She’s due mid-August, so I guess I wouldn’t want a long hot road trip if I had to carry the baby. I’ll PayPal you enough cash to have a beer or twelve though. As a thanks for your work in Afghanistan. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2006, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/montana-glacier-natl-park-dopefest-around-july-1-2006/350094/10 "2006-03-28T19:56:27Z")
Man had you done this a couple of years ago like I thought you wanted to I’d have been there. But now I can’t make the 2000 mile trip and come back in a few days since I’ve got a baby now. I’d so be there if I could though. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2006, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/montana-glacier-natl-park-dopefest-around-july-1-2006/350094/11 "2006-03-29T02:06:10Z")
> [@gallows fodder](#): > > D’oh! I forgot you said you were currently deployed…how long will you **be** in Great Falls? Once I get back (around 24 June), I’ll be back for just under a month before I move to Georgia (19 July). So this means: SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY!! YOUR LAST CHANCE TO SEE **TRIPLER** IN THE WILD! For a limited time only! See a real-live Doper build a campfire like he’s never built one before! Hurry before it’s too late! 😃 Tripler Tickets available at a box office near you. ---
**Author:** ![MadPansy64](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@MadPansy64](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadPansy64)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2006, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/montana-glacier-natl-park-dopefest-around-july-1-2006/350094/12 "2006-03-29T03:08:20Z")
Oh, no! I have to move away in mid May, and won’t be able to come back home even to visit until late August! Damn. I wanted to meet some of the other Montana Dopers ☹ Maybe next time. ---
**Author:** ![BrattiAtti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c57346/32.png) [@BrattiAtti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrattiAtti)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2006, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/montana-glacier-natl-park-dopefest-around-july-1-2006/350094/13 "2006-03-29T06:13:38Z")
I work at school, so I checked the student calendar. Looks like we’ll be closed for July 3rd and 4th (yay!). I’ll be there… but **Tripler** , can I beg for that weekend to fall near the west part of Montana? It would be much more convenient for me because that “long” weekend will still be only 5 days of vacation for me, minus two for travelling. Please and thanks (whatever you decide is best for you). 🙂 Also, **Tinkertoy** , if you’re still interested in going… I live in SE ID (Idaho Falls, specifically) and was wondering if you’d like to carpool or something. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2006, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/montana-glacier-natl-park-dopefest-around-july-1-2006/350094/14 "2006-03-29T15:46:32Z")
> [@BrattiAtti](#): > > I’ll be there… but **Tripler** , can I beg for that weekend to fall near the west part of Montana? It would be much more convenient for me because that “long” weekend will still be only 5 days of vacation for me, minus two for travelling. Pssst, Glacier _is_ on the Western end of Montana. 😉 Tripler Maybe a few hours drive from Idaho. ---
**Author:** ![BrattiAtti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c57346/32.png) [@BrattiAtti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrattiAtti)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/montana-glacier-natl-park-dopefest-around-july-1-2006/350094/15 "2006-03-30T23:57:02Z")
> [@Tripler](#): > > Pssst, Glacier _is_ on the Western end of Montana. 😉 Um, I know. I apologize. When it was mentioned that you wanted to do Bannack, and then **gallows fodder** said it was 300ish miles from Glacier, I assumed that it was 300 miles to the east of GNP. Seeing as it’s actually south of GNP and very near me (less than a three hour drive), either location would work for me.\* \*Cause it’s all about me, dontcha know. I kid. And I apologize. Yet again. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2006, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/montana-glacier-natl-park-dopefest-around-july-1-2006/350094/16 "2006-03-31T01:57:12Z")
No need to apologize. Just bring more beer. 😃 Tripler 'Cause it’s all about the beer, dontchaknow.