Departure: Later this morning (assuming there are no last minute snags, which is always a possibility…)
Duration: Unknown.
Destination: Montana’s Centennial Valley and surrounding area. I just can’t get enough of that place.
The views in the valley are varied but always expansive and spectacular. On a typical trip I drive hundreds of miles in the area looking for birds and wildlife on roads like this (and much, much worse). If birds are slow I can, and often do, get lost in the scenery.
This is one view of Lower Red Rock Lake very near to our usual campsite. Regular readers have often heard me complain about the almost nonexistent cell signal here that makes publishing blog posts on the road so very difficult. But guess what? – this is just about the only place in the entire valley where there’s a signal at all so I live with it and let the views and birds compensate for the technological frustrations.
Early mornings, minutes after sunrise, are to die for.
Sunrises and sunsets (and oh those stars at night!) are some of the incredible joys of the valley. The problem is I don’t see sunsets (or stars) very often in midsummer because I usually hit the hay early. Wakeup time is typically about 4 am so I can put any finishing touches on blog posts (if I can make them) and have time to drink enough coffee so I can stay on the road as I’m driving and looking for birds as the sun comes up.
Fair warning as you’re about to enter the valley from the east.
My extended camping trips to the valley take planning and lots of supplies in anticipation of breakdowns and emergencies. Thankfully this main east-west road through the valley has been improved significantly in recent years but many others I take are bone-jarring, rocky and very hard on vehicles and tires. When you’re this far from any assistance you have to think ahead.
Just in case anyone’s contemplating a similar trip here’s a (very) partial list of some of the gear and supplies I carry along (I’m in a full-sized pickup and pulling a small 19′ camping trailer as far as whatever camp site I choose).
- two spare tires for the pickup and two for the trailer (I once had 4 flats in the valley on a single trip – two of them were on the trailer).
- 51 gallons of gas – 36 in the pickup tank and 15 extra gallons (it’s a very long way to either Lima, MT or Dubois, ID for gas)
- 32 gallons of water in the trailer and 15 extra in the back of the pickup. Water is available at Lake View but it’s often a long trip to get it.
- an extra battery – for the trailer, for the pickup, to power the electric tongue lift on the trailer and a variety of other uses
- two generators – in case it gets hot I need two of them to run the AC in the trailer. Believe it or not they’re forecasting snow in the valley this morning but it can also be 90 degrees this time of year and when it’s that hot the trailer is insufferable without AC
- various and sundry other items including but not limited to a portable air compressor, three types of jacks, jumper cables, a heavy-duty tow rope, a cheater bar (boy, can that come in handy!) and whatever else I’m forgetting to include…
I’ve learned from experience to expect the unexpected and I’m too damned old to go without some of the comforts of life while I’m camping like I used to – no more tents and sleeping on the ground for me. So I’m now a high-maintenance camper and I can live with that.
But the payoff in the Centennial Valley is so very much worth it all.
Ron
Not AWOL at all. All of us give you leave, and applaud your mental health trips. Which give our greedy selves rather a lot of magic.
Have fun.
What the heck is a “cheater bar”? Wonder if I know ot by another name…
Is it that extra piece of pipe used on a lug wrench to loosen too tight lugs (put on your rims by a cruel, sadistic, misogynistic mechanic)?
Bring your journey on home with you. Anxiously wait for what’s next.
Your photos capture the spectacular views of a place I long to visit. The camping info is beyond my capabilities at this point in life but gives a snapshot of the rigors of your trip. I look forward to following this journey and hope you have a wonderful trip
Gorgeous area and shots of it Ron! Have a wonderful time and I look forward to seeing your shots Wishing you the best of times and luck!
Charlotte
Those of us who’ve done much camping, and loved it, know how nice it is to be as comfortable as possible…”comfort” being dictated by preparedness, opportunity and gear. “Roughing it” is for novices!!!
Love the scenic shots!!! Beautiful!!!! Those “the road ahead” shots pull me right down them…I(I wasn’t given one of my Indian names, “Detour”, for no reason.)…
Is a “come along” in there somewhere? I hope….
We made it! And yes, I have a come along.
WOW!! Scenic wonders! Love those pictures, they are to die for!!
Hare a great trip, I’m envious.
Talk about living vicariously! I’m doing it!! “Duration unknown”…how great is that!!!!!.,.also that camper and your destination are my idea of “heaven”…at my age, that’s an important concept!!! Here’s to a great trip!
Now that’s my kind of camping!!! Have a wonderful trip
Thank you, Carol.
It looks beautiful from you photos I can’t blame you for wanting to spend time there. Enjoy your trip and be safe. I hope you don’t use any of your back-up gear!
I appreciate your wish for me in that last sentence, April. Thanks.
Hope you have a wonderful trip, with lots of birds and other beauty. Except that I’ve never been into camping, I’m sure I would love the Centennial Valley, from the pictures you’ve shared with us.
Never been camping, Susan! Wow, you should try it sometime.
I hope a camping experience goes into your bucket list…Ron’s current camping style really appeals to me, especially since most of what I’ve done involved sleeping on the ground in either just sleeping bag or in a sleeping bag in a tent…I did like having my ear to the ground and hearing the hum of the Earth (underground water?)…and feeling that I could reach up and grab a handful of stars….then being awakened by birdsong, the fresh smell of a new day, the sparkle of dew on spider webs and grass, the increasing warmth and light of the morning sun…Rain? Not so much!!!
So very envious! And like you, I like to prepare for and avoid as many disasters as possible. Back when I was young and invincible, I had to suffer through those disasters. Slowly, but surely, I learned that I’m NOT invincible and that preparation is a good thing 🙂
And there was a tornado near Ennis yesterday, so ca-ca CAN happen!
ENJOY and we’ll look forward to your bounty when you return.
Geez, I hadn’t heard about that tornado, Laura. That’s fairly close to where I’ll be part of the time…
I recognize your preparedness, and your remembering problems from the past,
and making sure you are prepared, if, any of them should “rear their ugly heads”
again. So many take off into the unknown with no concerns, or planning for
“what if….” I learned long ago what it’s like to “rough it,” and I’ve done my share
of that kind of camping in my youth, but for me, those days are over also. I have
adopted the philosophy that “any damn fool can be miserable.” When other options
exist, I choose to be comfortable when I’m in the field. Have a great trip Ron.. I’m
sure that I speak for others when I say that we all eagerly await seeing all the beautiful
images that we are sure you will deliver. Take care, be safe, and stay well… ;-)))
“any damn fool can be miserable”
Been there, done that, Roger. Never again if I can possibly avoid it!
ENJOY! 🙂 Haven’t been there, but I’m aware of it. We’ve had over an inch of rain since last night S. of Highwood and they were predicting snow above 6500 ft. – only in MT! 🙂
“only in MT!”
I’ve seen it snow every month of the year in Cut Bank, Judy. Gotta love Montana!
Those landscape shots were so beautiful that they brought a lump to my throat and tears to my eyes at 6:30 in the morning……..now I can really appreciate your passion for the region.
I wish you a fine trip !!
My passion is unbridled, Kris. Thank you.
Ron I envy you having such a place to return to again and again. Say Hi to the GROWs for me. Dana
It’s a special place, that’s for sure, Diana.