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Remember Montana in 2017?
For those who did not attend the Montana meetup in 2017 over Labor Day weekend, there were massive forest fires in Montana that year, and all of our meetup activities except meals had to be canceled. Well, Ray and I just got back from the South Dakota meetup, and on the way we took a detour to Glacier National Park. On the far shore of Lake McDonald, you can see the hills with all the fire-damaged trees.
Hills around Lake McDonald with fire-damaged trees 2020.
And closer to our home, starting at just west of Ellensburg, Washington, we got into the heavy smoke affecting Washington from wildfires currently burning in Oregon. This picture is from near Fall City, in the foothills of the Cascades on the west side. It almost feels like 2017, when there was ash on our car as we were leaving for the meetup in Montana.
Smoke along Highway 202, 9-11-20.
Our neighborhood sky looks similar to this (we live north, in Everett). Fortunately, there is rain in next week’s forecast. It can’t come too soon.
Published in Meetups
I wasn’t at R> Montana 2017, and like the guys in Henry V who didn’t bother to show up for the battle of Agincourt, I hold my manhood cheap because I wasn’t there. Nonetheless, I’m amazed at how well the Ricochetti who were there managed to put on a damn credible and funny radio show.
Other than @kelsurprise, every “actor” was an amateur, but I think they did a great job.
Lake MacDonald is one of my favorite Places in the world. JY are hoping to go again next summer.
I’ve been to Glacier Park at least a dozen times since 1978.
My favorite memory of the place is from 2008, when I spent a couple hours sitting on the shore at Apgar village, throwing rocks in the water with my then 2-year-old.
We were there again in 2017, a few weeks ahead of the meetup (just as the fires were getting started). This time in addition to spending time throwing rocks in the water, we hiked the Highline too.
He’s asked several times since about when we’re going back.
We are in Glacier now. In a couple of weeks, it will make a great story.
The smoke from a fire south of here has encompassed Whitefish. With no boat or bus service, Saint Mary, Many Glaciers, Two Medicine closed by the Blackfeet so EVERYBODY is on Going the the Sun road, we are trying to get a flight out three days early.
I hope for the best for you with that.
Feel free to look us up when you’re in the area. :-)
Sorry to hear that your vacation got so messed up by the smoke. I was thinking of taking a drive there this morning, as we live in the area, and now I’m glad we didn’t. If you get stuck in the valley, maybe we could have a small meetup this coming week.
The smoke was just the last straw. We thought we had done due diligence in making sure we could enjoy the park. Alas, we did not know what we did not know.
The Blackfeet have the right to close access to their lands but those of us, who did not comprehend the extent of the trails that would be blocked, could not ask the correct questions to those on the ground here.
It is our fault for thinking it would be manageable/enjoyable. AUDad is not a patient man on the best days. While I would enjoy seeing you, it would be beyond his hermit instincts.
I totally get it.
Yes, I heard certain areas were inaccessible because of the land closures and then it was going to open, but didn’t hear much more. It was a little confusing.
Some people did go sailing and others went kayaking, but yeah, having fires to the north, east, south, and west of Bigfork did diminish our range of options. Still a great time, though.
Two of the sweetest girls on Ricochet.
Mmmm, Huckleberry Cobbler.
I’m not so sure . . .
Yeah, Yakima is looking like Kalispell 2017 right now!
A treaty is a treaty.
One of their elders succumbed to COVID early on. Seeing how the Navajo nation has been ravaged, I understand their caution.
The Park service was less than forthcoming about the limitations to non-locals.
That is Kim and Heather appreciating a first rate sense of humor…
Here is another closer-up picture of a hillside on the shore of the lake, showing the fire-damaged trees.
Like the one we had with the Ukraine?