MONTANA - The Last Best Place

2022_1010_01051100-01-X3.jpg

I was wondering when the Tetons would pop up! Great thread, Tim. Wonderful pics. I was planning on taking her indoors to Germany next year but who knows ...

Meanwhile, a sound track to go with the thread ...
 
Think I'll just post a few Pics of Bannack town with little explanation, most of the buildings are open and we could walk around them freely.

20221011_104928-X4.jpg


20221011_105145-X4.jpg


20221011_104815-X4.jpg


20221011_105407-X4.jpg


Sister Ange

20221011_105700-X4.jpg


DID?

20221011_112108-X4.jpg


20221011_112552-X4.jpg


20221011_112740-X4.jpg


School, different years upstairs and downstairs

20221011_112758-X3.jpg


Moving quickly past the maths board!

P1040208-X3.jpg


!!
20221011_113221-X4.jpg


20221011_113301-X4.jpg


20221011_114253-X4.jpg
 
Think I'll just post a few Pics of Bannack town with little explanation, most of the buildings are open and we could walk around them freely.
Sister Ange

20221011_105700-X4.jpg

Brother Tim
<iframe width="676" height="380" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ke5Mr5eCF2U" title="Authentic Frontier Gibberish" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Looks a cracking trip.
 
I was wondering when the Tetons would pop up! Great thread, Tim. Wonderful pics. I was planning on taking her indoors to Germany next year but who knows ...

Meanwhile, a sound track to go with the thread ...

Excellent Pete, between this and Frank Zappa we have it covered.
 
Great write up.

Oh so fabulous photos. They do capture the moment.

Like the look of the town of Ennis.
 
Think I'll just post a few Pics of Bannack town with little explanation, most of the buildings are open and we could walk around them freely.

20221011_104928-X4.jpg


20221011_105145-X4.jpg


20221011_104815-X4.jpg


20221011_105407-X4.jpg


Sister Ange

20221011_105700-X4.jpg


DID?

20221011_112108-X4.jpg


20221011_112552-X4.jpg


20221011_112740-X4.jpg


School, different years upstairs and downstairs

20221011_112758-X3.jpg


Moving quickly past the maths board!

P1040208-X3.jpg


!!
20221011_113221-X4.jpg


20221011_113301-X4.jpg


20221011_114253-X4.jpg

Who's responsible for lookin after the town Tim it looks like proper living history;
 
Who's responsible for lookin after the town Tim it looks like proper living history;

Yes, more preservation of what's already there rather than trying to make more of it.

Coincidentally Ange and I remembered seeing a TV program featuring Bannack some years ago, perhaps on Abandoned Engineering or similar so it's certainly on the radar.
So the State of Montana owned most of it in the mid 1950's, Bannack became a National Historic Landmark in the 60's and there were still a few residents right up to the early 70's which probably explains some of the shocking decor in a couple of buildings!

20221011_114048-X3.jpg


The school which I pictured above was also a Masonic Temple/Lodge, I was incorrect in my earlier comment and remembered the lower floor was the school and upper floor the Lodge. The school didn't close until the 50's.

There's a Bannack Association which provides fundraising, events and volunteers etc. contributing to it's preservation, 10 years ago there was considerable flood damage which seems to have been put right and preventative measure taken.

The Bannack Association page provides a huge archive of stories which I've not yet looked at but here's a couple of newspaper cuttings if you can read them.

314499949_5964960596881617_4050242380660717045_n.jpg


317784818_6039208979456778_9125434212841581902_n.jpg


317090535_6020059894705020_9194586484822210217_n.jpg


314670004_5964904553553888_6191812335452450978_n.jpg


314423201_5964940933550250_7677578676842478972_n.jpg


Oct 30, 1864 "The HonestMistake: R. C. “Peg Leg” Rawley was the last man hanged at Bannack. Amede Bessette owned a saloon in Bannack where Rawley often came for a drink and to talk. Bessette says he “learned to like” Rawley and “thought he was ... a little, harmless, educated fool,” who was happy after indulging in a couple of drinks. The previous winter Rawley was found by Colonel McClean “on the range with frozen feet” and brought back to Bannack. His feet were in “bad condition” and Dr. Leavitt “dispaired for his life.” The damage from the frostbite was so severe the front half of each foot was amputated creating the impression “that he was walking on wooden pegs.” on the morning of October 31, 1864 residents in Bannack awoke to find the body of R.C. Rawley swinging from the gallows. Apparently, he was hanged for speaking out against the actions of the vigilantes. “In looking at the ragged human form suspended in mid-air (Bessestte said to himself), poor little fellow, you were certainly miserable enough without this.”
309886450_5859486510762360_8509421111221559120_n.jpg


309035047_5856866761024335_737115639125317141_n.jpg


Etc. etc.... :) !!!!
 
We head north through more cattle country

20221011_122525-X4.jpg


Then take the scenic Pioneer Mountain Byway always on the lookput for any wildlife

20221011_125027-X4.jpg


20221011_125503-X4.jpg


But only spot cattle

20221011_130823-X4.jpg


There's often more sage like plants in this south western corner of MT

20221011_134315-X4.jpg


It's just soooo tempting to have a quick try with the bear spray

20221011_135251-01-X3.jpg


The motor gets a wash and I admire it's butch looks...

20221011_182623-X4.jpg


Until some git parks next to it..

20221011_182545-X4.jpg


Over dinner I tell Ange about a plan for the morning, crossing the Skalkaho Pass, she notices even the map has (Local Inquiry Advised) written alongside the trail.

IMG_3895-01-X3.jpg


The look I get for a reply is totally non committal .... I think

20221011_175344-01-X4.jpg
 
Excellent Pete, between this and Frank Zappa we have it covered.

Not sure which Zappa pieces would be apt but I'll check with my pal who's a Zappa superfan. He's got EVERYTHING. And he's a BM rider too so not altogether daft! :D
 
Not sure which Zappa pieces would be apt but I'll check with my pal who's a Zappa superfan. He's got EVERYTHING. And he's a BM rider too so not altogether daft! :D

From post #16.....
<iframe width="740" height="495" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ialhaxhr7iA" title="Frank Zappa Moving To Montana" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
From post #16.....

Awesome thanks, I listened to it at post 16 and again now :beerjug:

In the morning we spot a Moose, it's way thwarted by the fence line....... the fence lines which changed both agriculture and a large part of the ecosystem.

Now I have the idea of a stoned Moose spending every day up and down the fence line without a care and singing.....

An' ride him all along the border line
With a
Pair of heavy-duty
Zircon-encrusted tweezers in my hand
Every other wrangler would say
I was mighty grand
By myself I wouldn't
Have no boss
But I'd be raisin' my lonely
Dental Floss

2022_1012_00442200-01-L.jpg
 
From post #16.....
<iframe width="740" height="495" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ialhaxhr7iA" title="Frank Zappa Moving To Montana" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Missed that! Doh! Thanks for posting.
 
Once we leave the tarmac it begins to feel like a proper wilderness up here

20221012_095647-01-X3.jpg


20221012_100003-01-X3.jpg


Looking back

20221012_100542-01-X4.jpg


20221012_100556-01-X4.jpg


The mapping in the car's own sat nav was generally good enough

P1040240-X3.jpg


But this is the level of detail I have on my own Garmin Montana, this meant taking some of the dead end trails deep into the forest a little less daunting in our search for some wildlife.

20221213_125745-X4.jpg


Back on the main trail and that old favourite, corrugations.

20221012_100604-01-X4.jpg


20221012_101849-01-X4.jpg


20221012_101908-01-X4.jpg


20221012_102015-01-X4.jpg


20221012_101343-01-X4.jpg


Stopping to make a brew we decide to take the long trail, Rock Creek Road, heading north up to the main road, it's starts off smooth with expensive looking ranches along the way.
Then the signs tell us no trailers etc and advise 4x4 if it's wet, we push on but it's a long uncomfortable and bumpy ride for Ange

20221012_112317-01-X3.jpg
 
Oh nearly forgot, all we saw were these and Big Horn sheep

2022_1013_01325300-01-XL.jpg
 


Back
Top Bottom