2021-11 Montana

 

2021-11

Old grain silo along Montana's cattle and some sheep ranches
rolling hills covered in grasses and hay

Wild flower at Grasshopper Campground

Montana, Lincoln

Campground: Lincoln, Hooper Park. $25 30 amp electric, water. No dump station. Use the gas station down the street. Scruffy looking park with one section having very tall fir trees, possibly Douglas fir. Grass has not been cut all season by the looks of it. Most sites are dry camp sites, no hook-ups. But they appear to be the nicer sites among-st the trees.

only a few campsites with electric, not a well maintained park.
doesn't look like the grass has been cut all season.

Campground: Lewis and Clark National Forest, Grasshopper campground. $10 water available from a hand pump, pit toilets. Each site has picnic table, fire ring and forested settings. $5 senior rate. Nice stream running between most of the sites.

forest road leading to Grasshopper Campground

took the first campsite, next to a stream
large picnic table.

Campground: Lewistown, Kiwanis club sponsored rest stop/free overnight camping. Donations are requested. Nice setup on the edge of town. Easy in and out. Water available.

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Campground: Malta Montana, Trafton Park. A city park with playgrounds/ball fields. Unmarked campsites. Pick a spot near a picnic table. Water available. camping:  $5.00

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Lincoln Montana: hwy 200

ordered a chicken Cesar salad
iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, green pepper, onion and time chucks of
chicken,oh my

I understand the historic society is rebuilding this log cabin

in Hooper park where I'm staying
the skate board/bike area very popular

I hadn’t planned on writing anything about Lincoln, as it’s one of the many small towns along the back roads. This one got it’s start with mining and lumber. In 1898, an old horse named Ol Mike, tripped on a rock of lead and copper kicking off the mining industry in these parts. But before that all occurred, Meriwether Lewis had split off from The Lewis and Clark expedition heading back east in 1806 passing through here with the intent to document more of the country. So much history can be found passing through these small towns.

Note: ATV’s are very popular around here. With some using them as daily transportation around town. Lots of them are in the campground as well. Very respectful, not speeding around in the campground.

Blackfoot Pathways, Sculpture in the Wild

The reason I’m writing about this small town is the establishment of one of the most unusual Art Installations I’ve ever come across. All designed to be a part of the local area and the Ponderosa Pine Forest it sits in. Which resides in the Lewis and Clark National Forest on the edge of town. Major environmental artists from all over the world came here to create spectacular pieces of art. Made from natures materials and providing insight in an artistic way of the people and places around here. There is an ongoing program to continue creating art through this organization.

Oh, and I discovered it by chance by checking out the app Atlas-of-the-Obscure. Just like so many other travelers, I could easily have overlooked this Art exhibit as there is no visitor center in town and only one sign pointing to the location.

The Sculpture in the Wild was only a very short walk or ride on my bike from my campsite. What a spectacular morning to enjoy a walk through the Ponderosa Pine forest. Pathways lead to each of the sculptures in their natural settings.

Some of my Favorites:

The Tee Pee Burners 

Montana Memory: by Kevin O’Dwyer, Ireland. The Tee Pee Burners were a part of the lumber industry as far back as the late 1800’s. This art installation of a Tee Pee Burner in the park can be enjoyed inside and outside by it’s form. It is one of the original Tee Pee Burners. The interior is used for presentations and has some photos from the area around the side walls depicting the height of the lumber industry.

Picture Frame: by Jaakko Pernu, Finland.

Picture Frame: by Jaakko Pernu, Finland. A large frame made of wood, the interior are pieces of branches intertwined. The perspective is “a huge picture frame allows you to assimilate the endeavor of mankind comparing it to nature.”

House of Sky: by Alan Counihan, Ireland.

House of Sky: by Alan Counihan, Ireland. Inspired by a Montana writer who described “… a single great house of sky”.

The Tree Circus: by Patrick Dougherty, USA.

The Tree Circus: by Patrick Dougherty, USA. The design was to be a part of the surrounding Ponderosa Pines. Whimsical and enchanting from my perspective. So many more, but I won’t try to describe all of them. The pictures will have to do.

The walk among the tall Ponderosa, the natural undergrowth, wild flowers and simple dirt pathways made for a very full-filling experience and some exercise without even knowing it. Glad I decided to stay in the area for a few days. Note: this is not a comprehensive list of all the art pieces. you’ll have to come visit to see them all.

exterior made from burnt wood
interior open to the sky
had a magical glow

is it under construction, or is it falling apart

largest collection of newspapers used in an art exhibit

nature

I decided to take a not so direct route on my way to Lewistown. A town I happened to pick to have my mail delivered “general delivery”. Instead, I ended up at the Grasshopper Campground and visit to the Castle Ghost Town. Grasshopper is one of those national forest campgrounds, tucked away in the Lewis and Clark NF. A nice stop for a few days. Lots of shade as I’m just beginning to get into the hotter parts of the country. Met some nice folks from the Salt Lake City area as well. They are traveling in a Class B camper. Not quite retired yet, but getting close.

along the county roads

Grasshopper Campground

view from my campsite

Rather than take the 15 mile dirt road from the campground to the ghost town, I got back on pavement and drove around to the opposite end, where I’d only have to go a couple of miles on a much better section of the dirt road. Hardly a single other car on the paved back-roads I was taking. Course I had to stop for the herd of cattle that were being moved from one pasture to the next. Caused quite a traffic jam for one (me). But I was able to drive slowly through the herd of cattle with no incidents.

The Castle Ghost town is on private property, but I was able hike through the thick scrubby vegetation to get to the few remaining buildings. I didn’t go inside any as they were pretty much falling down. And I might add I almost fell into a hole near one of the structures. Note to self, watch where your walking.

Onto Lewistown where I picked up my mail. The town is a pretty nice old western town. Many shops still open and active in the downtown area. Unlike so many small towns that are practically deserted. The heat has arrived and is expected to reach the 100 degree mark throughout the next week. I’m relocating to another small town that has a city park for $5 a night, and some large cottonwood trees for shade. Will stay a few days before my trek east and onto Northern Michigan to visit my sister Ann.

More pictures:

Grasshopper campground and Castle Ghost Town

Blackfoot Pathways, Sculpture in the Wild, the Lincoln NF