2012 Montana Conditions, Stoke and Whatev Thread

**anotherVTskibum** · 10-09-2024, 08:49 AM

Originally Posted by yeahman

Looks like they took it down? Big Sky threatening legal action? Lol. I saw the IG post on IgnoreBigSky. Glad nobody was hurt. Shit happens.

I'm still seeing the lift blog post, and I'm actually a bit surprised by that--he seems to have a tight relationship with big industry players, including Dopp, who I wouldn't expect would be too happy for that publicity.

He did respond to a comment and say that the replacement crossarm would be fabricated in the US and shouldn't affect the ability to be ready for winter operations.

Hopefully they don't have any further issues.

**Bunion 2020** · 10-09-2024, 02:32 PM

Extremely lucky no one was injured or worse.

I recall the time Big Sky was doing in house work on removing towers from SoCo. The tower base nuts had been backed way off and a lift mechanic climbed the tower to hook up the line, the tower shifted and fell to the ground with him on the tower head. He was not really ever the same and found another line of work.

Standing or flying lift towers can be dangerous.

**swimmy** · 10-09-2024, 04:05 PM

**Iowagriz** · 10-09-2024, 04:11 PM

Taking the van on a short tour of Yellowstone from Missoula. State and Federal Campgrounds appear to be closed around Hebgen Lake. I could go commercial in West Yellowstone to get a jump on the next morning, but does anyone have a boondocking favorite to share with me in that area? Front wheel drive promaster, so access needs to be somewhat reasonable.

Doing a big loop of the park, Old Faithful, around the lake, Grand Canyon and out the Mammoth entrance. Camping on the way back towards Livingston if you have favorites that direction.

**byates1** · 10-09-2024, 04:15 PM

Tons of pull offs dirt roads nowhereville out there. No need to pay. You'll find a spot no problem.

**Iowagriz** · 10-09-2024, 04:46 PM

Thought that might work, thanks for the confirmation.

**SUPERIOR** · 10-09-2024, 04:54 PM

Yeah, you can find some fun stuff around Henry’s Lake as well. Look around Red Rock Pass

Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

**Whiteroom_Guardian** · 10-10-2024, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by Iowagriz

Taking the van on a short tour of Yellowstone from Missoula. State and Federal Campgrounds appear to be closed around Hebgen Lake. I could go commercial in West Yellowstone to get a jump on the next morning, but does anyone have a boondocking favorite to share with me in that area? Front wheel drive promaster, so access needs to be somewhat reasonable.

Doing a big loop of the park, Old Faithful, around the lake, Grand Canyon and out the Mammoth entrance. Camping on the way back towards Livingston if you have favorites that direction.

Some really nice sites at Pine Creek Campground just south of Livingston. Paved all the way to the CG. Site #27 on the back loop is awesome. Stayed there a few weeks ago.

**I Skied Bandini Mountain** · 10-10-2024, 08:32 PM

Lots of spots around, I've parked around W Denny creek down near Lion's Head. Be advised, it's hunting season so a lot of good spots might have a trailer already parked on it, you might need to look around. Also, yogi like to hang around the flats, be bear aware.

**Norseman** · 10-11-2024, 07:46 AM

Should've gotten up earlier.

Made coffee at 4 and jogged across town to the trailhead and on up, but the show was already fading by the time I got up to the spots.

Struggled with wind and unsteady wimpy tripod, but got a couple mediocre shots.

Hopefully someone with better lenses puts up some shots!

**Sylvan** · 10-11-2024, 08:14 AM

Nice Norse. Had a show up this way too. Gorgeous.

**byates1** · 10-11-2024, 08:34 AM

I sleep outside of Bozeman. Normally 0 cars ppl etc. last night I was like wtf. Like a concert. Ppl cars everywhere. Every college kid in Bozeman is driving around the back roads at 11 pm. Such is life.

**singlesline** · 10-11-2024, 09:07 AM

I didn't go anywhere besides my driveway, but around midnight there was really nice naked eye-visible fast movement and flashing. Took a video and if I hadn't shot it myself I don't think I would believe it wasn't a time lapse/fast-forward.

Fuck the neighbors a few houses north with the super-bright omnidirectional lights on the front of their house. Get some downlights and cut the light pollution BS (or you know...turn them off if you're not using them). But as long as I stood where I blocked them from view I got a nice show.

**Norseman** · 10-11-2024, 09:29 AM

yeah the fast rippling was super cool.

**I Skied Bandini Mountain** · 10-11-2024, 10:59 AM

Last night was awesome, watched the Niners beat the seahags, then drove out by Ringling to get away from the crowds. Took a shitload of pics and got back in at 2 am. Now I need to do some timelapse processing and I am not good at this.

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**I Skied Bandini Mountain** · 10-11-2024, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by singlesline

I didn't go anywhere besides my driveway, but around midnight there was really nice naked eye-visible fast movement and flashing. Took a video and if I hadn't shot it myself I don't think I would believe it wasn't a time lapse/fast-forward.

Fuck the neighbors a few houses north with the super-bright omnidirectional lights on the front of their house. Get some downlights and cut the light pollution BS (or you know...turn them off if you're not using them). But as long as I stood where I blocked them from view I got a nice show.

We've had some surprisingly good luck in our neighborhood by sending a nice note to a couple of neighbors about dark skies. One has now turned off their driveway lights at night and the other changed out their prison yard patio flood lights to very muted down lights.

**byates1** · 10-11-2024, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by I Skied Bandini Mountain

Last night was awesome, watched the Niners beat the seahags, then drove out by Ringling to get away from the crowds. Took a shitload of pics and got back in at 2 am. Now I need to do some timelapse processing and I am not good at this.

Nice!!

I sleep at that resivoir sometimes does not get more quiet!

**singlesline** · 10-11-2024, 01:41 PM

Originally Posted by I Skied Bandini Mountain

We've had some surprisingly good luck in our neighborhood by sending a nice note to a couple of neighbors about dark skies. One has now turned off their driveway lights at night and the other changed out their prison yard patio flood lights to very muted down lights.

Yeah, that's probably worth a shot. I only moved onto this block in August so I might give it a little more time before I do that.

And maybe replace my own poorly diffused exterior lights first

. Although I don't try to leave them on at night...and I still haven't figured out which combination of light switches turn them all on. I know they work because I've seen them on but I have no idea how I turned them on.

I eventually figured out that one of the exterior switches only works if the garage *interior* lights are also turned on...but the other one remains a mystery...at least they are stuck "off" rather than "on"