One last? backpack planned for next few days, then probably heading east
4PM 9/30/2012
Hmmm.... I thought I had sent this earlier. Just found it in my drafts - will update it soon.
Hi everyone,
So I'm back in Choteau, MT after a pleasant 5-day backpack to the northern portion of the Chinese Wall in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. I've enjoyed the continued above-average temperatures and dry conditions for this time of year, though much of the time it has been quite smoky from fires nearby - and much through forest already burnt just a few years back, though it was a varied mosaic of burnt and mature-growth forest. On the way in the aspen leaves and forest undergrowth were at the peak of their fall bright reds & yellows. On my return, many of the same trees had dropped half their leaves, remaining leaves brown spotted black, and the undergrowth leaves were drying out and dulling to tans & browns.
I had managed to wear out my tires on all the gravel roads I've been driving, so today I bought a new set of tires here in town (a locally popular brand purportedly good on the gravel roads in this area.) I had gotten a quote from a shop near Great Falls for about $600 and these came to $560, though no wheel alignment was included as in the other quote. Probably missed out on an excuse to visit Great Falls (unless I start heading east from here...)
Tonight I hope to drive a bit further south to Augusta, MT and tomorrow begin another backpack from the Benchmark trailhead back into "The Bob" to take a look at the southern portion of the Chinese Wall - Benchmark seems to be the more popular starting point to the wall, and there is a good vantage point on a hill called Prairie Reef early on in the hike, in case the weather turns nastier than expected sooner than expected on me. The weather has been changing some and I hope for somewhat better atmospherics this time. About mid-next week a more significant "pattern shift" is forecast, with rain and much colder temperatures.
After this backpack, I'm considering making it down to Yellowstone for a second brief drive-through, anticipating maybe some snow due to the weather shift, and in any event, fall conditions. But I may skip that if the weather becomes too nasty.
Then I will be heading east. Not sure what I should/could see along the way/out of the way in the midwest. Any suggestions of oughta-see things? I had thought I would have much more time to look around there, look at some of the tall-grass prairie lands, the major rivers, historic POI's like following the Lewis & Clark trail, etc., but I guess I spent extra time around the northern rockies, which I guess is OK.
I will likely take advantage of an invitation to visit Sandy's Sister who lives in Manchester, MI which is a bit east of Detroit. I also do want to pass through Cleveland. I may want to touch other areas around the great lakes. Not sure what the state of the autumn leaves will be by the time I get east of the great lakes, but passing through northern NY & Vermont has been on my agenda.
Gary
4PM 9/30/2012
Hello again...
So I did follow through as planned and spent just two days up to the "lookout" on Prairie Reef with still disappointingly hazy views of the southern portion of the Chinese Wall. Unfortunately I was there just a day too soon, or rather, didn't stay another day, because it did start to clear up just as I was driving away from the trailhead!
Now I'm in Helena on my way back to Yellowstone. I plan to enter at West Yellowstone and leave a few days later via one of the two east-bound roads. I expect to be there during the first winter-like storm to hit this area (tue-fri Oct 2-5) so it could be interesting, depending on how much it snows. I'll be trying to find out whether they might close the east-bound roads for the season if there is significant snow - both of these roads go over high elevation passes. I do have new tires AND two sets of chains (4 total, for both front and back, since I have AWD) I plan to update you of what I've learned later today or in a day or two.
Gary
6PM 9/30/2012
Hi Gary,
Heard about the cold front that is supposed to move in back your way. Be careful. Hope you have enough warm clothing and a warm sleeping bag. According to the weather channel, the fall foliage has already peaked in the northern great lakes and northern Maine and NH and VT. We're beginning to get color here but peak in CT is mid to late Oct, although I think there is always a lot of nice color into November.
When you get here, we have a good local garage in case your car needs a tune up.
Have fun!
Liz
2PM 10/2/2012
Liz:
I do have warm clothes and sleeping bag at the ready, and just rearranged my car to make it easier to just crawl into the back to sleep without having to pitch a tent and deal with the wind and rain - except - I don't yet have a good solution for keeping windows open a crack without rain getting in - probably will use duct tape to attach a "rain-flap" of some kind.
Forecast is saying most of the snow will be north of Yellowstone, so I think I'll just need to contend with some wind and cold & rain. (Too bad... no really awsome picts of snow in Yellowstone as I had hoped.) I probably will still head through there, assuming I can get confirmed that the fax I just sent to take care of some important business (loooong story, groan!!!) did indeed make it and is acceptable... So at the moment I'm still stuck at the library in Bozeman north of Yellowstone.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Thursday, September 27, 2012
RoadTrip: add visit Karen in MI to agenda. Bought new tires in Choteau between backpack trips into The Bob
8PM 9/25/2012
Hi Gary,
I'm at Bud's. Where are you and what have you seen?
Karen, my sister in Michigan said she hasn't heard from you yet. She's off work until November so you should really try to stop in. They will welcome you. Do you still have her phone and address? Let me know if you need it again.
Bud says when you come back you can stay with us if you want to. We can come and go whenever we want to for our travel pursuits. He says he might want to drive up to Alaska with his trailer in June. I had told him I was considering the ferry. Like driving up to Bellingham ... I want to see Mt. Baker and the Northern Cascade National Park on the way up.
...
Let me know what's going on!
Sandy
7PM 9/27/2012
Hi Sandy,
I'm back in Choteau after a nice 5-day backpack to the northern half of the "Chinese Wall" in the Bob Marshal wilderness just west of here. Since the weather still keeps being "sunny" (though smoky as well most of the time) I may do another several day backpack to the southern portion of the wall starting from Augusta - the Benchmark trailhead, to be exact. The southern portion seems to be the more popular destination. I may just go as far as a prominent peak that has a good view of the wall - depending on time and weather.
I decided I have to bite the bullet and get new tires. one of them is bald and the other three nearly so. I got a quote from a shop in the Great falls area but decided to go with a local shop here in Choteau - he sells a tread design popular in this area with all the gravel roads - seems appropriate for me... ...and the price is slightly cheaper than the other quote. I'm getting that done tomorrow afternoon. Only wrinkle is I can't get an alignment done unless I wait a week - so - I may decide to do that later at some point - which works out with my budget constraints because that's an extra cost...
So, I'll have limited funds for October for gas & food and my "lodging costs" will have to continue to be near-zero - not a problem so far as long as I stay away from towns. Tonight, alas, is an exception - $15 for a campground right here in town, convenient since this library is open til 8 and the "tent-city" at the CG has power!!! (Sort of a hexagonal shed arrangement with a "counter-top" etc near the center and 6 "partitions" delineating the different camp-sites. Also, I'll be doing laundry there (coin-operated - I've gotten to rinsing out socks & such during my backpacks, but still find the machine and drier hard to wean myself from - along with occasional hot showers...
Anyway, approximately: $600 gone for tires. 1700 miles from here to Karen at $4/gallon and 22mpg on my subaru, or about $300 to drive straight here to Karen's - google maps says it would take 30hrs. I had about $200 left over from last month so I have a "discretionary" $400 to spend in October. Ordinarily about $300 of that would be food, but I still have a lot of uneaten food I've been carrying around. so lets say $200 for more food leaving $200 worth of extra driving I could do. That could get me back for a 2nd look at Yellowstone in autumn. hmm... Or, Michigan to Connecticut by end of October - that was my original commitment.
I don't believe it! several times now you've told me Karen's name, address, email, phone, etc but I STILL don't have her in my contact list, and apparently all of those times were verbally over the phone written down on random scraps of paper, because searching my emails I find NO mention in any of our email conversations of her contact info. SORRY - all those times I've "intended" to add it to my contacts as soon as I get back to the computer, but alas, I haven't. (Actually, I do have her phone#) Would you please be so kind and tell me again - IN WRITING BY EMAIL all in one place - maybe even with an email subject like "Karen ____'s contact info", her full name, mailing address, phone, email. Thanks. <end melodrama>
Bud's offer and travel plans sure sound attractive at this time. Hopefully things won't have soured too much between you and him between now and then! Be sure to be good to him!
What's Peter up to these days? Do you two have any travel plans upcoming?
7PM 9/26/2012
Hi Gary,
Glad to hear from you! Be sure and get out of the mountain area before it snows and blows.
Suprised you are still in Glacier area -- ya, it was my favorite of the parks too.
Bud and I get along great; he's positive and mellow.
I don't have any plans to travel with Peter. He's in Venezuela with a friend.
Karen & Michael info ... Manchester, MI
Take I-94 (I-80 turns into I-94 in Chicago) to Chelsea/Manchester exit. Go south until you get to a red light (about 10 miles), turn left that will be Pleasant Lake Rd.
When you get to Schnieder Rd. turn right (it's the only way you can turn) follow until you get to a stop sign with a stone church and graveyard. Just past that about half a mile, look for Bemis Rd. on your right. Follow along the dirt road through the woods and when you come to the top of the hill, turn left down the dirt driveway. If you pass a big beautiful white farm house on the right, you went to far -- that's Bob's house! Stop in and say "hi" to him and or Linda.
Sandy
Hi Sandy,
Thanks. Finally added it to my contacts (also can search for it in my emails.)
Does Karen have an email address?
Now I'm off to get new tires. will be back in the library later this afternoon before heading south to Augusta and find a camping spot on the way to tomorrow's trailhead - hope to be backpacking again for a few more days.
Gary
I think Karen's email is ... but she responds better to phone since she isn't at work now.
Where is Augusta?
Sandy
3PM 9/30/2012
Hi Sandy & Karen?
Thanks for Karen's email address. Unfortunately at the moment I've still had virtually no phone service using my providers (AT&T or TMobile) so I haven't had a reason to activate either of these pay-as-you-go plans. But that may change in about a week when I expect to be spending nearly full-time on the interstate heading to Michigan as fast as I can (Or so is my current intention, subject to getting way-laid by any compelling distraction along the way.)
First, though, I'm heading for a 2nd pass through Yellowstone, timed to coincide with the upcoming winter storm due to hit the Rockies this Tues-Fri (Oct 2-5.) My plan is to enter at West Yellowstone and exit on one of the two east-bound roads. Hope to have a look at some of the geysers with extra-large clouds of steam due to the cold weather, and if I'm lucky, snow on the ground or at least with snow-covered hills as backdrop. Hopefully it won't be too much snow to keep the roads closed for the season. (I'll be researching the past history on winter closures etc while I'm here at the Library in Helena, MT.)
Then I plan to head straight east to Michigan. I expect that'll take me at least 4 days (I guess I'm allowing for some detours to take a peek at on-the-way POI's and/or to find a "free" spot to overnight in some Nat. Forest or such.
Sandy, assuming Karen won't see this email for a while (or at all if the address isn't right) would you please call her for me and tell her the gist of my plans to indeed come her way within the next two weeks, (and let me know whether this would or not inconvenience her at this time. Thanks!
I think it would be nice to visit for maybe three days or so - see some things in the area, but I then want to also move on asap to my sister's in Connecticut (with only one specifically scheduled stop in Cleveland) though if I have time I would like to maybe veer north hugging the great lakes and northern NY into VT before turning south thru Mass into CT.
I'd be curious what the state of the autumn leaves are at this time - it's already past-prime as far as rthe aspens here in the Rockies, but that may precede the peak for eastern forests....
Karen, if you are reading this before I've managed to contact you more directly by phone, It's nice to have the opportunity to talk to you, and I'm looking forward to meeting you soon.
Thanks both,
Gary
6PM 10/1/2012
Hi Gar,
I left a message for Karen on her cell phone that you should be there in a few weeks.
...
Please be careful with the snow and road closures!! I know that Wyoming closes I-80 when snow hits and if you don't have chains you get a big fine if they catch you. The wind blows like a bastard through MT, WY and the Dakotas. I don't know about Nebraska or Iowa.
I'm gonna hike to see the tule elk with Darlene, Kathrin and other women tomorrow.
I booked a one month trip to Guatemala to study spanish and see the mayan ruins and such. I return on Thanksgiving day.
Sandy
Hi Gary,
I'm at Bud's. Where are you and what have you seen?
Karen, my sister in Michigan said she hasn't heard from you yet. She's off work until November so you should really try to stop in. They will welcome you. Do you still have her phone and address? Let me know if you need it again.
Bud says when you come back you can stay with us if you want to. We can come and go whenever we want to for our travel pursuits. He says he might want to drive up to Alaska with his trailer in June. I had told him I was considering the ferry. Like driving up to Bellingham ... I want to see Mt. Baker and the Northern Cascade National Park on the way up.
...
Let me know what's going on!
Sandy
7PM 9/27/2012
Hi Sandy,
I'm back in Choteau after a nice 5-day backpack to the northern half of the "Chinese Wall" in the Bob Marshal wilderness just west of here. Since the weather still keeps being "sunny" (though smoky as well most of the time) I may do another several day backpack to the southern portion of the wall starting from Augusta - the Benchmark trailhead, to be exact. The southern portion seems to be the more popular destination. I may just go as far as a prominent peak that has a good view of the wall - depending on time and weather.
I decided I have to bite the bullet and get new tires. one of them is bald and the other three nearly so. I got a quote from a shop in the Great falls area but decided to go with a local shop here in Choteau - he sells a tread design popular in this area with all the gravel roads - seems appropriate for me... ...and the price is slightly cheaper than the other quote. I'm getting that done tomorrow afternoon. Only wrinkle is I can't get an alignment done unless I wait a week - so - I may decide to do that later at some point - which works out with my budget constraints because that's an extra cost...
So, I'll have limited funds for October for gas & food and my "lodging costs" will have to continue to be near-zero - not a problem so far as long as I stay away from towns. Tonight, alas, is an exception - $15 for a campground right here in town, convenient since this library is open til 8 and the "tent-city" at the CG has power!!! (Sort of a hexagonal shed arrangement with a "counter-top" etc near the center and 6 "partitions" delineating the different camp-sites. Also, I'll be doing laundry there (coin-operated - I've gotten to rinsing out socks & such during my backpacks, but still find the machine and drier hard to wean myself from - along with occasional hot showers...
Anyway, approximately: $600 gone for tires. 1700 miles from here to Karen at $4/gallon and 22mpg on my subaru, or about $300 to drive straight here to Karen's - google maps says it would take 30hrs. I had about $200 left over from last month so I have a "discretionary" $400 to spend in October. Ordinarily about $300 of that would be food, but I still have a lot of uneaten food I've been carrying around. so lets say $200 for more food leaving $200 worth of extra driving I could do. That could get me back for a 2nd look at Yellowstone in autumn. hmm... Or, Michigan to Connecticut by end of October - that was my original commitment.
I don't believe it! several times now you've told me Karen's name, address, email, phone, etc but I STILL don't have her in my contact list, and apparently all of those times were verbally over the phone written down on random scraps of paper, because searching my emails I find NO mention in any of our email conversations of her contact info. SORRY - all those times I've "intended" to add it to my contacts as soon as I get back to the computer, but alas, I haven't. (Actually, I do have her phone#) Would you please be so kind and tell me again - IN WRITING BY EMAIL all in one place - maybe even with an email subject like "Karen ____'s contact info", her full name, mailing address, phone, email. Thanks. <end melodrama>
Bud's offer and travel plans sure sound attractive at this time. Hopefully things won't have soured too much between you and him between now and then! Be sure to be good to him!
What's Peter up to these days? Do you two have any travel plans upcoming?
7PM 9/26/2012
Hi Gary,
Glad to hear from you! Be sure and get out of the mountain area before it snows and blows.
Suprised you are still in Glacier area -- ya, it was my favorite of the parks too.
Bud and I get along great; he's positive and mellow.
I don't have any plans to travel with Peter. He's in Venezuela with a friend.
Karen & Michael info ... Manchester, MI
Take I-94 (I-80 turns into I-94 in Chicago) to Chelsea/Manchester exit. Go south until you get to a red light (about 10 miles), turn left that will be Pleasant Lake Rd.
When you get to Schnieder Rd. turn right (it's the only way you can turn) follow until you get to a stop sign with a stone church and graveyard. Just past that about half a mile, look for Bemis Rd. on your right. Follow along the dirt road through the woods and when you come to the top of the hill, turn left down the dirt driveway. If you pass a big beautiful white farm house on the right, you went to far -- that's Bob's house! Stop in and say "hi" to him and or Linda.
Sandy
Hi Sandy,
Thanks. Finally added it to my contacts (also can search for it in my emails.)
Does Karen have an email address?
Now I'm off to get new tires. will be back in the library later this afternoon before heading south to Augusta and find a camping spot on the way to tomorrow's trailhead - hope to be backpacking again for a few more days.
Gary
I think Karen's email is ... but she responds better to phone since she isn't at work now.
Where is Augusta?
Sandy
3PM 9/30/2012
Hi Sandy & Karen?
Thanks for Karen's email address. Unfortunately at the moment I've still had virtually no phone service using my providers (AT&T or TMobile) so I haven't had a reason to activate either of these pay-as-you-go plans. But that may change in about a week when I expect to be spending nearly full-time on the interstate heading to Michigan as fast as I can (Or so is my current intention, subject to getting way-laid by any compelling distraction along the way.)
First, though, I'm heading for a 2nd pass through Yellowstone, timed to coincide with the upcoming winter storm due to hit the Rockies this Tues-Fri (Oct 2-5.) My plan is to enter at West Yellowstone and exit on one of the two east-bound roads. Hope to have a look at some of the geysers with extra-large clouds of steam due to the cold weather, and if I'm lucky, snow on the ground or at least with snow-covered hills as backdrop. Hopefully it won't be too much snow to keep the roads closed for the season. (I'll be researching the past history on winter closures etc while I'm here at the Library in Helena, MT.)
Then I plan to head straight east to Michigan. I expect that'll take me at least 4 days (I guess I'm allowing for some detours to take a peek at on-the-way POI's and/or to find a "free" spot to overnight in some Nat. Forest or such.
Sandy, assuming Karen won't see this email for a while (or at all if the address isn't right) would you please call her for me and tell her the gist of my plans to indeed come her way within the next two weeks, (and let me know whether this would or not inconvenience her at this time. Thanks!
I think it would be nice to visit for maybe three days or so - see some things in the area, but I then want to also move on asap to my sister's in Connecticut (with only one specifically scheduled stop in Cleveland) though if I have time I would like to maybe veer north hugging the great lakes and northern NY into VT before turning south thru Mass into CT.
I'd be curious what the state of the autumn leaves are at this time - it's already past-prime as far as rthe aspens here in the Rockies, but that may precede the peak for eastern forests....
Karen, if you are reading this before I've managed to contact you more directly by phone, It's nice to have the opportunity to talk to you, and I'm looking forward to meeting you soon.
Thanks both,
Gary
6PM 10/1/2012
Hi Gar,
I left a message for Karen on her cell phone that you should be there in a few weeks.
...
Please be careful with the snow and road closures!! I know that Wyoming closes I-80 when snow hits and if you don't have chains you get a big fine if they catch you. The wind blows like a bastard through MT, WY and the Dakotas. I don't know about Nebraska or Iowa.
I'm gonna hike to see the tule elk with Darlene, Kathrin and other women tomorrow.
I booked a one month trip to Guatemala to study spanish and see the mayan ruins and such. I return on Thanksgiving day.
Sandy
Monday, September 17, 2012
RoadTrip: Back in the USA after Waterton. Eyeing the Chinese Wall in The Bob.
9PM 9/17/20112
After a few days of good hikes in Waterton, I made it back across the border with hours to spare before my deadline to leave Canada. I asked whether I would have trouble reentering Canada later if I wanted to take the northern route around the great lakes and the guy said no, now that I have shown myself reliable, that would be in my favor. Well, that's good to know! hmmph!
Rather late at the moment here in Browning, Mt (the town on the Blackfeet Indian reservation with the internet access in the cafe' attached to the grocery store.) Got gas, food, have been researching access to the Chinese Wall part of the Bob Marshal Wilderness where I hope to head next (after maybe one more hike in Glacier Park.) Have a roadside turnoff in mind back towards Glacier to overnight tonight.
Weather still holding up for "forseeable future" next 5 days, so I hope to get to "The Bob" within that timeframe. Then I'll need to decide whether I start heading east or squeeze in some more Rockies, will probably go back through Yellowstone & the Tetons again, maybe visit the Library in Salt Lake City which I've read is awsome... Probably that's as far as I go before heading east. Colorado will have to wait...
After a few days of good hikes in Waterton, I made it back across the border with hours to spare before my deadline to leave Canada. I asked whether I would have trouble reentering Canada later if I wanted to take the northern route around the great lakes and the guy said no, now that I have shown myself reliable, that would be in my favor. Well, that's good to know! hmmph!
Rather late at the moment here in Browning, Mt (the town on the Blackfeet Indian reservation with the internet access in the cafe' attached to the grocery store.) Got gas, food, have been researching access to the Chinese Wall part of the Bob Marshal Wilderness where I hope to head next (after maybe one more hike in Glacier Park.) Have a roadside turnoff in mind back towards Glacier to overnight tonight.
Weather still holding up for "forseeable future" next 5 days, so I hope to get to "The Bob" within that timeframe. Then I'll need to decide whether I start heading east or squeeze in some more Rockies, will probably go back through Yellowstone & the Tetons again, maybe visit the Library in Salt Lake City which I've read is awsome... Probably that's as far as I go before heading east. Colorado will have to wait...
Thursday, September 13, 2012
RoadTrip: a week in the Crows Nest Pass & Castle Spcl Mgt areas, heading to Waterton
9PM 9/13/2012
Hello everyone,
I'm back in Pincher Creek, the town just nothnortheast of Waterton, after spending about a week in the Crows Nest Pass area and the Castle Special Management Area just northwest and west of Pincher creek. Had a few very frosty mornings and some very blustery days, some hail & snow, with high's reportedly around 11c, but now it's warming up again, at least next day or so..
Wish I had enough time to sort thru some picts, but again, not this time...
Plan to spend a few more days in Waterton, then back into the US, to hang out some more in the rockies, at least while the weather is good.. Still uncertain when I'll be seriously heading east. Probably in another dozen days.
Gary
Hello everyone,
I'm back in Pincher Creek, the town just nothnortheast of Waterton, after spending about a week in the Crows Nest Pass area and the Castle Special Management Area just northwest and west of Pincher creek. Had a few very frosty mornings and some very blustery days, some hail & snow, with high's reportedly around 11c, but now it's warming up again, at least next day or so..
Wish I had enough time to sort thru some picts, but again, not this time...
Plan to spend a few more days in Waterton, then back into the US, to hang out some more in the rockies, at least while the weather is good.. Still uncertain when I'll be seriously heading east. Probably in another dozen days.
Gary
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
RoadTrip: been in the Crowsnest Pass Area, heading back to Waterton, then US
6PM 9/10/2012
Hi Gary,
I'm in Port Townsend on the Olympic Penninsula right now.
They don't have a card reader so I can't send photos.
I loved Mt. Rainier and also went to Mt. St. Helens.
Where are you? Hope you are safe and having fun!
Sandy
4PM 9/12/2012
Hi Sandy,
I've been hanging out in the Crowsnest Pass area in the Canadian Rockies north of Waterton, Today I think I'm heading back to Waterton for a few days before crossing back into the US.
Hopefully I'll be let back into the US!
Into Canada I got a bit hassled, they searched my car. The guy said they were concerned because I was "rootless" (no obligations that would keep me from potentially staying in Canada.) They gave me a special certificate that said I could not take a job or go to school here, and I would have to leave within 10 days, which is 5 days from now.
Sheesh!
After you headed west, I stayed in the Many Glacier area a few more days, doing all the hikes as far as I could in one day - to two of the same passes as I did from the Going to the Sun road, and Redrock Pass that is further west on the ridge as the "tunnel" (forget the name) towards Lk Elizabeth.
When I get back into the US I'll probably spend a few more days in Glacier then head a bit south into the Bob Marshall Wilderness hopefully doing a two to four day backpack along the "Chinese Wall" that's supposed to be a spectacular part of the Continental Divide Trail.
Then I'll have to decide whether I have time to head south again into Colorado or start heading east. I suspect I will have to go east.
Gary
10AM 9/20/2012
Hi gar bear,
I am using a touch screen at bend Oregon visitor center.
Looking at the town as place to settle some point.
Canada sucks at the border. They hasseled me, too.
I just finished circumnavigating the Olympic peninsula.
More later and photos.
Sandy
Hi Gary,
I'm in Port Townsend on the Olympic Penninsula right now.
They don't have a card reader so I can't send photos.
I loved Mt. Rainier and also went to Mt. St. Helens.
Where are you? Hope you are safe and having fun!
Sandy
4PM 9/12/2012
Hi Sandy,
I've been hanging out in the Crowsnest Pass area in the Canadian Rockies north of Waterton, Today I think I'm heading back to Waterton for a few days before crossing back into the US.
Hopefully I'll be let back into the US!
Into Canada I got a bit hassled, they searched my car. The guy said they were concerned because I was "rootless" (no obligations that would keep me from potentially staying in Canada.) They gave me a special certificate that said I could not take a job or go to school here, and I would have to leave within 10 days, which is 5 days from now.
Sheesh!
After you headed west, I stayed in the Many Glacier area a few more days, doing all the hikes as far as I could in one day - to two of the same passes as I did from the Going to the Sun road, and Redrock Pass that is further west on the ridge as the "tunnel" (forget the name) towards Lk Elizabeth.
When I get back into the US I'll probably spend a few more days in Glacier then head a bit south into the Bob Marshall Wilderness hopefully doing a two to four day backpack along the "Chinese Wall" that's supposed to be a spectacular part of the Continental Divide Trail.
Then I'll have to decide whether I have time to head south again into Colorado or start heading east. I suspect I will have to go east.
Gary
10AM 9/20/2012
Hi gar bear,
I am using a touch screen at bend Oregon visitor center.
Looking at the town as place to settle some point.
Canada sucks at the border. They hasseled me, too.
I just finished circumnavigating the Olympic peninsula.
More later and photos.
Sandy
Friday, September 7, 2012
RoadTrip: stuck on this GV + SIMcard tarnologybaby - throw me a briarpatch!
8PM 9/7/2012
aaargh!
I seem to be able to find my way around in the woods ok but computers and tech stuff I cant deal with anymore! What a curse technology can be! what a waste of time!!!!
Been sitting here at McDonalds in Pincher Creek trying to figure out how to receive and or make phone calls using any one of a number of options I thought I had - that I SHOULD have, that SHOULD work. But don't.
Not in the order that I've tried things, but maybe in some "logical" order: If anyone of you has any helpful insights into this the first to chime ip will be the first to be appreciated, (but all help aprreciated - no need to be the first! ;-) (and thanks for reading this far...)
1. I've discovered that I cannot seem to change the forwarding options on my google phone number. Since at least Stephen is using this, may be Stephen has some insights:
The symptoms:
no matter which of my forwarding options I have checked in gvoice settings (ATT Cell, TMobile Cell, old EC work land-line, google chat, sipgate) when I call my number 7076364468 (either from Skype-out or from my "new" not-yet-completely working canadian speakout7eleven pay-as-U-go # - more on that below) I always get the answering msg "you've reached Gary hundt's Cell Phone" which I think is the msg I have for my ATT Go-Phone - the first cell phone I used (on my TMobile cell I know I mention its my TMobile phone) I now suspect this has been going on for ages and I've been unaware of it, because somehow any voice messages left there get forwarded to my gmail email and I can hear them there.) Oh, except when I did have access to my EC work phone I could get calls there, so - not sure why whenever that is unchecked it goes to ATT even it ATT is also unchecked.
2. Used to have skypeout subscription recently expired. Have about $9 of skype credit left - been using that a bit today for testing. Been trying to call my CSAA car insurance, but cant get past the phone menu because via skype the touch-tones don't seem to be recognized - I seem to hear them, but other end doesn't seem to respond appropriately. Otherwise I might try re-upping my skypeout sobscription - but skype seems to have changed subscription plans - more expensive - not sure it's worth it fior me.
3. Totally confused about using google talk/chat. Doesnt seem to work for me at the moment for forwarding - used to work at some point for me earlier, so maybe its because I'm now in Canada?
4. can't add my new speakout7eleven phone to my gvoice forwarding phones because its not in same country - get a msg to that effect when I try. probably moot anyway due to problem #1, though if would have been nice because I seem to be able to receive calls to that#.
5. OK, now for the new speakout 7-11 sim card I bought for $10 and $25 usage credit. Was able to activate the sim card, am able to talk to customer service using their 3digit# from the phone, was able to receive a test call from cusomer service (presumably from a local canadian #), and am even able to call MY google phone number seemingly using my cell-phone's "normal call" option (as opposed to via skype or via google-voice-callback options), but trying to call stephen's google voice#, or any other number (local Pincher Creek# or long distance) I get message "could not complete the call, please try again". Customer Service seems to be at a loss - telling me I should wait up to 24 hours, or to take the sim card & try it in another phone, or to find some option in my phone settings to use only GSM- not 3G. in the latter case, I do see an option on my android phone to use 2G only, and I've tried it with & without checking that. Haven't yet tried another cell phone...
Any suggestions how I should proceed?
I've in the mean-while left an email msg with CSAA about my car insurance issue, and I suspect if I just go back and do some hiking this weekend while the weatehr here is still nice (actually missed out on lots of picts today of new snow on the mt tops from the recent cold-front that came thru... Pissed to be getting myself stuck onto this tarnologybaby!
gary
9PM 9/7/2012
Didn't read or understand it all, but just a quick FYI that may help for getting a hold of your insurrance co: almost always you can bypass touchtone menus and talk to a real person by saying "operator" at any point (or push 0 if touchtone is working).
Good luck! All else fails, just use a payphone (if you can still find one these days!)
Rebecca
2PM 9/10/2012
Hey dad,
I should have responded earlier tell you that I received your messages on my google voice account. I was at school late on Friday and then had a bunch of stuff planned for this weekend so I didn't have a chance to try you back.
As for the problems you've outlined below, I can't offer any advice of 3-5 and don't have any sure answers for the others.
1. Are you trying to use the 711 phone and skype out to make outgoing calls with google voice, or are you calling your google voice number just as a test to see what is encountered when others try to call you? If its the first one and you've entered your 711 and skype numbers into your list of phones then I'm not sure what is happening, but I suspect this isn't what you are trying to do. If its the second one here are some thoughts, all of which are speculation since I'm not going to actually take the time to research the specifics about google voice.
Is the message "you have reached..." from the phone's voicemail or is it a google voice message that you recorded? If its a google message, well, then, this is what is supposed to happen. If it's the phone's voicemail maybe calls made to your google voice number are being directed immediately (or after some number of rings) to that phone's voicemail as would happen when that phone is turned off. This would definitely happen if the ATT phone were the only forwarding phone selected but may also happen if it was one of many since that phone's voicemail would be answering the call before any other phones had a chance to. However, it sounds like you still have the problem even when the ATT phone is not selected as a forwarding phone. Have you tried to delete it altogether? If deleting the ATT phone from your forwarding list doesn't eliminate the problem maybe the message is actually from another phone's voicemail. You could try deleting those or just calling them directly to see. What result were you expecting?
2. I remember having a problem with using touchtones on skype at one point and I remember being able to change some option that allowed them to be recognized by the automated menus. What worked for me on my computer was to have skype display a dialpad that was different then the one I made calls with and which you could click on to produce the tones. I just read some forums in which people were having the same problem using the Skype app for the iphones and androids and some people suggested muting the mic when you want to produce the dial tone.
OK. I doubt much of this will be helpful, but maybe it will cause you to discover the problem yourself. Try not to let all of this bullshit ruin your trip.
8PM 9/13/2012
Hi Stephen,
Thanks for the time you took to help with this.
Finally had a chance to play around with this a bit more, and think I solved some of the issues: (so the below is just "fyi" in case your curious - no need to read if you're pressed for time.
re: 1.
I was just testing calling my GV number via Skype to see what others heard. I don't have a skype number (I had a "Skype-out" subscription but that has expired and I think they no longer offer the same feature. Though, maybe I ought to consider getting a skype number as another option for me to forward GV calls to.
Turns out I was mistaken about the message I had set up for Google Voice messages. (Not sure how I screwed that up ) For the time being I changed it to the default system msg, til I get a chance to say a new greeting. (Cant talk where I'm at now.)
There is still something I don't understand what GV is doing when it's somehow mediating my outbound calls from my cell phone. OK let me think this thru... it's causing my phone to call a google number rather than the # I dialed, then redialing (forwarding to) my desired number but "spoofing" the callerID to be my google number. Does that sound correct?
So at any rate, I'm now able to use the 711 cellphone to call out. I needed to go into the "Google Voice" app on my phone and change a setting from "always use" to "always ask". I was looking for this app but it was "sort of hidden" where I wasn't looking last time. I also have a "similar looking" app called "Google Voice Callback" which in conjunction with another number I have via a "SIP" protocol provider that works via the internet, that allows me to avoid calling out via my cell phone #, to make free calls. It's a bit complicated and I think I somehow messed something up because it's not working right (anymore...) Will take a chunk of troubleshooting time to sort that out, I fear. At any rate, that app also has a similar setting re "always use" vs "always ask" etc that I initially thought was the problem.
re: 2.
Muting the mike may have been worth trying, because at the time I was at McDonalds with a lot of background noise! But I'll still plan to look for that touchtone option before I have to use it again. I managed to email CSAA and they replied - assured me my account was payed up thru October.
Thanks again for taking the time,
Gary
[note: I think some time later I found out that I had two levels of GV-callback "indirection" active and I was still making calls "through" the google voice system when I thought I was using "bare" cell phone calling.]
aaargh!
I seem to be able to find my way around in the woods ok but computers and tech stuff I cant deal with anymore! What a curse technology can be! what a waste of time!!!!
Been sitting here at McDonalds in Pincher Creek trying to figure out how to receive and or make phone calls using any one of a number of options I thought I had - that I SHOULD have, that SHOULD work. But don't.
Not in the order that I've tried things, but maybe in some "logical" order: If anyone of you has any helpful insights into this the first to chime ip will be the first to be appreciated, (but all help aprreciated - no need to be the first! ;-) (and thanks for reading this far...)
1. I've discovered that I cannot seem to change the forwarding options on my google phone number. Since at least Stephen is using this, may be Stephen has some insights:
The symptoms:
no matter which of my forwarding options I have checked in gvoice settings (ATT Cell, TMobile Cell, old EC work land-line, google chat, sipgate) when I call my number 7076364468 (either from Skype-out or from my "new" not-yet-completely working canadian speakout7eleven pay-as-U-go # - more on that below) I always get the answering msg "you've reached Gary hundt's Cell Phone" which I think is the msg I have for my ATT Go-Phone - the first cell phone I used (on my TMobile cell I know I mention its my TMobile phone) I now suspect this has been going on for ages and I've been unaware of it, because somehow any voice messages left there get forwarded to my gmail email and I can hear them there.) Oh, except when I did have access to my EC work phone I could get calls there, so - not sure why whenever that is unchecked it goes to ATT even it ATT is also unchecked.
2. Used to have skypeout subscription recently expired. Have about $9 of skype credit left - been using that a bit today for testing. Been trying to call my CSAA car insurance, but cant get past the phone menu because via skype the touch-tones don't seem to be recognized - I seem to hear them, but other end doesn't seem to respond appropriately. Otherwise I might try re-upping my skypeout sobscription - but skype seems to have changed subscription plans - more expensive - not sure it's worth it fior me.
3. Totally confused about using google talk/chat. Doesnt seem to work for me at the moment for forwarding - used to work at some point for me earlier, so maybe its because I'm now in Canada?
4. can't add my new speakout7eleven phone to my gvoice forwarding phones because its not in same country - get a msg to that effect when I try. probably moot anyway due to problem #1, though if would have been nice because I seem to be able to receive calls to that#.
5. OK, now for the new speakout 7-11 sim card I bought for $10 and $25 usage credit. Was able to activate the sim card, am able to talk to customer service using their 3digit# from the phone, was able to receive a test call from cusomer service (presumably from a local canadian #), and am even able to call MY google phone number seemingly using my cell-phone's "normal call" option (as opposed to via skype or via google-voice-callback options), but trying to call stephen's google voice#, or any other number (local Pincher Creek# or long distance) I get message "could not complete the call, please try again". Customer Service seems to be at a loss - telling me I should wait up to 24 hours, or to take the sim card & try it in another phone, or to find some option in my phone settings to use only GSM- not 3G. in the latter case, I do see an option on my android phone to use 2G only, and I've tried it with & without checking that. Haven't yet tried another cell phone...
Any suggestions how I should proceed?
I've in the mean-while left an email msg with CSAA about my car insurance issue, and I suspect if I just go back and do some hiking this weekend while the weatehr here is still nice (actually missed out on lots of picts today of new snow on the mt tops from the recent cold-front that came thru... Pissed to be getting myself stuck onto this tarnologybaby!
gary
9PM 9/7/2012
Didn't read or understand it all, but just a quick FYI that may help for getting a hold of your insurrance co: almost always you can bypass touchtone menus and talk to a real person by saying "operator" at any point (or push 0 if touchtone is working).
Good luck! All else fails, just use a payphone (if you can still find one these days!)
Rebecca
2PM 9/10/2012
Hey dad,
I should have responded earlier tell you that I received your messages on my google voice account. I was at school late on Friday and then had a bunch of stuff planned for this weekend so I didn't have a chance to try you back.
As for the problems you've outlined below, I can't offer any advice of 3-5 and don't have any sure answers for the others.
1. Are you trying to use the 711 phone and skype out to make outgoing calls with google voice, or are you calling your google voice number just as a test to see what is encountered when others try to call you? If its the first one and you've entered your 711 and skype numbers into your list of phones then I'm not sure what is happening, but I suspect this isn't what you are trying to do. If its the second one here are some thoughts, all of which are speculation since I'm not going to actually take the time to research the specifics about google voice.
Is the message "you have reached..." from the phone's voicemail or is it a google voice message that you recorded? If its a google message, well, then, this is what is supposed to happen. If it's the phone's voicemail maybe calls made to your google voice number are being directed immediately (or after some number of rings) to that phone's voicemail as would happen when that phone is turned off. This would definitely happen if the ATT phone were the only forwarding phone selected but may also happen if it was one of many since that phone's voicemail would be answering the call before any other phones had a chance to. However, it sounds like you still have the problem even when the ATT phone is not selected as a forwarding phone. Have you tried to delete it altogether? If deleting the ATT phone from your forwarding list doesn't eliminate the problem maybe the message is actually from another phone's voicemail. You could try deleting those or just calling them directly to see. What result were you expecting?
2. I remember having a problem with using touchtones on skype at one point and I remember being able to change some option that allowed them to be recognized by the automated menus. What worked for me on my computer was to have skype display a dialpad that was different then the one I made calls with and which you could click on to produce the tones. I just read some forums in which people were having the same problem using the Skype app for the iphones and androids and some people suggested muting the mic when you want to produce the dial tone.
OK. I doubt much of this will be helpful, but maybe it will cause you to discover the problem yourself. Try not to let all of this bullshit ruin your trip.
8PM 9/13/2012
Hi Stephen,
Thanks for the time you took to help with this.
Finally had a chance to play around with this a bit more, and think I solved some of the issues: (so the below is just "fyi" in case your curious - no need to read if you're pressed for time.
re: 1.
I was just testing calling my GV number via Skype to see what others heard. I don't have a skype number (I had a "Skype-out" subscription but that has expired and I think they no longer offer the same feature. Though, maybe I ought to consider getting a skype number as another option for me to forward GV calls to.
Turns out I was mistaken about the message I had set up for Google Voice messages. (Not sure how I screwed that up ) For the time being I changed it to the default system msg, til I get a chance to say a new greeting. (Cant talk where I'm at now.)
There is still something I don't understand what GV is doing when it's somehow mediating my outbound calls from my cell phone. OK let me think this thru... it's causing my phone to call a google number rather than the # I dialed, then redialing (forwarding to) my desired number but "spoofing" the callerID to be my google number. Does that sound correct?
So at any rate, I'm now able to use the 711 cellphone to call out. I needed to go into the "Google Voice" app on my phone and change a setting from "always use" to "always ask". I was looking for this app but it was "sort of hidden" where I wasn't looking last time. I also have a "similar looking" app called "Google Voice Callback" which in conjunction with another number I have via a "SIP" protocol provider that works via the internet, that allows me to avoid calling out via my cell phone #, to make free calls. It's a bit complicated and I think I somehow messed something up because it's not working right (anymore...) Will take a chunk of troubleshooting time to sort that out, I fear. At any rate, that app also has a similar setting re "always use" vs "always ask" etc that I initially thought was the problem.
re: 2.
Muting the mike may have been worth trying, because at the time I was at McDonalds with a lot of background noise! But I'll still plan to look for that touchtone option before I have to use it again. I managed to email CSAA and they replied - assured me my account was payed up thru October.
Thanks again for taking the time,
Gary
[note: I think some time later I found out that I had two levels of GV-callback "indirection" active and I was still making calls "through" the google voice system when I thought I was using "bare" cell phone calling.]
Sunday, September 2, 2012
RoadTrip: from Glacier NP to Waterton in Canada
6PM 9/2/2012
Hi all,
Last I wrote I was heading from the Sawtooths near Stanley,Iowa to Glacier NP with Sandy in her car. The "in her car" part was short-lived. We decided before the end of the first day to go independently in our own vehicle, with only vague plans to find each other. Nevertheless, we ran into each other by sheer chance on three separate occasions on trails in Glacier. I suppose that's not quite as improbable as it sounds since we sort of shared the same short priority-list of must-see locations along with everyone else that visits the park. Began to recognize a number of other visitors who seemed to be using the same list.
We've shared dinner on those evening's we met, but have been overnighting at our own favorite (mostly free) spots just outside the park. In my case I "based myself" longer on the west side of the park on BLM or NF land near Hungry Horse Reservoir before shifting to the east side on Indian Reservation land just outside the park border on the Many-Glacier Road.
Sandy is now on her way west into Washington then Oregon then California. I'm "taking a break" from the rather brisk very windy weather of the last few days to re-stock at a "real" grocery store in Browning about 40mi east of the park, which happens also to have a little cafe' with wifi, so I'm researching the "dispersed camping" situation in Alberta, Canada. (In Canada "Queen's Land" corresponds with US BLM land, it seems.) Not sure yet how long I'll stay on the Canadian side - there are still lots of areas on this side I want to see...
I may need to make a decision about how much backtracking I have time to do. I have been intending to explore the Bob Marshall Wilderness area south of Glacier on my way back down for a 2nd go at Yellowstone & the Tetons before continuing south through a bit of Utah into Colorado, but an alternative is to spend more time in Glacier and maybe a bit further north on the Canadian side.
Hope everyone is doing well. Would like to know any news. Email seems to work best - cell phone coverage pretty non-existent (for TMo or Att at any rate, and so I haven't "bothered" keeping my pay-as-I go plans paid up, tho I may do so later..).
Gary
7PM 9/6/2012
Greetings from Pincher Creek, Canada
...the nearest big town to Waterton, where I'm doing some grocery shopping, laundry, and of course using the free wifi. I happen to be using the library's wifi now, but the campground in town also offers free wifi, as does, surprise surprise, the McDonalds inside the Walmart at the shopping center here! No such connectivity at the Waterton Park, as there wasn't on the US side in Glacier NP. There to, I needed to drive 40 miles to the nearest "big town", Browning, on the Black Foot indian reservation east of Glacier. Cell phone reception, likewise, is described as "spotty" in Glacier NP, and then only Verizon anywhere in the area. So now in Canada, I would need to get a Rogers phone plan, though at least that would be compatible with the radios in my phone, so, one reason I'm in this town is to see how much that would be and what kind of reception I could expect in these mts maybe including up to the Banff/Jasper area.
Haven't even done any hiking in Waterton park yet, so why with my limited time left am I considering Banff/Jasper??? Not really sure but one theory stems from my experience this morning finally getting around to crossing the border.
This is actually my second time crossing the border. First time was a few weeks ago, late in the afternoon and was only asked a bunch of interesting questions to which I gave interesting answers, such as to "so you're traveling with all your worldly possessions?" explaining that I was trying to "track down" my friend who was "somewhere between" the Many-Gacier Campground and Waterton, but now since it was later in the day than I had planned to get this far, I would probably just drive a few miles toward Waterton, then turn around. "So you're going to spend the night at Many-Glacier Campground? No, it's full, I'll probably stay on the Indian Reservation Land just outside - I bought an environmental pass that permits me to "recreate" on indian land. I've scoped out a few locations. "Do you have any weapons or things could be used as weapons?" Um, some kitchen knives, some tools, a trowel. "A trowel?" Yeah, a small shovel/pick-ax I use to dig a cat-hole. "So you're a real mountain man." I guess I'm trying to be.
So the border agent let me through. I actually just drove into Canada about a mile or so to a nice view along the Belly River. Decided to turn around, worried I might have trouble getting back into the US. That went more smoothly, after I explained I was only "gone" for about a half hour.
So after that brief trial-excursion into Canada I spent the next week or so back in Glacier NP USA systematically hiking to all the mt passes from "both sides" of trails (much like last spring I did portions of the PCT that were "near" roads when I was "with my car" only this time it's portions of the Continental Divide Trail and pretty much all the other trails in all directions from the Many Glacier Road ant the Going to the Sun road.
But last night and into this morning it rained, so I did my laundry and then decided to head for the border again. This time, same interesting questions & answers to a different agent, found me directed to pull over for further inspection. They inspected my car thoroughly, then told me the main reason I was pulled over was because I was not "rooted", (no Home, no Job, no Obligations. No reason I might not stay in Canada. I pointed out the irony that I used to live in Canada. He checked some online records, then printed out some formal looking form that allowed me to visit Canada for up to 17 days.
Hmph! Well, I was only thinking of staying about a week to begin with!
Hope I can get back into the US.
Library's closing.
Gary
10AM 9/5/2012
Hi Gary,
You seem to be covering a lot of ground and seeing a lot.
Do you have an estimate as to when in October you expect to be in Ct with us? I'm trying to make plans.
you wanted some news...
Andy's Eagle court of honor will be Dec 29th, not after Thanksgiving, so you may be able to go, if you are still with us.
Mark is almost done covering all the fabric parts of the plane. We (Mark's Dad and me) started painting the primer on these parts, next comes light sanding, then I think he will try spray painting the next layer of primer.
Erik, Andy and Gretchen seem to be settled into their school routines. No major problems so far, none expected.
I've started back with my portrait and figure drawing groups, and may sign up for a watercolor class with a new teacher. That's partly why I want to know when you plan to arrive in CT.
Hope you enjoy Canada, etc.
Liz
2PM 9/7/2012
Hey dad,
It sounds like you're having a lot of fun. That's great to hear. I don't have much of an idea of where you are exactly or what the landscape is like except that it is in the Rockies near the border, so it's probably cool, mountainous, and beautiful. Those are some things I could use right now.
You asked for news, and I guess I do have a little:
On Wednesday night we returned to Tucson from another short trip in California. This time I was back to be in my friend Thomas' wedding, where my role was to be he and his fiancee's officiant. I was a little nervous about standing and speaking in front of my friends' families and feeling the pressure of having such a visible role in the ceremony, but there were no embarrassing screw-ups or mishaps and I ended up having a lot of fun being up there with them. I had also scheduled an informational interview with a small hydrology firm in Oakland, and because a candidate they were looking at didn't work out for them the meeting became a formal interview. Just like the wedding I was nervous about it until I was actually there, then I felt comfortable and prepared. The company seems like just the type of thing that I am looking for and I really hope that they offer me the job. They are a small firm made up of some very good hydrologists, they have a good variety of projects, and they specialize in working on water management and water supply projects rather than on environmental assessments and remediation for companies that are just trying to appease regulators. Most of there work is local too, so I'd get to learn more about different issues around the Bay Area. The interview itself seemed to go really well and now I'm waiting for them to contact my references and get back to me. If they did offer me the job I would be moving back and starting in January. I'll let you know how it goes.
In the meantime I'll be continuing to work my ass off on my thesis. The work is going well and the project has remained interesting, but I'm certainly ready to be finished with school and to get the hell out of Tucson. If you ever feel like giving me a call I'm around most weeknights (especially Tu-Thu) after 7 pm.
Happy travels,
Stephen
9PM 9/7/2012
Hey Stephen,
Cool! ...how your "public speaking" experience at the wedding may have prepped you psychologically a little bit for that next challenge.
My gut feel is you will have the job - although you may well have a few more hoops to go through - firstly be sure to follow up promptly with a thank-you letter! You should also expect more interviews with different people for example, some maybe over the phone.
Good luck in the mean time on keeping your cool enough through that process to stay focused as well on completing your thesis! Doesn't that also involve a series of presentations with proffs & others? You might also be asked to make presentations to interested citizens groups or such - some of the CNPS" general meetings" featured grad students presenting their research results they were working to complete - in fact in Santa Rosa if you were interested you could probably do a presentation of your work to the Water Coalition. Doing that sort of thing get's your name around and can connect you with other people in your field.
So, a big (hopefully not overly premature) CONGRATs on having a job lined up as you get your diploma!
Will I have to plan on being in the Tucson area with my camera for some ceremony?
Gary
Hi all,
Last I wrote I was heading from the Sawtooths near Stanley,Iowa to Glacier NP with Sandy in her car. The "in her car" part was short-lived. We decided before the end of the first day to go independently in our own vehicle, with only vague plans to find each other. Nevertheless, we ran into each other by sheer chance on three separate occasions on trails in Glacier. I suppose that's not quite as improbable as it sounds since we sort of shared the same short priority-list of must-see locations along with everyone else that visits the park. Began to recognize a number of other visitors who seemed to be using the same list.
We've shared dinner on those evening's we met, but have been overnighting at our own favorite (mostly free) spots just outside the park. In my case I "based myself" longer on the west side of the park on BLM or NF land near Hungry Horse Reservoir before shifting to the east side on Indian Reservation land just outside the park border on the Many-Glacier Road.
Sandy is now on her way west into Washington then Oregon then California. I'm "taking a break" from the rather brisk very windy weather of the last few days to re-stock at a "real" grocery store in Browning about 40mi east of the park, which happens also to have a little cafe' with wifi, so I'm researching the "dispersed camping" situation in Alberta, Canada. (In Canada "Queen's Land" corresponds with US BLM land, it seems.) Not sure yet how long I'll stay on the Canadian side - there are still lots of areas on this side I want to see...
I may need to make a decision about how much backtracking I have time to do. I have been intending to explore the Bob Marshall Wilderness area south of Glacier on my way back down for a 2nd go at Yellowstone & the Tetons before continuing south through a bit of Utah into Colorado, but an alternative is to spend more time in Glacier and maybe a bit further north on the Canadian side.
Hope everyone is doing well. Would like to know any news. Email seems to work best - cell phone coverage pretty non-existent (for TMo or Att at any rate, and so I haven't "bothered" keeping my pay-as-I go plans paid up, tho I may do so later..).
Gary
7PM 9/6/2012
Greetings from Pincher Creek, Canada
...the nearest big town to Waterton, where I'm doing some grocery shopping, laundry, and of course using the free wifi. I happen to be using the library's wifi now, but the campground in town also offers free wifi, as does, surprise surprise, the McDonalds inside the Walmart at the shopping center here! No such connectivity at the Waterton Park, as there wasn't on the US side in Glacier NP. There to, I needed to drive 40 miles to the nearest "big town", Browning, on the Black Foot indian reservation east of Glacier. Cell phone reception, likewise, is described as "spotty" in Glacier NP, and then only Verizon anywhere in the area. So now in Canada, I would need to get a Rogers phone plan, though at least that would be compatible with the radios in my phone, so, one reason I'm in this town is to see how much that would be and what kind of reception I could expect in these mts maybe including up to the Banff/Jasper area.
Haven't even done any hiking in Waterton park yet, so why with my limited time left am I considering Banff/Jasper??? Not really sure but one theory stems from my experience this morning finally getting around to crossing the border.
This is actually my second time crossing the border. First time was a few weeks ago, late in the afternoon and was only asked a bunch of interesting questions to which I gave interesting answers, such as to "so you're traveling with all your worldly possessions?" explaining that I was trying to "track down" my friend who was "somewhere between" the Many-Gacier Campground and Waterton, but now since it was later in the day than I had planned to get this far, I would probably just drive a few miles toward Waterton, then turn around. "So you're going to spend the night at Many-Glacier Campground? No, it's full, I'll probably stay on the Indian Reservation Land just outside - I bought an environmental pass that permits me to "recreate" on indian land. I've scoped out a few locations. "Do you have any weapons or things could be used as weapons?" Um, some kitchen knives, some tools, a trowel. "A trowel?" Yeah, a small shovel/pick-ax I use to dig a cat-hole. "So you're a real mountain man." I guess I'm trying to be.
So the border agent let me through. I actually just drove into Canada about a mile or so to a nice view along the Belly River. Decided to turn around, worried I might have trouble getting back into the US. That went more smoothly, after I explained I was only "gone" for about a half hour.
So after that brief trial-excursion into Canada I spent the next week or so back in Glacier NP USA systematically hiking to all the mt passes from "both sides" of trails (much like last spring I did portions of the PCT that were "near" roads when I was "with my car" only this time it's portions of the Continental Divide Trail and pretty much all the other trails in all directions from the Many Glacier Road ant the Going to the Sun road.
But last night and into this morning it rained, so I did my laundry and then decided to head for the border again. This time, same interesting questions & answers to a different agent, found me directed to pull over for further inspection. They inspected my car thoroughly, then told me the main reason I was pulled over was because I was not "rooted", (no Home, no Job, no Obligations. No reason I might not stay in Canada. I pointed out the irony that I used to live in Canada. He checked some online records, then printed out some formal looking form that allowed me to visit Canada for up to 17 days.
Hmph! Well, I was only thinking of staying about a week to begin with!
Hope I can get back into the US.
Library's closing.
Gary
10AM 9/5/2012
Hi Gary,
You seem to be covering a lot of ground and seeing a lot.
Do you have an estimate as to when in October you expect to be in Ct with us? I'm trying to make plans.
you wanted some news...
Andy's Eagle court of honor will be Dec 29th, not after Thanksgiving, so you may be able to go, if you are still with us.
Mark is almost done covering all the fabric parts of the plane. We (Mark's Dad and me) started painting the primer on these parts, next comes light sanding, then I think he will try spray painting the next layer of primer.
Erik, Andy and Gretchen seem to be settled into their school routines. No major problems so far, none expected.
I've started back with my portrait and figure drawing groups, and may sign up for a watercolor class with a new teacher. That's partly why I want to know when you plan to arrive in CT.
Hope you enjoy Canada, etc.
Liz
2PM 9/7/2012
Hey dad,
It sounds like you're having a lot of fun. That's great to hear. I don't have much of an idea of where you are exactly or what the landscape is like except that it is in the Rockies near the border, so it's probably cool, mountainous, and beautiful. Those are some things I could use right now.
You asked for news, and I guess I do have a little:
On Wednesday night we returned to Tucson from another short trip in California. This time I was back to be in my friend Thomas' wedding, where my role was to be he and his fiancee's officiant. I was a little nervous about standing and speaking in front of my friends' families and feeling the pressure of having such a visible role in the ceremony, but there were no embarrassing screw-ups or mishaps and I ended up having a lot of fun being up there with them. I had also scheduled an informational interview with a small hydrology firm in Oakland, and because a candidate they were looking at didn't work out for them the meeting became a formal interview. Just like the wedding I was nervous about it until I was actually there, then I felt comfortable and prepared. The company seems like just the type of thing that I am looking for and I really hope that they offer me the job. They are a small firm made up of some very good hydrologists, they have a good variety of projects, and they specialize in working on water management and water supply projects rather than on environmental assessments and remediation for companies that are just trying to appease regulators. Most of there work is local too, so I'd get to learn more about different issues around the Bay Area. The interview itself seemed to go really well and now I'm waiting for them to contact my references and get back to me. If they did offer me the job I would be moving back and starting in January. I'll let you know how it goes.
In the meantime I'll be continuing to work my ass off on my thesis. The work is going well and the project has remained interesting, but I'm certainly ready to be finished with school and to get the hell out of Tucson. If you ever feel like giving me a call I'm around most weeknights (especially Tu-Thu) after 7 pm.
Happy travels,
Stephen
9PM 9/7/2012
Hey Stephen,
Cool! ...how your "public speaking" experience at the wedding may have prepped you psychologically a little bit for that next challenge.
My gut feel is you will have the job - although you may well have a few more hoops to go through - firstly be sure to follow up promptly with a thank-you letter! You should also expect more interviews with different people for example, some maybe over the phone.
Good luck in the mean time on keeping your cool enough through that process to stay focused as well on completing your thesis! Doesn't that also involve a series of presentations with proffs & others? You might also be asked to make presentations to interested citizens groups or such - some of the CNPS" general meetings" featured grad students presenting their research results they were working to complete - in fact in Santa Rosa if you were interested you could probably do a presentation of your work to the Water Coalition. Doing that sort of thing get's your name around and can connect you with other people in your field.
So, a big (hopefully not overly premature) CONGRATs on having a job lined up as you get your diploma!
Will I have to plan on being in the Tucson area with my camera for some ceremony?
Gary
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