Montana Rangeland Camping and the Simplicity of Renewal

I always chuckle a bit when I hear somebody talk about what a bad campsite they had on this or that night. They speak of mosquitoes, or wind, or bears, or [insert your own least favorite wild thing here].

I prefer another perspective. I like to see the strangeness, the eerie, the wild, and even what some consider the foul parts of the outdoors to be part of the positive reasons that I like being outside.

It keeps me emotions sensitive to one important reason I'm out there (renewal) and one important reason why I'm not back in the city (recharge).

This weekend, we are holding our BSA District Camporee on rangeland high above the Gallatin River Breaks between Logan and Trident, MT. There's grass, and not much else.

But I don't know if I've ever been anywhere else where Montana's Big Sky has been more accentuated. It's open, free, and beautiful up here. Even the fall colors of the grasses have their beauty to them.

It's a simple landscape, with simple sunsets. The perfect place for renewal and recharge.

Comments

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I can think of many camping trips where the weather was terrible, or the conditions not favorable. While it was happening I did not appreciate it, but it sure is some good material for stories.

When car camping, and we had no kids, I felt like it was not a problem. we would just read and relax in the tent. Now, inclement weather with two small children is not fun. That is why the desert is such a great camping destination for camping with children.

[Hendrik M]

What's the tent in the excellent photo?

[Ryan Jordan]

@Hendrik - that's a Hilleberg Soulo.

@Heidi - don't limit your times of camping with kids to the car or warm weather. With a little bit of prep and an understanding of what you're getting into, it can be a wonderful thing in the winter as well. Snow trips have always been my favorite with my son throughout his little years.

Here are a few resources:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/00177.html
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/lightweight_backpacking_gear_kids.html

-- Ryan