Thunder Roads: MONTANA (now with 20% more Canada!)

[montréaliste]

Purdy!

[giallo]

Fantastic. This is what summer is all about.

[Chef]

Great thread!

I've been wanting to do a Montana/Wyoming/Dakotas roadtrip for a while now. Montana looks amazing.

[the pope]

what a fun trip. I look forward to the detailed photos.

[Ex-Ithacan]

Wow, a little bit of everything in this thread, even Wilkes Barre, PA. Montana is definitely the Big Sky country. Beautiful scenery, and some bits of urbanity too.
I must check out the Butte thread. When I passed through back in the 70s it was like stepping back in time, fascinating city. Thanks Tt.

[Thundertubs]

Thanks folks!

Originally Posted by xzmattzx

Stunning pictures! You covered all of Montana, it seems!

The largest city in Montana that I now haven't been to is a place called Havre.

Originally Posted by BnaBreaker

The Bow is quite the fat ass of a tower!

I also thought it looked awkwardly wide, especially from the north.

Originally Posted by whatsthepoint13

Wow, I love the diversity of this thread.

There are indeed several different Montanas contained within. East and west are like two different states.

Originally Posted by dshane73

I have to laugh at the elevations you call out as being something other than ordinary. My house, 20 miles for downtown Salt Lake is at 5100 feet above sea level and i can see houses farther up the foothills from here!

I know, I'm a total flatlander. I live like 10ft above sea level. Back east, elevations over 4,000-5,000ft are reserved for the peaks of the Adirondacks, Presidentials, and Smokies, not towns!

[Echoes]

I love Montana! This brings back memories of past trips.

The towns and cities are a nice surprise, too.

[tele75]

Awesome thread. Awesome commentary.

[ue]

Great thread. Montana is quite the contrast from Newark, NJ! You captured it well.

Since nobody has yet to answer your Calgary question, I'll try...

Depends on what you're looking for. It doesn't seem like you were downtown during the best times, but even still the skyscrapers should hold you for a bit. During weekdays and Saturday afternoons, Stephen Ave (where the Bay was, 1 block south of the C-Train, you were there) is very bustling. You might also enjoy a wander south of the railyards to the Beltline, go south enough and you'll hit 17th Ave...Calgary's main urban strip. It also kinda melds with Mission to the south, and it's main drag, 4th Street. 4th is where the annual Lilac festival is. The East Village to the east of downtown might be of interest for some "grit" (I'm using that lightly as Calgary is pretty clean, you want grit head up the QEII to Edmonton, or better yet, go to Winnipeg or Vancouver). The Riverwalk's also nice. Kensington NW of Downtown and accessible by C-Train might meet your fancy...very yuppie/trendy. Oh, and Peace Bridge.

[KevinFromTexas]

Nice.

This is just cool. Like a page out of "Where's Bigfoot?"
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/j...a/P1250328.jpg

[Evo5Boise]

Originally Posted by Kilgore Trout

also, this thread makes me want to go on a road trip.

Haha same here!!

Anyways, amazing tour! Montana definitely is great country. Never been to that section of Canada but it looks amazing as well.

[LynnW]

As everyone else has mentioned, great photos!

I grew up in NW Montana and my family used to drive to Kalispell and Missoula to shop. I also got my undergraduate degree at U of M in Missoula (and spent entirely too much time at the Oxford). You have brought back so many good memories.

Originally Posted by Buckeye Native 001

Still, its a shame that Montana and Montana State regularly kick Northern Arizona's ass in football...

I'll agree with you regarding Montana State. But, ahem, Go Griz! (just kidding, of course)

[RockMont]

Originally Posted by LynnW

As everyone else has mentioned, great photos!

I grew up in NW Montana and my family used to drive to Kalispell and Missoula to shop. I also got my undergraduate degree at U of M in Missoula (and spent entirely too much time at the Oxford). You have brought back so many good memories.




I'll agree with you regarding Montana State. But, ahem, Go Griz! (just kidding, of course)

To shop. Well that's as good of an excuse as any. I wouldn't need an excuse at all. I mean that is as spectacular of a drive as any going through that Flathead Valley. Just over a hundred miles of great mountain country not to mention that big Flathead Lake itself.

[giovanni sasso]

male ponytail capital of Montana

love your observation about blue, green, & gray. green and gray are my official colors of portland and the northwest. (they're the two i chose for the design of portlandurbanresource.com.)

excellent set as usual, ol' tubs. i'm a big fan of bozeman and livingston (the gateway to yellowstone!). the meth signs and billboards across montana and idaho are crazy. did you get to see the great falls at great falls? that's one part of montana i haven't been to.

[Evergrey]

I love seeing the world through your eyes. This is one kickass photo collection. Love the random shot of Wilkes-Barre! lol

[toyota74]

Great roadtrip.

[Ayreonaut]

Ridiculously awesome!

I drove through Butte a couple years ago, and would love to have stopped. It could be one of my favourite small cities in the States.

[Midwesterner]

Gorgeous photos! I just moved out to Montana. I thought Billings was stunning, but then I made my way to Kalispell (where I am now). I have to admit, I was surprised by how old the city is. I am still adjusting to the state, but I like it so far.

[smArTaLlone]

Very cool thread. Love the mix of cities, villages and nature.