Summer LBH plans?

[lizs]

So, in case ya are just too curious to wait for the Big Jaunt of 2010.... anybody hitting Little Bighorn this summer, either for the anniversary events or otherwise?

Any trips planned to special locations?

I try to plan a summer trip around PIT archaeology projects, but usually take over a week and hit some other things. In 2006, it was Little Bighorn (and the Bighorn Mts. and the medicine wheel there)! At this point, plans are wide open....

(ps, thanks for the new thread, Diane!)

[biggordie]

My old pal, Stan The Man Zupan, is making his first trip to LBH in June, around the Anniversary/LBHA/CBHMA/Friends dates, and is hoping to hook up with some of the members from this and the Association forum.

He can be relied upon to know virtually nothing and to ask silly questions, when he is sober, which is not all the time - but he is a very likeable chap, and absolutely harmless, being around my age, 70, and almost as decrepit as I.

He says he has already made reservations at Kelly's Inn, and is really looking forward to meeting everybody that I have mentioned to him over the past few years, such as Fred, Keogh, bc, rch and xyz.

You will be able to spot him easily, he will be guy walking around saying "Huh?" looking at a topo map, and wondering which way is up. He ought to have been in movies. He is, as that Texas lawyer on Boston Legal was wont to say: "A hoot!! That's what he is, a hoot!!"

Gordie

If you see him, please help him- he needs help. In the worst way.

[BrokenSword]

Biggordie - "...My old pal, Stan The Man Zupan,...please help him- he needs help. In the worst way..."

Wow! Until now I was convinced there couldn't possibly be two of us.

BS

[biggordie]

Stan is a rather unique case, or maybe not, saince he and I are a lot alike in many ways. We went to school together, and were good friends then, playing football and floor hockey together. He was more conservative than I, and went into Engineering while I went into whatever it was that I went into. While he was doing building loading studies and carving civilization out of the wilderness I was doing ^&*% and telling the Army Corps of Engineers that they were not going to dam up Canyon Creek [the one in Washington].

We got back in touch with one another two years ago, when our high school celebrated its 200th Anniversary. I didn't attend the celebrations, tut he did, bumped into my baby brother, and was given my Email address. Subsequently I regaled him with tales of the LBH, until he got sick of it - and said he had to go and see what all the fuss was about.

The rest you know. He has grown balmier in his dotage, as opposed to me, who, like you, has gained in knowledge and intellectual capacity, and got better looking to boot.

Stan is still a couple of rungs short of us, so don't stress..................

Gordie

[gary]

I am going to Motana in June/July, taking in the LBHA meeting and then touring around.

Gary

[biggordie]

Gary:

Have fun, and look for Stan.

Gordie

[biggordie]

I asked the members of the Associates forum who would actually be going to Billings [or to LBH] during the week of 21 to 26 June 2009. Obviously Gary will be there a while, and Melani will be going.

Who else from this forum is planning to be there, whether or not attending the LBHA Conference. Stan is staying at the Red Roof Inn, not Kelly's. It is apparently easy for me to confuse the two, seeing as how they each have an "e" in the name.

Or as Stan might say: "Consider the source."

Gordie

[bc]

Hi Gordie: On the other board you did ask who was "actually" going. Since I won't be 100% sure until I get in the car to go, I didn't respond. I won't actually know what side of the bed I'm going to get up on until tomorrow morning when I wake up. Since you are now asking who is "planning" to go, the answer is yes I am planning to go. I'm planning to be on the hoss ride on the 19th. Kinda thinking about a side trip to Calgary and Banff but I hear Canada is a mite picky about letting us aliens in their country. The worst case scenario would be if the US didn't let me back in and then I'd really be stuck up the creek without a paddle. Imagine having to live in Canada, dread the thought.

Be glad to hook up with Stan and let him teach me something. I'll probably stay at the Holiday but won't make the reservation until I've got it locked in that I can go. If they are full at that late date, then I'll stay somewhere else. As a last resort, I guess I can camp out by the sheep sheds with the other animals.

bc

[biggordie]

bc:

Canada is not the problem - you got it right when you mentioned not being re-admitted to the U.S. Although they delayed the requirement from January to June, the U.S. will require a passport for entry or re-entry to the country, from citizens and visitors alike. This used to be required only for air travel, but now will apply to any method.

Calgary isn't worth the trouble - it's just another largish metropolitan area - but Banff and Jasper are worth the trip. Lake Louse, the Columbia Icefield [if it hasn't melted] and the highway that joins Banff and Jasper are not to be missed. If you don't see bears and elk along the highway, I'll send you a Canadian fiver and you can frame it and put it above the fireplace. Or toilet.

If you can go via Glacier National Park, you'll double your pleasure. It straddles the line, and is a fantastic place.

Whatever happens, I do hope you find yourself in your truck on the day, and on your way to Billings. That re-ride sounds great [oh to be able to sit a horse!!], and the week should be good fun.

Gordie

[biggordie]

Stan has canceled his trip plans, so don't be bothered looking for him.

Gordie

[Melani]

Sorry to hear your friend won't be coming, Gordie, but I still look forward to meeting the folks who do show up.

[fjordmustang]

It worked out for me that my sister and her husband (my monster in law, but I am also his monster in law, go figure) and their spawn will be visiting some parks in the WY/CO/MT area and asked me to come along. Since they are sci fi outdoor adventure horse loving nerd geeks like me, how could I say no? Anyhoos, it gave me a chance to work in visiting the LBH field after they drop me off from our mad adventure of hiking, rafting, camping and other outdoorsy stuff (maybe by this time they will be ready to abandon me) in Billings. My itinerary gave them a chance to add in some sights in Montana they had not anticipated, so that is great (like the Painted Caves). Anyway, I will be heading to the field on Jun 21 and have not much time- just that day, but I hope to come again. I had hoped to have both the 20 and 21 of June but the way things are working out with my relatives I realize I have to be flexible about when I get dropped off in Billings on Jun 20 and so I really only have Jun 21. I had hoped to have Jun 20 for a 3 hour horseback trip in the area around the field and Jun 21 for the battlefield, but family plans changed the itinerary so the horse trip is out at this point. Anyway, if you have suggestions on the best way to use my time let me know. I do hope to be back again (I want to do that horseback trek if it is possible down the road). I had wanted more time but this is what I have been given. I look forward to your comments.

[biggordie]

fjordmustang:

This sounds as if it is your first trip to LBH. That being the case, and assuming that you do wind p with just the one day, here are a couple of suggestions :

1. Be prepared - take along a decent book for reference [or buy one at the Book Store] and a map of the terrain and main features - not necessarily a topo map, unless you know how to use one. As an alternative, make some notes from some of the posts on these boards - you will find more here than on the Association forum to which you also belong.

2. There used to be a student-run mini-bus tour operating out of Big Horn College in Crow Agency. It was not expensive, and would tend to hit the highlights and give you a good overview, which you could augment by your own explorations on the battlefields. There also used to be a self-guided tour available through the Visitors' Center.

3. Resign yourself to not being able to get everywhere you might want to go - much of the land encompassing fields of action is still in private hands. Take along an ample supple of Deet, sunscreen, and water. Wear a broad-brimmed hat, not a ball cap. Wear sturdy boots that come above the ankle - rattlesnakes, you know.

4. About your three-hour horseback tour. If that is offered by the Realbirds, you might not find it worth the money [used to be 120 bucks] since it covers areas outside the monument fence. But it IS worth it for a serious student to get onto those lands [which they own, or used to]. For a better horseback experience, you might Google the Seventh Ranch Campgrounds, operated by Chip and Sandy [can't remember last name]. If their horses have recovered, they will be offering again their horseback tours which encompass more territory [and are longer - so be prepared].

Just a few quick thoughts - if you are prepared to spend some money, I can give you a couple of other suggestions - just PM me or Email at [e-mail].

Have loads of fun, and prepare to be awed.................

Gordie

[bc]

Hello Ice cold one.

Glad to hear you are going out there. For the 21st, your best bet may be the LBHA bus tour going that day. Don't know who the experts are that will be talking but you can expect some good ones. Having someone knowledgeable point out the terrain and actions will make a big difference. It will cover all parts including the valley fight. Non-member guest price is 40 bucks. Better than I could do for sure. The Seventh ranch doesn't keep horses for rides anymore due to health or age reasons or both. The realbirds should have some horses available on the 20th. Any horse ride is always fun. The LBHA is planning their all day horse ride for the 19th. Still don't have all the details on it yet or cost.

Who can plan a trip like that to the day anyway? I get to driving to places like Jellystone and who knows how long things will take. Did take a nice horse ride at Jellystone in the Roosevelt area though.

bc

[biggordie]

Any ideas as to the best place at LBH to not get caught spreading ashes of a great man? I was also thinking of doing the horse trek... there is far too much information on here for me to go thru in such a short timr, so if anyone would like to help out a girl from Canada with no clue, it would be greatly appreciated...

and most likely win you brownie points with my dad...

Tori Harper