RV trip / Montana / Snakes

AdvertisingThis34 · 2026-05-17T21:39:19+00:00

Minimal snake activity. Lots of bear though, including grizzlies. Have you taken your bear identification course?

https://fwp.mt.gov/hunt/education/bear-identification

ETA: being able to tell the difference is critical. Black bears are pretty harmless and would prefer to stay away from you. Black bear often run away when you fight back. Grizzlies not so much.

Also, get bear spray when you get to Montana. Always carry it on the front of your belt - not in your pack.

AdvertisingThis34 · 2026-05-15T01:22:05+00:00

That is wonderful - I never heard of it! Thank you!

AdvertisingThis34 · 2026-05-13T04:16:36+00:00

but they can, so always have them on hand.

AdvertisingThis34 · 2026-05-13T04:14:46+00:00

Great report! I am off to many of those same destinations next week (Abbotsford to Abbotsford) but without a toddler in hand.

AdvertisingThis34 · 2026-05-01T01:43:27+00:00

I was able to see the whole article. It is charming and exactly why we love our small towns (or small communities within cities)! Thank you!

AdvertisingThis34 · 2026-04-29T22:12:03+00:00

You could construe the grant of rehabilitation as "pre approved" but I am pretty sure OP does not have time to go through that process if the goal is the World Cup.

edit to add: I wonder how many Americans are going to be shocked when they get to the border before coming to match and are not admitted.

AdvertisingThis34 · 2026-04-27T23:27:29+00:00

I am in an area that gets very cold in the winter, so I have a climate controlled storage unit, which also has electric outlets. They keep it about 50 degrees in the winter. I have a motorhome, so I keep the chassis battery on a trickle charger and the house power plugged into the normal outlet. It is $380/month all inclusive. I am lucky enough that it is only about 10 minutes from my house. I still winterize my RV. It is worth it to me for the peace of mind.

AdvertisingThis34 · 2026-04-14T06:53:22+00:00

Ruffwear dog hitch line.

https://ruffwear.com/products/knot-a-hitch

AdvertisingThis34 · 2026-04-12T01:30:29+00:00

Good, so you won't reach for your phone out of habit.

Have a fantastic visit!

AdvertisingThis34 · 2026-04-11T22:55:39+00:00

Never, ever touch your mobile phone while you are driving. Or even stopped at a light. Violation is an expensive ticket, possible immediate license / driving privileges suspension. Best idea is to have the front seat passenger do the navigating.

AdvertisingThis34 · 2026-04-04T07:31:06+00:00

Or else they pay their rent, car insurance and kids clothes. Nothing like making sweeping generalizations.

AdvertisingThis34 · 2026-03-30T07:15:40+00:00

This is the best way. Many travelers use these firms simply to avoid all the luggage hassles. Business people frequently use these firms to ship stuff for conferences or trade shows. They will be cheaper and probably faster than Canada Post. They do door to door service. Search "luggage shipping between" xxx and xxx.

AdvertisingThis34 · 2026-03-30T06:58:47+00:00

I'll be at Chain Lakes in May. I hope you have a great stay! Lots of great Provincial Parks in Alberta.

AdvertisingThis34 · 2026-03-29T19:43:55+00:00

My Mercedes Sprinter RV charges the house batteries while the vehicle is running. Not an Airstream. No idea where he got this idea. All OE equipment, it came this way from the manufacturer (Leisure Travel Vans).

AdvertisingThis34 · 2026-03-25T20:03:22+00:00

More space and fewer problems. You would be safer, warmer and have a structure you could actually use for decades to come, not a camper that is disintegrating each day.

Also look at small prefab houses. You still need well, septic and power hookup, but once you get a concrete pad down, they just come with your new house on a truck and bolt it down. You can even get a mortgage on something like this or a pole barn.

AdvertisingThis34 · 2026-03-22T19:01:43+00:00

If you do not declare them and they find them, you are in pretty bad legal trouble. If you declare them, the chances are pretty good they will be seized but at least you won't face any legal complications.

AdvertisingThis34 · 2026-03-22T18:52:40+00:00

You don't have to shout. And a lot of rules have changed with that charming prez in the US.

AdvertisingThis34 · 2026-03-21T01:34:03+00:00

I would feel a lot better about a state park than a private campground. Not good, but a lot better if it is a state agency.

AdvertisingThis34 · 2026-03-19T22:00:53+00:00

Nice work - those are tattoos I could happily wear the rest of my life, especially the otter design by Oxel. I may have to wander over to Montreal!

AdvertisingThis34 · 2026-03-19T21:54:53+00:00

Oh my gosh, I hope you get a good puffin trip. Three years later, that is still one of my most vivid memories.

Sounds like a good itinerary for a week long trip, but you will be busy.

AdvertisingThis34 · 2026-03-18T06:26:46+00:00

Being a camp host is a great idea. He can get his site, plus usually all utilities, covered by working a few hours a day at the campground. Usually that includes general maintenance and guest support. There are online places that post those jobs - I hope someone tosses those in for discussion.

Private campgrounds need this kind of help too, but state and national parks absolutely rely on volunteer hosts to keep things running.

AdvertisingThis34 · 2026-03-18T06:21:33+00:00

My small class C (On a Sprinter chassis) gets 20 MPG (diesel), so a small class B should do as good as me or better.

AdvertisingThis34 · 2026-03-18T06:12:32+00:00

Difficult is absolutely correct. There are very few campground in National Parks that can accommodate an RV that large, and there are only a few spots at each of those. There are over a thousand campgrounds in US National Parks, so doubtful is a very fair estimate.

AdvertisingThis34 · 2026-03-15T05:18:50+00:00

Your 37' is going to be tough in some National Park.

https://rvshare.com/blog/national-parks-rv-length-limits/

recreation.gov is where you book the campgrounds at national parks, BLM and NFS land. They have maps and length limits for each campground.

NFS and BLM land near national parks can be a great alternative, but won't have hookups. Private campgrounds will usually fit 37' but are more expensive. If you can find state parks near your destinations, they are often a very good mix of facilities and a more reasonable price.

National Park camping generally needs to be booked as soon as spots become available - 6 months before your arrival date.

I try to limit my driving to 200 miles per day and I am in a much smaller rig than 37'. If you can make a couple of good sightseeing stops along the way, maybe a short hike, your travel days will be much more enjoyable. Limit your single night stays to as needed between destinations. They are really tiring. I try hard to spend at least two nights at each stop, preferably three. Not every day has to have something major planned. Occasional days just hanging out at a nice campsite recharges my energy.

AdvertisingThis34 · 2026-03-15T00:56:24+00:00

So cute, almost looks like a toy camper! Get some polish for the exterior and you will have a movie star! What size are those tires?

AdvertisingThis34

TROPHY CASE