A Little Advice For a Family New to MT? (Billings: ski resort, rental)

[seven of nine]

Now my "guide to living in Montana" that my best friend gave me before I left Oregon said distance is measured by 6-pack, such as, "Yep that's about 2 six-packs away from here

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by seven of nine

Now my "guide to living in Montana" that my best friend gave me before I left Oregon said distance is measured by 6-pack, such as, "Yep that's about 2 six-packs away from here

Finally, a useful measurement!

[Timberwolf232]

Used to be that way too!

[rickers]

Still is considering that the new law banning an open container in a vehicle really doesn't ban an open container at all ! Only the driver can't have one ! Read the law carefully, a passenger can still drink in the car !

[ROOKUS]

Thanks, guys for all of your advice about living in the middle of nowhere. That part is what I'm looking forward to the most! I grew up in a little tiny town in Texas, and we had to drive at least 30 minutes in any direction to reach civilization.

My husband's company will slow building down in the winter, and take into account that we'll need to have some weather days. I'll have to find out if the house has a generator. I know we've got a woodstove, and there is a ranch manager in a house right across the property.

As far as coming to visit, it's just not an option. We're so busy for the next 6 weeks that we'll be lucky to get packed in time to leave on Sept 5.

Being in winter doesn't bother me. I finished college in Vermont, in a tiny little town, and actually got pretty good at snowshoes. Well, whatever, I fell down much less than I did when I started.

I love to hear everyone's thoughts on the move, whether it sounds like heaven to them, or those that think I'm crazy as a loon. I'll definitely be around the boards here, I've been lurking for a couple of months anyway... and I'll keep you posted on what we think after a few months!

[bigtrees]

One question - how will you be on the boards here?

Something tells me that they don't have high speed internet in Fishtail, MT. I suppose you can do dial up (ugh) but it may be long distance to the nearest town that has an ISP and you won't want to pay long distance charges.

You can try Satellite, but I don't hear about a lot of people using that. It can cut out during bad weather.

mtboy, do you know much about internet back in your hometown?

[ROOKUS]

Originally Posted by bigtrees

One question - how will you be on the boards here?

Something tells me that they don't have high speed internet in Fishtail, MT. I suppose you can do dial up (ugh) but it may be long distance to the nearest town that has an ISP and you won't want to pay long distance charges.

You can try Satellite, but I don't hear about a lot of people using that. It can cut out during bad weather.

mtboy, do you know much about internet back in your hometown?

Actually, I talked to the gal at Nemont, and she looked up my address and said we can get DSL there. It will be hooked up the day after we arrive.

I was pleasantly surprised... shocked, actually. But if it happens that it won't work, we will order satellite service so I can upload pics of my artwork, and my husband can do his bids and paperwork for his job.

So, I'll be around here, I love to see what people around the state are chatting about.

[mtboy]

Yeah, it is a funny thing, see growing up I lived in the country outside of Bridger. So never had any of the luxuries didn't get satelite til bout 02', and we had dial-up but ... . Then somewhere in that time frame they ran a high speed fiber optic line right past the front of our house, on a gravel road and it was goin to Belfry, MT. Thought man this could be good! But then we were informed that we are unable to connect to it? What the? It is like 40 ft. from our house and we can't connect? Thought it was kinda the biggest crock of you know what but oh well. My mother worked from home and her company needed her to have faster internet so they have satellite internet now and the company pays for it. Still not as fast as cable and it is more expensive so?

[K-FOX]

ROOKUS,

Sounds like heaven to me too! A 450 acre ranch in the middle of NOWHERE! In a Log Cabin! That's my kind of place. Never heard of Fishtail though. I think the Columbus area is pretty. Make sure that pantry is stocked very well indeed. And lot'sa seasoned firewood.

Hope you enjoy it, I know I would. If you have a hobby stock up on supplies for that too. I'd be buying LOTS of fabric to quilt with!


K-FOX

[kingster]

I grew up in Montana, Gallatin Valley, and recently moved back home. Little town called Three Forks, been away for 20 years, some things have changed but some stay the same.

Anyway I lived in Billings for 14 years. I love the mtns so of course the nearest ones are the Beartooths. I would frequent them often and I would go through Fishtail all the time. There is a bar/restaurant there, a little store and a fly fishing shop where you can catch fish in the creek right off the deck. It is close to the Nye mine where they mine platinum and palladium. In the winter it does get snow up there but with the mine the roads are usually kept clear. There is a bus out of Columbus that workers use to commute to the mine. The nearest town is Absarokee, I imagine that is where your kids would go to school. Columbus has a community hospital, that would probably be your closest medical facility. There is one in Red Lodge too but Columbus would be easier to get to. Be prepared to stock up on firewood for the winter and a generator is a very good idea.

Not to alarm but something to think of in summer months is wildfires. Montana is in the middle of a 9 or 10 year drought. Spring and early summers are green but by mid to late summer it is very dry. A few years ago there was major wildfire in the Fishtail area and it was evacuated. Almost evacuated Absarokee but the fire didn't get that far. The fire did stretch North all the way to Reed Point and very close to Interstate 90. I have a friend that lost their cattle, fences, barn and outbuildings but the house was saved.

Fishtail is a beautiful area right in the middle of the Stillwater Valley. The Stillwater River is a popular river among fly fishermen (and women). If you like Mountain lakes I'd recommend going to West Fork and hiking to Mystic Lake, one of my favorite places in that area. There is a nice campground between West Fork lake and Emerald Lake. The trailhead for Mystic is just past Emerald Lake. It's about a 3 mile hike to Mystic from there. It' s also the best way to get to Granite Peak, highest Mtn in Monana so there may be a little foot traffic on the way.

Fishtail is "out of the way" but as a Montanan who loves the outdoors and Mtns I wouldn't call it "in the middle of nowhere" but that's just me. I really do love that area and would jump at a chance to live there. You'll have to check out the Grizzly Bar in Roscoe, one of the best steakhouses around.