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Having always wanted to venture beyond Colorado, this years ADV westfest rally was the perfect opportunity to have a support network and riding buddies. It was based in the Bitterroot valley of western Montana in the small town of Darby. The elevations weren't as high as what you'd get in CO, but it was fun and would be nice when Arkansas is too hot, but too early fo CO.
I took my new to me xr650l I bought from rideforum's flea market earlier this year. Chris had it set up really well for his neighbor, but I made a few changes that worked well on my old xrl. Bar risers, saddlebag racks, 5.8 gal tank, mikuni carb, hi comp piston, performance cam, modded stock muffler and ground header welds.


Bannack montana













skakhalo falls



granite montana ghost town


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skalkaho_Pass









mine superintendent's home in granite



mill ruins



view from mill





sula peak fire lookout





bare cone fire lookout





old time gas pumps still going in Shoup Idaho



magruder corridor







burnt knob fire lookout









Lolo pass





Lolo motorway







me fall down, either bigfoot or a chupacabra



1400 miles, 100 miles from darby to bannack

It looks like you had a great time... Good pictures, thanks for sharing them...

Nice trip and pictures. That is another place on the to do list.

Thanks guys, here a few more pictures of Bannack I didn't post to the "other" site since someone had beat me to it with their pics of the same stuff.

here's an excerpt from wiki

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bannack,_Montana

"Bannack's sheriff, Henry Plummer, was accused by some of secretly leading a ruthless band of road agents, with early accounts claiming that this gang was responsible for over a hundred murders in the Virginia City and Bannack gold fields and trails to Salt Lake City. However, because only eight white deaths are historically documented, some modern historians have called into question the exact nature of Plummer's gang, while others deny the existence of the gang altogether. In any case, Plummer and two compatriots were hanged, without trial, at Bannack on January 10, 1863. A number of Plummer's associates were lynched and others banished on pain of death if they ever returned. 22 individuals were accused, informally tried, and hanged by the vigilantes of Bannack and Virginia City[5]. Nathaniel Pitt Langford, the first superintendent of Yellowstone National Park, was a member of that vigilance committee[6]."

Very cool photos!

Hey, 'Beans! Me thinks you should look into re-opening the Mead hotel for puting up tuckered-out old moto pilots as they stop through!
I'll even give free haircuts from the conveniently located tonsorial chair for free room and board! Such a deal!

Hey Lee, was watching a guy's spot tracker on the 50/50 ride saturday, the only two that completed it were Will and Jen. There were quite a few paved passes but next year is supposed to be the toughest yet with lots of singletrack.

Hi Dean looks like Montana did not suck.
Just about cool enough to head to Ar?
Marty

Redburn wrote:Hi Dean looks like Montana did not suck.
Just about cool enough to head to Ar?
Marty

Hi Marty, another month or so at the earliest I'd think. Got to rustle up a wood pile and stock up on snakebite meds. There's talk of a little doins back at white rock around nov 1st or 2nd. The fall colors tour is kinda up in the air but I bet someone will step forward and pick a date.
The same group we had at SLAP would be fun! Dean