Today I had to go to the city; the one that lies just beyond the sharp peak in the distance. There were three ways to return home: a state highway, an interstate for most of the way then a state road, and a primitive forest road through 35 miles of forest. Guess which I chose…
Montana Outdoors 
I would have chosen the forest too.
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Comment by Vicki (from Victoria A Photography) — August 14, 2013 @ 12:23 am
I make that trip several time a year. It’s very pretty and very wild country. Never know what you’ll see there. Very rough road though.
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Comment by montucky — August 14, 2013 @ 7:51 pm
Easy choice ! // Maria 🙂
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Comment by mariayarri — August 14, 2013 @ 3:47 am
It is! I wish I could make that drive in winter, but the snow makes that impossible. It would be beautiful!
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Comment by montucky — August 14, 2013 @ 7:52 pm
I think you chose the same one I would have. Too bad to have to spend time in the city, but I guess we all have to do it sooner or later.
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Comment by New Hampshire Garden Solutions — August 14, 2013 @ 4:21 am
Yes. The less I see of a city the more I like it that way! Actually, that one isn’t all that bad to visit but I wouldn’t want to stay there long.
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Comment by montucky — August 14, 2013 @ 7:54 pm
good choice beautiful photo I love that place
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Comment by Jeff Price — August 14, 2013 @ 4:29 am
Yes, that’s a great area. I like hiking the Reservation Divide trail.
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Comment by montucky — August 14, 2013 @ 7:55 pm
Excellent choice!
Such a remarkably beautiful landscape. ::sigh::
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Comment by rose — August 14, 2013 @ 4:36 am
It is! I’d bet you would like these mountains and forests, rose!
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Comment by montucky — August 14, 2013 @ 7:59 pm
Of course you took the road less traveled!
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Comment by shoreacres — August 14, 2013 @ 5:57 am
Always! I found a fellow in a ranger station not far from here today who gave me some good information about which trails are the least used.
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Comment by montucky — August 14, 2013 @ 8:09 pm
Smart choice. It’s always a good thing when you can enjoy the journey.
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Comment by anniespickns — August 14, 2013 @ 6:43 am
All three routes have very beautiful scenery, but the primitive one is the best by far for me. About in the middle, dozens of miles from anywhere, there is a grave on the hillside of a man who died there in 1908. I stop to pay my respects whenever I pass by that way. The marker says he was “a fine man”.
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Comment by montucky — August 14, 2013 @ 8:12 pm
Someone beat me to it but I’ll say it again “the road less traveled” and that has made all the difference. Thanks
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Comment by Ron Mangels — August 14, 2013 @ 6:44 am
That road, from highway to highway is 35 miles. I did not encounter another car.
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Comment by montucky — August 14, 2013 @ 8:13 pm
You chose wisely !!! Great image Terry !!
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Comment by Bernie Kasper — August 14, 2013 @ 8:18 am
Beautiful spot, isn’t it! It’s on the divide between the Siegel Creek drainage and the Nine Mile drainage. One creek flows north, the other south but both meet the Clark Fork River about 60 miles apart.
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Comment by montucky — August 14, 2013 @ 8:33 pm
Love it! Thanks for providing this wonderful window into your world
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Comment by C.C. — August 14, 2013 @ 8:51 am
I’m glad that you like it, C.C.!
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Comment by montucky — August 14, 2013 @ 8:34 pm
Good choice.
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Comment by wordsfromanneli — August 14, 2013 @ 9:17 am
Always!
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Comment by montucky — August 14, 2013 @ 8:34 pm
Best choice of all, I’d say. You never know what lovely sights will greet you when you get off the beaten path, but it’s sure worth the journey.
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Comment by Mama's Empty Nest — August 14, 2013 @ 1:20 pm
You never know what things you will see, but you know what scenes you won’t see!
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Comment by montucky — August 14, 2013 @ 8:35 pm
I would have chosen the state highway also. Who in their right mind would want to be surrounded by trees, wildflowers, waterfalls, wildlife, and the freshest fresh air? Especially when convenience stores are nowhere to be found.
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Comment by dhphotosite — August 14, 2013 @ 1:41 pm
Who indeed! I remember though, working with a guy once who said his idea of a wilderness experience was ordering from the sea food menu at a new Hilton Inn. We didn’t understand each other very well.
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Comment by montucky — August 14, 2013 @ 8:38 pm
It’s nice to have enough time to be able to do that, and when you don’t it’s a good idea to make the time.
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Comment by jomegat — August 14, 2013 @ 6:49 pm
Exactly! In this case the drive is actually about 20 miles shorter but an hour longer. You make up the hour by the lack of stress.
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Comment by montucky — August 14, 2013 @ 8:39 pm
It is so beautiful where you live and you are just the guy to present it to the rest of the world!
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Comment by WildBill — August 14, 2013 @ 7:35 pm
Thanks Bill! I’ve seen it for over 70 years now and still love it, so I figure other folks might too!
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Comment by montucky — August 14, 2013 @ 8:41 pm
Terry:
The one and only time I drove over Siegel Pass was in June 1966 on my way to Plains (where I was to man my 1st fire lookout — Big Hole — from the Nine Mile Ranger Station. Good memories.
Chad
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Comment by Anonymous — August 14, 2013 @ 7:41 pm
You know, I will be that road hasn’t changed a bit! The old Nine Mile Ranger station and all of its grounds and fields are still kept in excellent repair and good order. Still a beautiful place and still in full use. Their hay barns were full to overflowing when I passed by. Big rolls now-a-days though.
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Comment by montucky — August 14, 2013 @ 8:44 pm
No surprise here! 20 miles shorter but an hour longer sounds like a song or a poem! I can tell how much you love Montana. One thing I love most about Montana are those backroads.
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Comment by twoscamps — August 14, 2013 @ 9:38 pm
When my Jeep was brand new that was one of the first roads I travelled on, hunting grouse, and blew a tire. The next week those Wrangler tires that came on the Jeep went to the dump and I put real tires on it. The Jeep smiles when I turn off the highway!
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Comment by montucky — August 14, 2013 @ 10:22 pm
🙂
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Comment by twoscamps — August 14, 2013 @ 10:36 pm
Forest road every time! Love the photo.
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Comment by Jo Woolf — August 15, 2013 @ 2:28 am
Sure makes a huge difference in my attitude!
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Comment by montucky — August 15, 2013 @ 7:36 pm
What a gorgeous option…well-chosen, Terry….and how unlike you to prefer the woods over the highway. 😉
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Comment by seekraz — August 15, 2013 @ 6:51 am
Yes, I wish there was that option everywhere I go!
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Comment by montucky — August 15, 2013 @ 7:38 pm
Love Your choice. The scenery is interesting to study.
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Comment by Sartenada — August 15, 2013 @ 10:58 pm
I know that you would like that place, Matti!
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Comment by montucky — August 16, 2013 @ 10:15 pm
The best way to destress after a fraught day in the city. Good choice!
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Comment by Finn — August 17, 2013 @ 4:47 am
Yes, the best. I wish lots more people had that choice!
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Comment by montucky — August 17, 2013 @ 8:23 pm
Perfect prescription for curing the ills of a trip to the city!
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Comment by Dave at collinda — August 17, 2013 @ 7:28 am
Yes, it would be well prescribed!
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Comment by montucky — August 17, 2013 @ 8:24 pm
What a return trip home! I’ve taken many a forest road and never been sorry… 🙂
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Comment by Teresa Evangeline — August 17, 2013 @ 2:39 pm
This road is an old friend, often a starting place for a long walk on a high trail.
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Comment by montucky — August 17, 2013 @ 8:26 pm
I think we all guessed right! Glad your Jeep got to do what it wanted.
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Comment by Candace — August 17, 2013 @ 4:17 pm
Always gotta listen to the Jeep!
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Comment by montucky — August 17, 2013 @ 8:27 pm