Cows wondering why we shooed them off
In last week’s installment we visited little known Muddy Creek Falls and Canyon in Montana. Prior to visiting the canyon and falls we and our friends dropped our travel trailers at a boondocking campsite on BLM land near Bynum Reservoir. Not wanting to cause any of you grief with a game warden, I am not going to share the location as the boundaries of where the BLM land ends and Montana Department of Fisheries begins is difficult to ascertain and the rules between the two administering agencies differ. Plus, what is “on” the reservoir is “not” open to interpretation especially since the shoreline is about 100 yards from the high water mark. You can rest assured we were on BLM land and followed their rules for dispersed camping. If you are interested in camping where we did (you may not want to after reading the balance of this entry) you can find the section of BLM land via http://publiclands.org and navigate their on your own OR you can set up your base camp at the Bynum Reservoir Fishing Access Site which has campsites for $12 per night, $7 per night if you have a Montana Fishing license. With that bit of disclosure out of the way, I can share the adventure we experienced at camp.
Hamburger on the hoof if they wake me up again!
After returning tired from our adventure to the falls and canyon, we celebrated our victory of reaching our goal (despite the many adversities) with a hearty dinner and went to sleep under a star filled sky. Sometime after midnight a couple of owls set up camp in a nearby cottonwood tree, while I enjoyed hearing their hoots, sleep sounded better to me. Early the next morning, (earlier than I was ready to get up), a herd of cows decided to invade our campsite. While the noise was enough to wake me up, our friends were shaken awake by a cow using their trailer as a scratching post. Cows chased away, we enjoyed our breakfast and headed off to our next Montana adventure. Stay tuned!
Being awakened by owls and cows in the boondocks, just another adventure in RVing!
You will find the Bynum Reservoir FAS (Fishing Access Site) campground at: N47 57.595 W112 24.380
Those with small backcountry type RVs willing to drive miles of gravel and dirt roads may also consider camping at the Muddy Creek Fall Trailhead, where standard forest service dispersed camping rules apply.
Dave Helgeson’s many roles in the RV industry started before he even had a driver’s license. His grandparents and father owned an RV dealership before the term “RV” had been coined, and Dave played a pivotal role in nearly every position of an RV dealership. He and his wife Cheri launched their own RV dealership in the Pacific Northwest. The duo also spent 29 years overseeing regional RV shows. Dave has also served as President of a local chapter of the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), worked on the board of advisors for the RV Technician Program of a local technical college, and served as a board member of the Manufactured Home and RV Association. Dave’s reputation earned him the title of “The foremost expert on boondocking,” bestowed by RV industry icon, the late Gary Bunzer (The RV Doctor). When he’s not out boondocking, you’ll find Dave in the spotlight at RV shows across the country, giving seminars about all things RVing. He and Cheri currently roam in their fifth travel trailer, with Dave doing all the service, repair and modifications to his own unit.
Leave a Reply