Montana: Where nothing ever gets dry

©2013 Lydia Hinshaw

Our campsite at Two Med

Before Monday's rain started

 This post is out of sequence because of technical difficulties

 MISSOULA, MT -- It's a familiar scene in Montana, sitting in the Magic Bus in a campground, waiting for a break in the rain.
 We never intended to be in Missoula this week.  We set out from our West Glacier base to spend a couple of days camping at Two Medicine, one of the least-visited areas of Glacier National Park.
 All went well Sunday.  The day was lovely and we found a campsite with about 270 degrees of spectacular views.  We went on a short hike, fixed dinner and relaxed around our campfire until bedtime.
 Because the Park is home to many black and grizzly bears, the humans in charge have very strict rules prohibiting the storage of food in "soft-sided" vehicles.  I normally sleep in the Magic Bus' upper berth, which is definitely soft-sided.
 I decided to pitch a tent for the night, so that the pop-top could stay down, making it legal to keep our food inside.  This would be much easier than trying to make sure every crumb of food and every item of soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, sunscreen, hand lotion, anything with a scent, was out of the bus and into a bear box.
 So we complied with the law, but wound up with a wet tent because this is June in Montana and rain is pretty much guaranteed. 
 A tent is a wonderful thing, until it gets rained on and needs to be packed up and then it is a curse.  My rain fly had become a big wet glob of nylon that would soak anything it touches.  
 We didn't want to sit around all day to see if the sun might come out and dry the blasted thing, so we stuffed it into a large heavy-duty garbage bag, which we always keep on hand for just such emergencies.  This was good enough to protect the inside of the bus and the rest of our possessions.
 Then we set out for Missoula, a city we like to visit once a year, so this seemed like a good time.  When the weather is bad it does provide some tolerable indoor things to do.
 On the road we found better weather, and at one point stopped at a rest area to spread the tent out in the sun.  Of course, a cloud quickly raced in front of the sun, but we did get the fly portion of the tent past the dripping stage.
 In Missoula, we landed in a private campground, and spread the tent out again, although we could see the rain coming.  Half an hour later, the tent almost dry, we felt the first drops and raced to get it back in its bag.
 At least there is no fear of bears here, and I can sleep in the penthouse again.