Replies

1. 
   notDusty | Jan 03, 2005 06:46pm | #1

                 Lee ,

         Did you say beer or would there be bears ?

                                           dusty

1. 
   LeeGrindinger | Jan 03, 2005 07:44pm | #2

   Nah, no bears. We've been here about a dozen years and I've seen one bear gallopping by our place in all that time, it was a severe drought year and the poor critter was trying to find an apple tree to fleece.We live in the center of a valley called Paradise Valley, the Yellowstone river runs through it about 500 yards from our door. We look out at the Absoraka Beartooth Mountains, a wilderness area, on one side of the valley, The Gallatin range on the other side of the valley. The beer and food part will be arranged.You are the bear food.Lee

1. 
   Jimma | Jan 03, 2005 07:56pm | #3

   Hmmm. That just might work out for me (us). At least I'm open to the idea, even though it's a long drive from Orlando. Could stop by and see Splintie, too. What time of year looks the most promising?

2. 
   creekwood | Jan 03, 2005 08:51pm | #5

   Lee, from the way you describe it,  you're living in an illegal area. Sounds too beautiful to be legal. But  like Jim said, that's a  long way from FL.  Hey, never know what each day brings, so if you do get folks together and I make enough to take a vacation that direction, I may show up.

1. 
   LeeGrindinger | Jan 03, 2005 09:07pm | #8

   Nope, we bought the place fair and square and I built it myself.

    

   Make the trip, show yourselves Yellowstone Park and a few mountains.

    

   Here's our home, the workshop's off to the left concealed by trees.

    

   Lee

   
1. 
   AlanMikkelsen | Jan 03, 2005 09:17pm | #9

   There's no doubt it's beautiful in the Paradise Valley.  In fact, it's just about the second most beautiful place in Montana, next to the Mission Valley!  Nothing beats the way the Mission Mountains unfold in front of you as you drive north on Hwy 93 from Missoula.  You climb Ravalli Hill with the National Bison Range on your left, with elk and bison nearly always present.  Then, suddenly, a panoramic vista of a 10,000' mountain range unfolds from a 3,000' valley floor.  It's guaranteed to take most peoples breath away. 

   Oops, sorry Lee.  It sounds like a great idea, but I have two longstanding summer conflicts.  The first is an annual fishing trip to Alaska on my Dad's boat, and the second is a summer Boy Scout camp.  August would work better for me, or even September.  (I've always thought that the Paradise Valley was most beautiful in it's autumn colors, anyway!)  Many, many years ago I used to guide for the old Beaver Pond sporting goods store in Bozeman.  Fished the Madison and Yellowstone mostly.  Alan & Lynette Mikkelsen, Mountain View Farm, est. 1934,  Gardens & Fine Woodworking, St. Ignatius, MT

2. 
   AlanMikkelsen | Jan 03, 2005 09:29pm | #10

   Oops, almost forgot the obligatory Montana picture (last summer).  A bear is worse than a neighbors dog for cra**ing your yard!Alan & Lynette Mikkelsen, Mountain View Farm, est. 1934,  Gardens & Fine Woodworking, St. Ignatius, MT

   
2. 
   AlbionWood | Jan 03, 2005 08:47pm | #4

   Wow, Lee, that's a pretty tempting idea... any chance it would coincide with a nice hatch?

   "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler."  A. Einstein

   http://www.albionworks.net

1. 
   LeeGrindinger | Jan 03, 2005 08:57pm | #7

   There are frequent hatches of caddis going on during the spring and summer. Later summer brings on the Stoneflies and terrestials. We get a few mayflies but they are the little guys, 18 and smaller, like down to 22's and 24's.There is a caddis hatch called "The Mother's Day Hatch" when I've seen so many bugs it seemed you could cross the river on their backs. It's before runoff and quite early.I'm thinking July sometime...Lee

2. 
   DaveHeinlein | Jan 04, 2005 01:29am | #11

   That was my first thought. ;^}

3. 
   jackplane | Jan 03, 2005 08:53pm | #6

   Lee, That's a fabulous idea. If have enough time I'll surely make it!

4. 
   JeffHeath | Jan 04, 2005 06:09am | #12

   Lee

   Beautiful place!!!  Did you buy that from heaven??!!  I'd love to come, as long as I'm finished with the construction on my home.  It should be finished by July (I hope).  Keep me posted on info.

   Jeff

1. 
   georgek | Jan 04, 2005 06:26am | #13

   Hey Jeff, want to car pool?

   Lee, your place is fantastic, would love to come.

   What do you have planned?

1. 
   LeeGrindinger | Jan 04, 2005 06:54pm | #14

   How about a two day fest complete with turning demos, carving demos, router demos and whatever and whoever else I can round up with specialized skills and talents.How about getting one of the leading tool dealers in the West to teach us about heavy tooling in production shops in this day and age. I'll tell him to behave. Furniture design and construction, jigs, finishing techniques, I can try to lure some of my prestigious friends out of the woodwork to show us their stuff.How about chainsaw carving? Anyone here do it?Everyone has a speciality, we'll see who wants to share it.I'll put the word out at WoodCentral as well, and we'll see if this thing can snowball (Heh, heh...that's Montana humor) into a real event.Lee

1. 
   BG | Jan 04, 2005 08:39pm | #15

   Lee,
   I'm gonna drive you crazy...
   Montanafest to collect used hand tools to be shipped to the victims of the tsunamy....help them rebuild.... 

1. 
   LeeGrindinger | Jan 05, 2005 06:37am | #20

   Now, why would you think charity would drive me crazy? If you new how many hours I give away a week to teaching and charity you'd wonder how I stay afloat at all.I don't know how active the organizations seeking aid for the Tsunami victims will be in six months or if a new crisis will have arisen but it's something to think about. We could possibly incorporate a charitable effort into this thing.Lee

2. 
   JeffHeath | Jan 04, 2005 08:52pm | #16

   Lee

   I've got the camper hooked on to the back of my truck.  I volunteer to run the beer drinking contest, and feed anyone who gets outta line to the local wildlife.

   I think you've got something there, and seriously, I'll help you out setting up or something.  Sounds like a great time.

   Jeff

3. 
   georgek | Jan 04, 2005 09:56pm | #17

   Chainsaw carving? I'm in! Get that snowball rolling, you have 6 months to plan and organize! Need help?

1. 
   LeeGrindinger | Jan 05, 2005 01:37am | #18

   Great! It seems there is interest enough to pursue this.Considering Summer is the time what time of the Summer is best for you all?Alan hinted at September or late August. What would work best for those genuinely interested?...might as well invite the 'fest editor himself...Andy, you wanna make the trip? Taunton oughta jump at the chance to foot your travel expenses.Lee

2. 
   JeffHeath | Jan 05, 2005 05:15am | #19

   Lee

   The legend of Montanafest is growing quickly on this site!  You may have to rent Yellowstone.  The end of the summer,  late July or August would be best for me.  I'm definately coming unless something unforeseen happens.

   Jeff

3. 
   LeeGrindinger | Jan 05, 2005 06:43am | #21

   Yup Jeff, it seems to be gaining momentum.I'll head over to Breaktime soon for advice. These guys have been having fests for years so they know the logistics, we won't have to reinvent the wheel.Just so you fisher-people know, fishing sucks around here during runoff. The peak of runoff is around the second or third week of June and the water is just too murky and high to fish if we have decent moisture in the snowpack. It's looking like the middle to the end of July is lining up as a good time. Comments?Lee

4. 
   koikid | Jan 17, 2005 08:07am | #24

   Hey Lee,  Was re-reading some of your post for the fest and I know of a good chainsaw Carver I met about 6 years ago in Missoula that I commissioned him to do a 4' bear for be that he sent me about a month later.  He lives some where South of Missoula.  I have his card around some where, he was set up doing demos at the BMW rally I was at and we talked quite a bit.and he did very good work.

   I was thinking this would be great, the wife and I could come up for this and then go back up to Glaceir Nat. Park and do some good camping we started 5 years ago and got rained out after the 3rd day.  But looks like she will be started back to school that week(teacher)  That blew that idea, but I don't need her to be able to come.  But 3 or 4 trips for last year never took place because of work messed them up.   If I made it up would consider helping and  maybe doing some turning if I still have the nack! Ha!

   KK

1. 
   LeeGrindinger | Jan 17, 2005 06:08pm | #25

   Well, by all means get a hold of your chainsaw carver, grab the gear and plan on heading up. The carver must do it for free, all the workshops will be free.I'm hoping one or more of you turner guys brings a lathe. Mine is an old dinosaur adequate for my purposes but not enough machine for serious turners.Dave Smith is going to do one demo, turning is always a hottie at these things so I'm expecting a lot of action around the lathes.Lee

   Edited 1/17/2005 10:09 am ET by Lee_Grindinger

2. 
   LeeGrindinger | Jan 17, 2005 06:52pm | #26

   I'm making sure this is posted in this thread as well.This page will grow.http://www.furniturecarver.com/MontanaFest.htmlLee

3. 
   user-152814 | Jan 25, 2005 06:58am | #27

   Lee,  Please count me in when you finally set a date.  I'll be there regardless of when. Thanks, Carp

4. 
   LeeGrindinger | Jan 25, 2005 07:31pm | #28

   You're in, CarpMan, the dates are set, August 12, 13, 14.Lee

5. 
   Sprucegum | Jan 05, 2005 06:49am | #22

   YES!

   I have not been south for several years nor have I been to a fest of this type - if youall can be called a "type". haha

    

1. 
   AlanMikkelsen | Jan 05, 2005 08:16pm | #23

   Looks like a lot of the folks at Wood Central are favoring a June fest.  To echo Lee's warning, that's usually not the greatest time in the world for fishing, especially eary June.  I'd still lobby for August or September, but I'll try to work out my schedule when Lee makes a final decision on dates.Alan & Lynette Mikkelsen, Mountain View Farm, est. 1934,  Gardens & Fine Woodworking, St. Ignatius, MT