First "scampout" in the Scamp. 2 nights at Logan State Park. Electric hookup. Filled the 12 gallon fresh water tank from a spigot. The location was on Middle Thompson Lake, about 1.5 hour drive west of home. Scamping beats tent camping!! A bed; a sink; hot water; toilet ; shower; fridge -- very cool.
We thought we had tested all parts of the Scamp in advance. We had tested the hot water heater with propane, but had missed using it with electric. There is a light switch inside that is labeled "Water Heater", but not labeled On or Off, and after trying it both ways and waiting half an hour each time it still had no effect, so the first night we just went with propane for hot water. The next morning I re-investigated and discovered in the fuse box it was turned off; problem solved!
The only other concerning item was while driving going down a hill at 65mph we felt some sway from the trailer, and will be installing an anti-sway bar to prevent that.
The campsite. Only took a few tries for us amateurs to get it backed in to place.
Yep, we are at the right site.
Prepping for the first dinner. We actually cooked outside on a camp stove, as it was 94 degrees.
Our neighbor generously provided an incredible wonderful Scotch to help properly break the Scamp in.
The campsite was about an hour away from Libby MT. I had never been to Kootenai River swinging bridge, so this provided an opportunity for a visit. This is the new bridge, installed last year, that allows 5 people at a time on the bridge. I think the old bridge only allowed one at a time. Signs for social distancing directed that the bridge was "one way at a time", so 5 people cross one way, wait for it to clear, and then 5 cross the opposite direction. It was pretty busy; the parking lot was full with lots of out of state visitors.
The joys of Montana -- you don't have to travel very far for beautiful things to see.
Yikes!
Sandy is ready to go.
Double yikes!!!
Train tracks beyond the bridge. We've ridden past this spot countless times on Amtrak, but it usually goes by around 3am whether you are heading east or west. We were on a late train once that went thru during daylight hours, and the 2 hours where the tracks parallel the Kootenai River are stunning.
Also went and saw the Libby Dam. The visitor center is closed. The dam was completed in 1972, the last of the large western water works projects. While the dam does generate some electricity, the primary purpose is to hold back water to ensure a steady waterflow for Grand Coulee Dam in Washington.
Lake Koocanusa, 90 mile long, was formed behind the dam. 48 miles of it are in the US; 42 are in Canada. When it was formed there was a contest to name it. The winner created the name from KOO -- Kootenai River CAN -- Canada USA -- USA
Also as part of the dam project
/The Great Northern Railroad line was also relocated, proving to be one of the most complex of all the projects related to the Libby Dam. This rail line relocation included the building of a seven-mile railroad tunnel through Elk Mountain, on the upper Wolf Creek Drainage of the Kootenai National Forest. /
When traveling on Amtrak heading east, this tunnel is a sort of wake up call in the morning before arriving in to Whitefish. It takes about 20 minutes to travel thru, and the pressure change in the tunnel causes ears to "pop" a number of times, waking you up if you are still asleep.
The Scamp is very cozy
Our emergency spare water supply. Be prepared for every emergency (read the label).
Not really sure how 5 gallons of water is helpful during a Zombie Apolalypse. False advertising?
