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?