Trip Report: Bigger Skies
First published in 2017. Reformatted 2025. I seem to visit Wyoming and Montana every year, and 2016 was no exception. Another fire lookout visit was on my agenda, so adding a few days to explore former military sites seemed appropriate. Just a reminder PIN means Permanent Installation Number and ILC means Installation Location Code; I include these for Air Force properties when I know them.Friday, 19 August 2016
On this trip I covered some unfamiliar ground in Wyoming, seeking out a few closed Wyoming National Guard armories. Riverton National Guard Armory WY, 43-00-53, 108-22-52. This armory closed in 1999.General view
General view Colonel Jack A. Toth National Guard Armory WY, 43-39-12, 108-12-16. This armory, in Thermopolis and named in honor of Colonel Jack A. Toth, also closed in 1999.
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Signage My destination for the night was Worland, Wyoming.
Saturday, 20 August 2016
More adventure, heading west through Wyoming then north into Montana. Sergeant First Class Myron H. Burt National Guard Armory WY, 44-30-47, 109-01-58. This armory, in Cody, was built in 1962.General view
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Entrance signage Bridger 16MM6 Mini-MUTES MT, ILC CJFQ, 45-12-45, 108-55-22. This electronic scoring facility was activated 1 July 1992, and disposed of 1 July 1996. It supported the Powell Electronic Scoring Site.
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Electrical panel My destination for the night was Bozeman, Montana.
Sunday, 21 August 2016
From Bozeman I went north. Rimini War Dog Reception and Training Center MT, 46-31-24, 112-15-26. This base, sometimes known as Camp Rimini, trained sled and pack dogs for the Army. The land was acquired by use permit in November 1942, and the facility was declared surplus on 1 May 1944.General view from road
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Concrete remnants
Concrete remnants I drove on to Missoula, and met Dave Fields for lunch. Dave runs the Minuteman Missile web site, so we had an enjoyable time comparing notes and adventures. It was good to meet him in person after years of exchanging e-mails. From Missoula I headed north to my base camp in Columbia Falls, and prepared my gear for the next two days of backpacking. Monday and Tuesday were devoted to hiking up to Baptiste Lookout and back after an overnight stay. On Wednesday I attempted to visit Eureka GFA MT, but normal access was closed due to fire conditions in that area.
Thursday, 25 August 2016
I checked out of my lodging in Columbia Falls and headed south. Fort Missoula MT, ILC HHUL, 46-50-30, 114-03-35. This post was established in 1877 and served until it was inactivated on 30 September 1999, a victim of the 1995 BRAC process. At the end of World War Two, the fort occupied 7,590 acres and was home to the Northwest Branch, US Disciplinary Barracks. Two portions of the fort were resurrected the day after base closure in 1999: The US Army Reserve controls the 0.88 acre Fort Missoula Cemetery, and the Montana Army National Guard controls the 13.71-acre Fort Missoula Army National Guard Training Site (since renamed as National Guard Fort Missoula - FMS 02), both established 1 October 1999.Facility T1 Post Headquarters
Facility T201 Noncommissioned Officer Quarters
Facility T203 Garage
Facility T310 Quarters
Facility T312 Clothing Repair
Facility T316 Post Engineer
Facility T322 Quartermaster Storehouse
Facility T323 Root Cellar
Facility T327 Oil Storage (L), T328 Motor Pool (R), T380 Garage (C)
Facility T347 Guard House
Alien Detention Center barracks
Family housing units My destination for the night was Butte, Montana.
Friday, 26 August 2016
Today would be spent on the highway, heading back into Wyoming and covering a lot of ground. Gillette LORAN-C Transmitter Site WY, 44-00-11, 105-37-24 This Long Range Navigation site, with a 700-foot guyed radio mast, closed on 8 February 2010.General view
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General view My destination for the night was Gillette, Wyoming.
Saturday, 27 August 2016
I made an early start since I had a lot of stops planned. Newcastle National Guard Armory WY, 43-51-02, 104-11-33. This armory was constructed in 1960, and ceased use by the National Guard in the 1990s.General view
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Detail Newcastle National Guard Stables WY, 43-50-59, 104-11-34. These stables were constructed in 1936 as a WPA project. An adjacent riding hall was started, but never completed. The National Guard allowed Weston County to use it for a museum starting in 1966.
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General view Lusk National Guard Armory WY, 42-45-42, 104-27-09. This armory was built in 1927 and served until the late 1960s.
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Detail Wheatland National Guard Field Maintenance Shop WY, 42-03-09, 104-57-41. Originally built by Wyoming's Department of Transportation as a maintenance shop, it was traded to the National Guard in about 1955, and used as a Field Maintenance Shop. At an unknown date it was leased to the city of Wheatland but remains state property.
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General view I stopped for the night in Wheatland, Wyoming. On Sunday I motored home. This ten-day adventure put 2,977 miles on the Outback. Updated May 10, 2025
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