But my wife won a FREE trip to the Marlboro Ranch in Montana and was allowed one guest. So I tagged along. No cell phone service, no money needed, no credit card allowed, free all you can eat food, free all you can drink drinks. I didnt believe it until we got the check for $1000. Cashed it then the Marlboro suit case and the air plane tickets came. Flew all the way to Montana, a state with a population of 900,000 only. Believe me when I say we were out in the middle of no where.

Got to the ranch and it was 15 degrees(50 in Fresno), but very beautiful.



The staff at the ranch is hands down the best staff I have ever seen anywhere when it comes to customer service. They made you feel as if you were king and queens. So they took us to our building where we will be staying. Our room is on the right, top floor.




They gave us the keys and as I opened the cabin door, I was greeted by this tough guy. (See what I'll do to him later).



As I anxiously walk up the stairs I see my room in front of us. Opened the door and we walked into a room full of gifts.









5pk of cigarettes of your choice
Parka coat
Cowboy hat
Columbia Beanie hat
Gator(Neck warmer)
Bolle Sun glass
Manzella Gloves
Red bandana
Ashtray
Lighter
Samsung 7mp Digital camera
Quartz Watch with Compass
Water Bottle(high altitude = dehydration very easy)
Columbia Snow Boots
Thermal Socks
Back pack
2 Post cards to send back home to rub in your friends face(I didnt send mines)


I tried to take it all in but it's too much. I turned around to see what I'll be sleeping in for the next 4 days and this was what I saw.





I know you're thinking nothing else will top this right? Wrong. We were lucky enough to be able to do some things we've never done before.



Snowmobiling







Snow Tubing





Polar Bear Party. This was were I ate Rattle Snakes and Pheasants. Rattle snake tasted just like a bratwurst and the pheasant tasted like pork, but kinda dry. LOL





Got my hat shaped by a cowboy






One of the few places where you can wear a red bandanna and now worry about 30 asian guys jumping you.







Got to see Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles, Giant Ravens, GIANT Rabbits and Pheasants in the wild. This guy was about 18" tall, I kid you not.









Shot a bow for the first time. VERY fun.





Remember Smokey scaring me when I first entered my cabin? He's not so tuff now huh? Not bad for a rookie huh?







This is where I go to warm up after a long day outside this weather.





Pool table and Jukebox room






This is where I went to recharge. The Saloon. These guys over here must love bacon cause it was on the menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The service here was unbelievable. Anything you wanted, they got it. You didnt like how something was cooked, they'll cook it how you want it.






A shot of the Saloon at night



A shot during the day






This was the Livery. I learned how to line dance.....again. Cha Cha, 2 Step, Boot Scoot'n Boogey, Electric Slide....learned it all.



Shot of the Livery at night





This place might be out in the middle of no where but that does not mean there's no law. There are about 10 sheriff's patroling the whole ranch all the time. A few of them are retired FBI guys and it's good too cause there was no problems at all during our stay there. Here is the Sheriff's Office and Laundry room.






Here's the Post Office. To the right is the Rock Creek Bank.






All things come to an end.......





Overall, it was one of the best times in my life. I now will hope everday that I will be chosen for a summer vacation instead so that I can get my cowboy boots on and ride them horses like they do in the old west. If you've read everything up to this point, thank you for taking the time. I just wanted to share my experience with everyone.


BTW, some of these were taken with the PnS camera they gave me. No way am I taking my gears on some of these adventures

 

absolutely beautiful! wow! the only thing i would have changed was reds instead of menthol haha.

 

I officially hate you! Beautiful photos bro!

 

Thanks guys.

 

Looks like a great place to vacation.

 

wow sounds like an amazing trip, i might have to take one of my summer vacation out over there. beautiful pictures also!

 

very nice! looks like lots of fun out there! dayuuum

 

Wow I hate you

Beautiful pics man, I always love your pictures. Looks like you had plenty of fun there

 

That is awesome!
Always wanted to live in Montana. All except for the cold weather.
I know why the FBI guys were there. Bunny. Monty Python. 'nuf said.

 

Beautiful shots, do you smoke by anychance or how did your gf/wife even qualify? looks like alot of fun

 

Looks like a good time. Wonder how much it cost??

 

awesome pix bro

 

sickkkkk. thanks for bringing your camera.

 

Thanks guys, I appreciate the comments.

I dont smoke. My wife does. She entered an contest a few years back and won last fall.

$4900 is what she has to claim on her tax.

But they spent at least $10,000(hotel stay,plane tickets,adventures,food,drinks,gifts,...etc) on each member from what the staff told me.

 

That looked like a hell of a lot of fun man. It's like they were greeting you with lung cancer when you entered the bedroom but otherwise it looked awesome.

 

beautiful pics...

 

Congratulations. I guess you can thank karma. You seem like a great guy.. and you know what they say- "good things happen to good people." Thanks for including the captions also. Made for a good read. Looking at the photos, being a tropical guy, my ******* started to shrivel.

 

Wow congrats! Look like it was a great time. Even though I'm a city boy I love taking a trip out into the country or staying at a cabin on Mt. Hood every once in awhile. Great shots too!

 

sup TYC, Hope to see you at some Hybrid events this year. I'd like to do a photoshoot when you are down here as well.

 

Wow, thats awesome man!