Jeff Schmerker
Sleeping in a boxcar, skiing in a lab
The vast forests of Montana are filled with cabins for rent, but as far as I know none of those cabins were born as boxcars. Lubrecht Experimental Forest is managed by the University of Montana’s College of Forestry and Conservation; it’s equal parts public park, outdoor classroom, and laboratory. In winter, the forest is covered with snow and groomers set miles of track. The heart of the forest’s administration area holds a simple log lodge with couches, a fireplace, and remembrances of the students who have put in their time here. The lodge is available for rent for a modest fee, as are a half-dozen or so cabins – some of which are actually transported box cars.
Don’t expect anything fancy here – you’re looking at two rooms with bunk beds and a wood burning stove. But the price is right and the setting is unforgettable.
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