United Four Wheel Drive Associations
An International Organization
An International Organization
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United Four Wheel Drive Associations
An International Organization |
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UFWDA celebrated it's25th year in 2001! |
EVENTS - 2005 Annual Convention 
Buck's is 55 miles south of Belgrade/Bozeman, Montana. When making your reservations, be sure to let them know that you're with UFWDA. In order to get the room rate for UFWDA convention you must make your reservations before June 18. There may or may not be rooms available after that date but if there are, you will pay a higher price. We have negotiated room rates at $85 for one or two persons for a standard room and $95 for deluxe and $10 for each additional person per night. Suites/kitchenettes are available from $105-125 per night. This is considerably less than other locations were charging. A hot continental breakfast is included with your room for those of you staying at Buck's. A hot continental breakfast comes with your room, and all but Tuesday dinner are included in the convention package. Meal counts must be turned in by July 8; therefore, I must have all registrations to me by the 7th. Late registrations may have to pay a higher price in order to be added to those having meals. Some meals may not be available to late registrations. Other Accommodations There is a Red Cliffs Campground three miles south of Buck's. This is a state run campground with 40 sites. The cost of camping there is $10 a day or $14 with electricity. Other camping facilities are also available throughout the Gallatin River Canyon. Transportation The best airport to use will be Belgrade. You could possibly use West Yellowstone as well. Karst Stage Lines offers bus transportation between Belgrade and Big Sky (406) 388-2293. I will gather further information on costs and schedules for later publication. UFWDA Board of Director's Meeting Sunday evening there will be a UFWDA Board of Director's meeting. Time and location to be announced. The convention will begin Monday morning, July 18 at 9:00 a.m. with a UFWDA Delegates General Session in the Big Horn room. There will be a lunch break each day planned from noon to 1:00 p.m. Delegates will break into caucus at appropriate times and meet daily until reconvening into the General Session. The UFWDA Awards Banquet will be Wednesday, July 20 at 7:30 p.m. in the Montana ballroom. Trail Rides If you are interested in participating in trail rides, you will want to add this to your plans. Montana will hold their "Divide Ride" in Philipsburg, Montana (northwest of Butte) beginning Wednesday July 13 with registration and trail rides beginning on Thursday, and continuing on Friday and Saturday. They will have a breakfast on Sunday morning July 17. For the Montana Divide Ride registration contact Cindy St Clair at (406) 883-3994 or days M-F (406) 883-1110 or e-mail her at family4x@polson.net. Registration for trail rides will be separate from convention registration. Although prices have not been set for this year, they normally charge $50.00 for the vehicle and driver. Passengers are $25.00 and kids $15.00 per person. That will include meals and door prize drawings. I will see that registration forms are sent out to those interested and I'm sure I'll have that information in the Voice as well. Convention Cost A convention package will be $150 for adults and $100 for children under the age of 15. Having three days instead of two for the convention, should allow enough time for a less stressful schedule. I encourage everyone to gather for lunch and dinners as a group to make the convention a more enjoyable event. Meals included with your convention package will be a Monday lunch (fajitas) and dinner (cornish game hens), Tuesday lunch (deli sandwiches) and Wednesday lunch (soup and salad) and dinner (Montana Smokehouse ribs and chicken). All meals will be buffet style. On Tuesday evening Buck's T-4 hosts the Big Sky Food Festival where you can "Sample The Best of Big Sky's Restaurants". For those of us staying at Buck's, this meal is the only meal not included in the price of your convention package. Side Trips and other Information We will be leading trips into Yellowstone National Park on Thursday July 21 and Friday July 22. Thursday will be a long trip, about 300 miles taking in the North loop of the park and taking us over the Bear Tooth Highway and back to Buck's. I expect this to take us from 8 in the morning until 8 at night. Friday will be a shorter trip and we will be on the southern loop of the park. People will be able to break off from the group at a couple of locations to begin their trip home. After leaving Old Faithful at the West Thumb Junction, you could head south in the direction of Jackson Hole, Wyoming to connect with Interstate 80. At Lake Village, you could proceed east in the direction of Cody, Wyoming and easy connection to Interstate 90. I will be continuing around that southern loop returning to West Yellowstone and back to Buck's. From West Yellowstone, anyone heading south or west would separate at that point. A commemorative shirt design is being worked on to incorporate the Montana Divide Ride and UFWDA convention. Information on ordering these shirts will be included with the Divide Ride registration.
See you on the trail!
Other things to do!
Geyser Whitewater Expeditions
East Slope Anglers |