A while back, I posted a blog about the funniest road sign I had seen recently...And it occurred to me that where I live, I see humorous road signs all the time. So, I decided to make this a series...and as I trip across road signs in my travels, I will post them as part of this series.
Today's entry into the FRSE series is located about 15 miles up the Skalkaho Highway off of Hwy 93 just south of Hamilton, MT. The Skalkaho Highway is a 60 mile cut-off road over the top of a high mountain pass that is only maintained in the summer months. It runs from Hamilton to Phillipsburg and is not even on the map! During the winter, the road is closed due to the high levels of snow that cover the Sapphire Mountains. (Many of you know that I am an avid sapphire hunter...Ive written about this hobby of mine in the past...and am happy to say that this trip was most fruitful...but, more about that later)
On Sunday, my family and I were heading up the Skalkaho Highway when we happened across this sign....
ROTFL!!! Now having driven this road before, I can think of a few other things they could have added to further describe the 30 miles of this road that is cut into the side of a cliff...those descriptions would include such phrases as...
Dangerous
Scary
Flirt with death
Panic-Inducing
Fear Factor
Glorified skid road
Pig trail
and others that I probably shouldn't add due to the graphic nature of the content...LOL
But, 3/4 of the way up the hill, you run across the Skalkaho Falls...Which is an awesome sight that makes the trip totally worth it!
At the top of the hill, you are greeted by this sign also...
And, as you decend down the other side, you run into Gem Mountain Sapphire Mine. My trip on this day was fruitful, as I mentioned. We only found around 20 or so stones...but one of them is 4.3 carats!!!! That stone, when heat treated and cut, will yield a mountable cobalt blue stone that will weigh around 1.4 carats...that stone will have a value of around $1,200. Well worth the puckered butt and the mild panic attacks to get there...LOL
If you would like information on how to get your sapphires in the rough, give Clint a call at 800-977-7058 or 406-329-7652.
Clint, Isn't it amazing some of the crazy things found on our highways....I never take the time to shoot a photo. Glad you are.......
Kim -- Thanks for taking the time to comment...I was beginning to wonder if anyone would. :-)
Yes, I come across such weird stuff sometimes, I figured Id better just keep a camera in the car...that way, I wont miss the opportunity.
Clint...
Whoo-hoo what a beautiful ride! Do you finish the stones yourself or wholesale them out? And what about gold panning? Have you ever done that?
Richard -- Yes, it is a gorgeous ride...kinda nerve racking in a couple places...lol. But, gorgeous!
The stones you find you get to keep. I dont wholesale them at all. I screen the gravel myself and do the picking myself. So, its work, but with a really good reward. I have done gold panning before...my dad even has a portable river dredge. Ive never really had much success with it. For me, the rewards for sapphires are so much better. The rings that both my wife and I wear contain stones that I have found. My ring is about .8 carats and hers has a total of 2.5 carats. Not bad for only buying a setting. :-)
Come on up and I will take you there. :-) Hopefully you can walk away with a good handful of good ol fashioned MT sapphires!
Clint ~ Going by what the sign says, and your description, I keep picturing Robin Williams in that RV movie when he takes a road that sounds a lot like yours. If you get a chance, I'd love to see some pictures of the stones you've found - they sound beautiful. Is it obvious what they are or would I think it's a rock and just skim it across the water? : )
Kathy -- LOL!!! Im pretty sure they filmed that scene on this highway (and I use that term loosely!). And yes...I will get photos of the stones....both raw and cut...and post them for everyone. And yes...you do know as soon as you find them...they look like broken glass with the edges rounded.
Clint - great pictures, great find, good sign. Have you seen the Grizzley bear warning signs they used to have in Yellowstone? A scary Yogi type attacking tourists.
I have been on the Skalkaho Highway, but don't remember the sign (I didn't go all the way through, was with some friends from Darby and we turned off somewhere along the way to some stream and went fishing).
I have been on roads like you describe, in the U.S. & Canada, and often run into (almost literally) logging trucks barrelling down from the opposite direction.
Clint,
What kind of vehicle do you drive, and how long is the drive??? Thanks, Fran
I've been on roads like that and keep praying that I get to the other end! In fact, my prayers said, "If I get off this road safely, I'll never do another one!" I'm planning to stick to that.
I've seen some places like that...I used to have a recurring nightmare about a steep mountain road that just got steeper and steeper as I came down until my car was tumbling rear over front all the way down...would wake in a cold sweat with that one!
No thank you to something that would cause "butt puckering" please. Just keep the photos coming.
Been there done that but nowadays my butt puckering days are over.
Mike -- Thanks, man! Yes, I have seen those signs before...but, its been a couple years since I was in Yellowstone. Yeah, they dont even allow pick-ups with trailers on that road cause they are too long to navigate the curves near the top. No logging trucks...But, if you meet anyone on that road going the opposite way, someone is backing up to a turn out spot...lol
Fran -- We were in our '03 Caravan Sport. And, it is only about an hour from me as the crow flies...drive time, probably around 2 hours.
Barbara -- Funny...I had the same thoughts shoot through my head on Sunday...LOL
Ron -- Yeah, I had that thought shoot through my head on Sunday also! LOL!
Latonia -- It's a bit of a 'rush' as they say. Actually, its scary as hell if you dont like heights...lol
Gene -- I can understand...lol. Well worth the thrills to get to the rewards, tho...I think. :-)
When my wife and I head to the mountains, I always laugh and point out the watch for falling rock signs. I tell my wife that falling rock was a little Indian boy that was separated from his tribe and we are all supposed to be on the look out for him.
That is too funny! Might as well have the sign read "turn back now"! Thanks for sharing it.
The pics of the falls are beautiful, well worth the scary drive.
GREAT photos! Never been there, but is now certianly on my list of places to see. One of my favorite signs that I see when back home in Colorado are those through the Rocky Mountains that say "FALLING ROCK"! Like you can do something about a boulder falling on you!?! I look forward to seeing more of these. Thanks.
JL -- My grandpa told me that story when I was a little kid...kept me busy for hours! :-)
Marie -- Thats what I was thinking when I read it!! LOL!! Im going to get a sheet of plywood and paint an addendum...
"YOU DONT HAVE TO BE CRAZY TO DRIVE THIS ROAD...BUT IT HELPS!!"
Vicki -- Yes, the falls are awesome!! And it is amazing the power that ia associated with them...if you stand down below the falls, the wind will blow you over.
Zachry -- Thanks, man! Love the falls...and I highly recommend you do visit! Just be VERY careful on that road. :-) I see alot of Falling Rock signs in my neck of the woods...At this point, they may as well say "Dude, you live in the mountains...if there isnt a rock on the road, consider yourself LUCKY!" Hahahahahha!
Dam Proxy Errors!!!!! LOL
Clint, awesome pictures of the falls! We love visiting the mountains and seeing random vantages of different water spectacles. And what a sweet find, too!
Clint, Did you ever hear of Oh My God road? It's steep and winding and narrow up and steep, winding and narrow down from what my friend says. They were just all clutching each other and screaming the whole way!!! I think it is in Colorado, but it sounds like it fits your adjectives above!! Thanks for sharing!
Gosh the flat corn fields of Indiana seem awfully boring right now! Amazing pictures. Hopefully drivers heed what the sign says!
Reminds me of road-trips my dad used to take us on when we were kids....he used to scare the you-know-what out of us. top it off with the fact that he was drinking and you are talking e-ticket ride.....lololol
Never thought about the "roads less traveled" while watching those gem hunter shows on TV. I'd take a sapphire over a diamond any day too.
Jim and Maria -- Yeah, it is one of the best examples of a crappy road that leads to a cool place that I have found...LOL
Dawn -- I have heard of that road...my sister lives in Colorado. The only other road that I have been on that compares is the Going To The Sun Highway in Glacier Park. But, without the pavement, the width of two lanes, and the little rock wall to keep you from falling down 500 ft to your death...LOL
Pat -- LOL! Yeah, the pics are pretty cool. They barely do the falls justice, to be honest. Occassionally, you do run across another car. That will make your heart race a bit..LOL
Judy -- LOL!! Are you sure we didnt have the same dad????
Debbie -- Sapphires are way cooler than diamonds...especially when you can find them yourself. But, you do have to be prepared for the drive up...LOL
There you go....a few extra comments on an interesting post that I featured in my week in review.
Neal -- Thanks, man! Glad you are doing that. Much appreciated.