Testicle Festival: Adults Only

by Jamie Rhein on

Wednesday was the first day of the Testicle Festival. I’m wondering if it’s going on as usual, though, since there are fires blazing near Clinton, Montana where this yearly event turns this mostly quiet place into five days of whooping it up in what I would describe as all in good, but not that clean fun. As my husband said when I read him the details, “It’s not something to take the kids to.”

The festival started off on the grounds of Rock Creek Lodge with No Panty Wednesday where attendees could trade in their underwear for a free drink. Yesterday was the tattoo contest and body painting. Those might sound sort of tame, but how about today’s Ball Biting Contest ? This is not really what it sounds like–well it kind of is. Rocky Mountain oysters are involved (bull testicles). If you’re speedy on a tricycle, you can compete in the Undy 500 tricycle race or you can try your skills catching a slicked up pig. Oil wrestling, a nut eating contest and a wet T-shirt and Hairy Chest contest round out the activities that say leave your inhibitions at the gate. Along with the free wheeling frolics, the festival’s signature dish–bull testicles are served up filleted, beer-battered, and deep fried.

So why the Testicle Festival? According to the creator, Dr. Rod Lincoln, the name has a certain ring to it. The nickname, The Testy Festy is just as catchy. Somewhere between 10,000 and 15,000 people attend. I’ve read both numbers.

This is truly adults only entertainment–people under 21 are not admitted. The $15 admission cost is good for the whole thing whether you go for a few hours or everyday. Here’s a write up from Legends of America that mentions similar events, if one isn’t enough.

Montana Panoramas

by Erik Olsen on

Folks here know what a big fan I am of panoramic photography. I love to shoot them, I love to look at them. Someday, maybe I’ll travel the world just to create an unparalleled collection. In the meantime, I have to content myself with bringing along my pano gear whenever I take a trip (like I am doing this May to Norway…woo hoo!).

Anyway, I’m always eager to share links that I find where panoramic photography is featured, and it brings me great delight to offer you this link to many wonderful shots taken in Montana.

If ever there was a place to highlight the scope and breadth and beauty of panoramic photography, it would be Montana, and these shots by photographer Craig Hergert do not fail to disappoint.

Ski Montana LA Times

by Erik Olsen on

While I have long been a devoted fan of the skiing in states like Colorado, Utah and California (not to mention British Columbia, Canada, whose Whistler/Blackcomb resort is IMHO the finest in the land), I do have to say that Montana holds a rather powerful allure. Big Sky country they call it, for good reason since the sky there gapes like a testosterone-addled teenager at a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model shoot (sorry, swimsuit models on the brain right now), is said to offer some of the finest schussing this side of the Alps.

But Montana tends to get short shrift in the mainstream press, the longer, um, shrift, going to places like CO and UT. But here in this LA Times piece, the good folks at California’s best paper gives a rather wordy and positive nod to the worthiness of Montana skiing, and they have got my curiosity piqued for sure. Just take this single sentence on the two resorts they cover in the piece:

“Big Sky Resort and neighboring Moonlight Basin offer creamy, six-mile runs where skiers and boarders can go 20 minutes without seeing another soul – on the intermediate runs. On the expert runs, high up the hill, you can go hours.”

I am shaking, people. And over on kayak.com this instant looking for fares.

GADLING’S TAKE FIVE: Week of December 31

by Adrienne Wilson on

With so many interesting stories coming out and into the New Year it made selecting this week’s five a bit difficult, yet I think I’ve gathered a well-rounded batch for you to review.

5. Think Before You Click:
Here is the sad tale of a German tourist who accidentally booked a ticket and flew into Sidney, Montana when he actually wanted to go to Sydney, Australia. The lucky fellow was able to make it to his intended destination with the help of family and friends, but talk about a costly mistake! Ouch.

4. Ask The Pilot:
Looking for the answer to all your flying questions? Why not “Ask the Pilot” or pick up the book to see if your question happens to make the selection of commonly pondered questions.

3. Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum:
When a former president is no longer with us it is a big deal to say the least and many feel the need to pay some sort of tribute. The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum is just one place to start or perhaps you can think and thank him on your way from the ATM as he was the dude that made it legal to pull money from a machine. Not as grand as a trip to the museum, but its just a thought.

2. Paddling Baja Dispatch: Day 2:
After another great trip, Erik returns to share with us the details of paddling Baja. In this dispatch he talks about his guide Carlos, jagged coastlines, incredible rock formations, Mexican food, and rum and of course he does the favor of including some very cool photos from the affair. There is more to come, but in the meanwhile catch up on this if you already haven’t.

1. Chinese Shish Kabobs:
Death-wish or delicious? I don’t know about the food found in the pictures from Neil’s pal Pete, but I do know they make my skin crawl to the point where these Chinese shish kabob would be staying far from the taste-buds and only close enough for photo ops. Do proceed with caution.

U.S. National Parks from Coast to Coast

by Adrienne Wilson on

Perhaps this site has made the Gadling pages before, but at the same time I’m willing to bet we’ve somehow managed to look over this fine jewel packed with National Park info. A buddy of mine who happens to be good pals with one of the creators of the USA-C2C venture pointed it out to me a few days back and after accessing the very thorough and detailed information, I must recommend that anyone with an interest in National Parks bookmark this page – NOW. Having toured almost all of the 358 National Parks, National Historic Site, National Battlefield Park, National Battlefield and National Monument officially recognized by the National Park Foundation within the United States, Michael and Gabrielle have created a highly dynamic ranking system for each, all on one site. (Very easy to navigate through as well.) The park museums, ease of access, ranger to tourist ratio, and park facilities are all critiqued for each and every park including anything else imaginable. I look at the amount of work placed into this project and I am baffled. With around 29 more parks left, once this project is fully finished I’m sure it is going to spread like wildfire. Maybe we’ll get lucky enough to see it in a paper / book version perfect for the backpack on long summer or fall road trips.