I talked to my mother in law about the huge population influx during covid, and we joked that a good Montana winter or 2 would send most of them running. I haven't really paid attention to know if that proved out, though I think I saw some anecdotal information that there was a very slight net loss in population (people moving to the state vs moving out) for 2023. Lots of good/bad for the TV show Yellowstone, part of the bad is I think it might have helped attract people there, but I also appreciate that really pushed to keep Montana...."Montana" and highlight the damage "outsiders" are doing to the state. I think it would be great to tax the hell out of vacation homes there. A lot of the struggles highlighted on that show are very real. The bench that borders my in-law's family ranch, the very bench that my wife's grandfather gazed upon as he drew his last breath after he collapsed in front his house now has 3-4 large vacation homes on it. They tried to fit an airstrip up there large enough to accommodate private jets, but that thankfully got killed. The ranchers in the valley are definitely feeling pressure to give up their livelihood. We've thought about moving to Montana a couple of different times, but it was most definitely so we could live the Montana life, not to bring the western Washington life to Montana.

Yes, 2011 was a monster! Never seen anything like it.

Weenies would be flying out faster than at a Chippendales show.

Looks like the fun has begun back east.

The radar shows the ice stopping just to my west and south. Shows me in snow but I can’t get to a window or go outside yet to verify.