the legendary "Wet Lodge Windy Voo"

    Anybody who was at the Red Lodge Rendezvous in 1995 (on Remmington Ranch) will surely remember that camp, largely on account of the sort of weather that Montana can be famous for on occasion. Also, it was a large rendezvous, with over 200 camps, and it turned out to be "just one of those events" where weird things, hi-jinks and hassles happened in unusual measure.
    Usually, we expect a little rain during the week, and also some hot sun, but that particular summer went to extremes. The week started blazing hot and dry, and tempers matched the temperature. Monsoons came, and everybody had to dig trenches to drain their camps. An irrigation ditch went feral and caused real problems in the Booshway and Segundo's camps. Someone actually paddled a small dugout canoe part way down trader's row during one of the heaviest rains. Then it dried out and got blazing hot again, and the wind whipped up so much dust and pollen that an ambulance had to pick up a camper with a bad asthma attack. Two participants stepped way out of line and had to be ejected from camp.
    And then... We finished up with a storm on the last Saturday evening that included a tornado a few miles to the north and east of Red Lodge. While that tornado didn't touch down anywhere near the camp, the winds did exceed 90 mph, and worse yet, they reversed direction. The end result was a camp where perhaps one tent in ten remained standing, including tipis which are famous for withstanding high winds. There were a few bumps and scrapes, some minor and a few major injuries and a good deal of torn canvas, but no fatalities.
    The next winter's newsletter included a "spoof" flyer for the "Wet Lodge Windyvoo." (Below.)
    The upshot is that setup at just about any Montana rendezvous event these days generally includes an abundance of extra-long stakes, pounded deep and firm. We try to get the local hardware store to stock a box or two of 12" bridge spikes just for the occasion.

Daily Entertainment:
Canoe Races down Trader's Row
Native American Rain Dance (every hour on the hour)
Fire Starting Contests at every meal
Monsoons -- 100 MPH Winds
Flying Tents, Tipis, Trees and Traders
Rapid Camp Breaking contest

Pre- 1840 era with the
following exceptions:
Hip Waders
Scuba Gear
Cement Marquis Tents
Sump Pumps
Flak Jackets

TRADERS INFO -- NO:
Video Games
Stereo Equipment
Lava Lamps, Hula Hoops
Elvis Memorabilia,
Grateul Dead T-shirts,
or Fully Automatic Weapons allowed