Interesting article. I’ve been skiing for years, however, I’ve been working for years too. Why is it these ski-bums can afford expensive ski equipment, lift tickets, lunches, alcohol, live commune style for the season, etc…but not a vehicle. So let’s bum a ride from some hard working folk and use their gas.
I would never give someone a ride unless I knew them personally. Like the song goes. “Get a job”.

What’s the big deal, Avid Skier? Who’s to say they don’t work? Most save their hard earned $ to buy good gear, a pass, etc. And they have to live commune style as nobody can afford housing in WF. By bumming a ride, it frees up parking (which as you should know is an on-going issue) and seats for destination skiers on the SNOW bus and not to mention it’s eco-friendly. Plus the last time I checked gas is down to $1.43/gal.

When I came to the Flathead over 30 years ago, it was by hitchhiking from Chicago. To this day I still hitchhike up and down the North and Middle Forks so I only need to use one vehicle (and no shuttle) when I raft the rivers. I like to take hitchhikers too. It’s fun. Through hitchhiking I’ve met so many fun and interesting people who have enriched my life. I wish it would still be as common place as in “the olden days”.

Geno Cook should know how dangerous hitchiking has become since he moved here in 1989.  There are fake cops out there now, isn’t he worried?  Of course not, the fake cops only hit the legal grow op. Geno likes.

The reason why hitchhiking is down and had dwindled to almost nothing is because about 30 years ago, the locals quit picking up hitchhikers!  I’ve seen folks standing on the side of the road for days or nights at a time, and no one will give them a ride.

Sure there are a few who are going to say I am an idiot for saying this, but I am so what?  To prove my theory, try it yourself.  Go stand at the I90/Hwy93 Junction coming toward the Flathead and see how long it takes to get a ride.  OR try Hi 93 So at the Salvation Army building and try getting a ride either way.

Thats why biking grew so big.  Bikes are cheep and no one wants to pick up a big fat hell’s angel smeller so those guys now race up and down the road in packs making more muffler noise than granny in the out house after Taco Time.

It’s not just a local phenomenon that hitchhiking is down. It seems to be a feature of the times all over the world. During that oh-so-precious interval of life - after high school, but before being tethered down by a family, college, a “real job”, or any other such thing of “obligation”, I spent years hitchhiking all over Europe in the early and mid 70s, while having the time of my life. Back then there were hitchhikers galore. In fact many more than one would would like, because at the good spots there was usually a lot of competition.
Those days are of course long gone there too, and now hitchhikers have become a rare breed indeed.

As the economy continues to wind down, there are more people losing their jobs, and there are families who simply cannot afford to have more than one car anymore,
I would expect that we will be seeing an increase in hitchhiking again.
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Actually this is a reflection of the tragedy of our country. We have made our way of life revolve entirely around the car. Our communities are sprawled out and built for cars and mostly you don’t have any other alternative. Without a car, you can hardly go anywhere nor do anything, and cannot fully participate as a citizen in our society. It’s come so far in our culture that those who don’t have car are even looked down upon and derided.
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In much of Europe you don’t need to have a car because there is also public transportation to commute to work and get around. Many people don’t have cars.. In the Alps of Switzerland and Austria you can even get from your house to the ski slopes with public transportation.
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As for the kids hitching a ride to go skiing, they aren’t asking anything from those who don’t want to give ‘em a ride. They only want a ride from those who are going their way anyway and who wanna help ‘em out. Actually I commend the kids who are willing stand on the street waiting for a ride and don’t require riding around in their own rig to get to the mountain. Good for them! They can be proud of themselves.
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I tend to see being able to take a hitchhiker along as a blessing,
as an easy opportunity to do someone else a favor
.......with so little effort…....
and often I’ll gladly take a minor detour
to get ‘em just where they wanna go.

Tox, you hit the nail right on it’s head. I’ve never hitch hiked, but I’ve picked up two so far, and they were cool people. I give a thumbs up for hitch hiking.

Also, how cool of Kristi Hanchett to do that. Not the resort, but her.