We’re delighted you’ve signed up for a Feathered Pipe Ranch program! Everyone on the Ranch team is eager to welcome you to your Montana home away from home. To ensure your stay is as relaxing, safe, and comfortable as it can be, we offer these “helpful things to know” ahead of your arrival. Additional information is on the FAQ page of our website as well – and you can always call or email us with any questions.
Feel free to download a copy of this information for your reference here.
WHEN IS CHECK-IN AND CHECK-OUT?
Check-in time on arrival day is 3pm. Please plan to arrive at the Ranch by 5pm so you have time to settle in before our 6:30pm dinner. We will gather for orientation in the evening after dinner. We request that our guests depart their lodging by 9am on departure day to give our staff sufficient time to prepare for incoming guests. If you still need to fill out your guest information form please click here to fill.
HOW DO I GET TO THE RANCH FROM THE AIRPORT?
We meet flights at the Helena Regional Airport as part of our complementary shuttle service. Our driver will meet you at the only baggage claim wearing a fetching Feathered Pipe shirt. We group some pick-ups, so you may have a 30-minute wait. If you prefer to arrive early and stay in Helena, we will contact you at your hotel to arrange your pick-up. Our online FAQ page has some suggestions for Helena hotels. You can also use a ride service (Uber) to get to the Ranch on your own if you prefer. We do not recommend relying on a ride service for return trips to the airport from the Ranch, as guests have had issues with drivers showing up after ordering rides.
WHAT IF I’M DRIVING?
Driving directions are on the FAQ page of our website. Please park your vehicle in the parking lot behind the Ranch property on Bear Creek Road. Feel free to drive down to the dining hall first to unload your luggage and then move your car back up to the parking area.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I ARRIVE?
Once you arrive at the Ranch, exhale. Then please check in at the registration table in the dining hall. We’ll help you get your luggage into your lodging. Familiarize yourself with the Feathered Pipe Ranch facilities and grounds by exploring the Ranch Map and Virtual Tour. And then? Kick back, relax some more, stroll around the Ranch, breathe the mountain air, and begin dropping into the Feathered Pipe’s loving embrace. In the evening, following a delicious dinner, you’ll gather with your fellow workshop participants, your teacher(s), and our Ranch staff for an orientation circle in our gorgeous Main Lodge.
WHAT SHOULD I PACK AND WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT WEATHER-WISE?
The atmosphere is extremely casual so dress for your comfort. Clothes you’ll potentially need include: shorts, t-shirts, a rain jacket, slacks or jeans for chilly evenings, light daytime attire, a bathing suit, and a warm sweater or fleece jacket for our cool summer evenings. Comfortable walking or running shoes for wandering here and there and slippers or socks for wearing in the Main Lodge are a good idea. You may also want to bring a travel alarm clock, sunscreen, lip balm, a big floppy sun hat, a flashlight, and a water bottle as well as any cash or checks for bodywork or end-of-retreat staff tips. The closest ATM is a 20-minute drive away in Helena.
If you check Helena weather online, remember that it is NOT the Ranch weather. The temperature at the Ranch, which sits at 5,000-feet elevation, is generally five to 10 degrees cooler than the temperature in lower elevation Helena. Once the sun sets, be aware that the mountain temperature can drop considerably, so arrive prepared for that. We feed you three large meals a day, so unless you need something very specific for your diet, it’s not necessary to bring food.
IS THERE CELL PHONE AND INTERNET SERVICE AT THE RANCH?
Wireless based Internet access is available at the Ranch, with the strongest signal in or near the dining hall. Cell phone service here is not reliable— however, if you enable/activate WiFi calling on your phone (some providers may require you to call to complete activation), you can use your mobile phone at the Ranch for making and receiving calls. You can also use Skype or another VOIP service. Our kitchen landline phone number is: 406-443-0430. You can give this number out to family or house sitters in case of emergency.
DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR STAYING IN OUTDOOR LODGING?
We supply guests staying in our outdoor accommodations – tents, tipis, or yurts – with warm bedding, including sleeping bags. Nights can sometimes get chilly or downright cold at the Ranch, so if you’re concerned you won’t have enough to stay warm at night, let us know and we’re happy to get you additional bedding or a hot water bottle.
— It’s absolutely essential that those staying in outdoor lodging not store any food or scented toiletries in their accommodations because they can attract bears. Lotions, deodorants, soaps (even unscented) and perfumes can all capture the unwanted attention and interest of critters large and small, so please store those items in the bathhouse
We have camping lights that provide some illumination for your tent, tipi, or yurt. It’s a good idea to bring a flashlight for any night trips to and from the bathhouse or around the Ranch after dark.
I’M COMING FOR A YOGA RETREAT – DO I NEED TO BRING MY OWN MAT AND PROPS?
We have plenty of mats, blankets, blocks, supports and belts as well as well-equipped yoga walls, but feel free to bring your own mat, clearly marked with your name.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
If there is anything you need while you’re here? Please let us know ahead of time.
Our joy comes from ensuring you have what’s needed to receive and benefit from peace, insight, and love that the Feathered Pipe Ranch offers to every soul who graces this sacred place.
We look forward to welcoming you home to the Ranch.