Hi, from the Wind Rivers
Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2012 12:58 pm
I returned yesterday and am fit and well! In all I was out: 13 days, in town for 1 to resupply; out 14 days, in town 1 day to resupply and final trip 11 days. I have not figured out the mileage yet, but close to 230 miles. Went 8 days without seeing a single person. Saw multitudes of elk, mountain sheep, deer - few people. Last week the smoke for fires was pretty bad. Weather was very unusual for Wyoming- more Sierra-like. They are in a serious drought here - lots of threatening clouds but little rain action. It only froze ONE night since I was out, even at altitudes of 11,000 feet. Glaciers are melting like crazy. I found some amazing elk trails - you are hardly ever "off trail" if you count game trails. Just follow the "poo". Fresh elk tracks lead me through some of the touhest terrain. Had an unusual domestic animal experience too - a sheep dog left his shepherd who eveidently was not feeding him and followed me for 2 days , over a really difficult pass full of boulders. I finally ran into a wonderful boy scout group - they took the poor dog as thier "good deed". I was really worried as to how I was going to feed that huge dog. He was a really sweet dog. No way was he going to return to his "owner". Also had to camp up on top of a rock at a trailhead while I waited for my pick-up. Curious cows were a real hazard to my little tent! And, last day, a little chipmunk actually ran off with my stove burner and I had to chase him and retreive my stove!
Am driving up to Washington and will be back in CA in a week or so and hope to get out some trip reports with photos. Took over 1,000 photos. Lots of work to get these edited.
Am driving up to Washington and will be back in CA in a week or so and hope to get out some trip reports with photos. Took over 1,000 photos. Lots of work to get these edited.
