Camping II

[BIGNASTY]

Went camping to work the crew and got more of a workout than we expected :-laf Went for what was to be a 3 day camp and get some snow on the feet of the new mules. I knew it was going to snow but no one thought that it would be this much.





We went to the top of a pass and the first pic shows the kind of day it was sunny and light breeze and the second is what we looked at coming up the pass VERY FAST. As took a peek over the side Daisy started to bray and SHE CAN RUN!!!! she pushed to the BACK of the line and with the others in tow we made camp for the next 4 days in a draw along a bench that gets us out of the weather and had a cache of food for the animals and water. BUT BITTER COLD -30 WITHOUT CHILL FACTOR according to my weather machine.

 

[BIGNASTY]

We made camp and turned out the lights for the nite but I got up to see if the gang was doing ok and opened the tent fly and found snow about half way up the tent. Picked up tent the first of four times that nite if not the snow would have covered my tent. Had to put on snowshoes and stamp out a place for the mules to stand or I would not be able to find them in the AM

 

[BIGNASTY]

Cold was a big concern I don't know for sure but it felt colder than -30 to me so I built a fire and every time I got up to move tent and check the gang I would throw on more wood to keep them warm. I thought that I was going to loose a mule it was so cold.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Next few days this is what it looked like all day had to move tent so much im now an expert at moving a hot wood burning stove and tent in record time.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Pretty much stayed like that for the next couple of days then it cleared up but I was concerned about a slide that we had to traverse to get out. I waited another day and let the cold firm up the snow so we could get out without any problems I hoped. The first two pics were of the amount of show and the third is of the slide that I was worried about.

 

[BIGNASTY]

These are some of the pics that were taken on the trip I had fun dont know what the wife was POed about my life insurance is paid up :-laf

 

[BIGNASTY]

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[BIGNASTY]

Can it get to cold for digital cameras to work correctly? got some weird pictures?

 

[GHarman]

DANG! BIG! You really got dumped on! Glad you, Nephew and the Gang all made it back, Healthy! How much snow did you get? Any idea?

Sounds like the Mules are working well as a team! You really had to have yer head on straight to weather that unexpected mess!

Excellent Pictures, BIG!

GregH

 

[Superdawg]

Big,

This pic was taken with a very cold digital camera. Turns it a little blue, I don't know why. Taken in Yosemite Valley. Going back there next week.

Glad you are okay.

 

[Bill Lins]

Get a bigger tent & let the mules come inside! ;-)

 

[firefighter]

nice trip havent done that since my teens,when my dad and I would go winter camping,no mules just snow shue and back packs.

 

[mwilson]

Nice pictures, I bet you thought you were back in Limestone for a minute or two.



Mike.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Greg



The weather report said that over 6k got 8ft of snow in one day there is a weather station up on the mountain and people that venture up that far are asked to dump a tray that holds snow and another that holds water to reset them. I did that and from the time of me dumping them till I got back and called to let them know when I did it they had over 15ft of snow.



Superdawg



Had some or allot I should say that turned out just like that Blue. I have to wait for a neighbor that shoots professionally to ask what can if anything be done to prevent this although it does look kind of cool



Bill Lins



I did feel a little guilty about leaving them outside. I did build a fire and had it going most of the time we were their. They had no problem eating the grain that we had stashed up for emergency for them. Mules are kind of weird about their food they really dont care for prime alfalfa they eat it but I can give them oat hay and its like candy to them. I asked my Niece shes the gangs vet she said that they take after the donkey as far as their digestive system and the alfalfa and grain would give them alot of fat and for what we were doing they would burn the fat to stay warm . Binging them in they STINK VERY BAD WHEN WET.



Fire fighter (thanks for what you do its a VERY UNDER APPRECEIATED JOB)



I had a ball doing this trip. COLD YES!!!! MISARBLAE YES!!! MAKE A MAN RETHINK HIS LIFE YES!!!!! BUT I WOULD DO IT AGIAN IN A HARTBEET. :-laf



Mike

Limestone and Caribou did come to mind a few times doing this and still think that Maine was were I got addicted to this kind of insanity as you know if you dont like snow you wont like Maine I really loved Maine I tried to find work up there when I got discharged from the military but couldn't find any.

 

[The patriot]

Those pics are stunningly beautiful!

I"m jealous.

 

[BoeingDiesel]

BN, you are one tough Hombre' to weather that environment.

gregg

 

[BIGNASTY]

Mr Patriot

Jealous? my FIL said THAT IAM NUT'S but he understands because he was the same way when he was younger. They, my wife's family has been in Montana for many generations and THAT MAKES ME JELOUES. Im trying to get the rest of our family up here. My Son is in the move as we speak. And the Daughter is putting in for a transfer to the VA hospital in Missoula. THAT WILL MAKE THE WIFE AND I COMPLETE.



BD gregg



Its all about equipment I may like the OLD WAY OF DOING THINGS in my everyday life but IM NOT NUTS!!!!!!. When I roll out the bed roll its a North Face Ibex down sleeping bag on top of a insulated Thermarest 2in thick sleeping pad. I have Schnee's insulated pac boots and some of the HIGH TECH UNDIES. I took a thermometer with me in my portable weather station and inside the tent it was up to 75 degrees that is very nice but YOU DO HAVE TO GET OUT SOMETIME. And going to -30 at the pull of a zipper makes your hart skip a beat or two. :-laf

 

[BIGNASTY]

Trip Photos Snow machines came up the easy way. Weather station is in same place reset to give weather people their info. One of the snow cat riders wanted to trade for one of my mules.