The West Trip (Cont'd)

[Jim W]

crispyboy,

I understand what you are saying perfectly, and yes my wife does need to learn about how the trailer is self-contained and can be managed so that we are away from hookups. The trick is navigating the marital minefield of me trying to tell her something.......

Before we were married she said she would spend all day out in the woods with me whenever I wanted to go but at night there better be a real bed, a real toilet, and a real shower. Her definition of "real" requires quite a flow of water.

We've only been married for 25 years so there is still hope ....

Russell,

I am in the same boat as you are and in fact I bet that over 50% of us who camp in an RV have the same situation. The DW has to have full hook-ups. My wife's friends even ask her how can you camp at all, to her friends camping is going to a Holiday Inn or something similar.
This was one of the reasons for the new 5er; the shower has a seat in it which she loves and a 12 gallon DSI water heater.

Just be glad she is willing to camp and enjoy the outdoors as both of you see fit. AT least she is willing to drive the truck and trailer; my wife won't even think about it. She said there are too many gauges to watch, switches to use and the trailer is too big.

Jim

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Jim,

I kind of figure this is all part of the marriage package - yes, it would be better to not be dependent on full hookups, but my wife has a different point of view. I think you just have to accept how far they will go, even if not where we think it should be.

It sure is a shame they won't just step in line with us, though. I mean, after all, I am sure they would readily admit that our approach is better, as we are as perfect as can be......

Ha!

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Day 29

Today was a hike up and down Mt. Washburn. My wife said a ranger at Fishing Bridge told her if you can only do one hike in Yellowstone then do this one. Am awaiting pictures.

This brings the time located in Yellowstone itself to an end. My stepfather is flying from New Mexico tomorrow; my younger son and I are flying from Pennsylvania. I am really looking forward to my two weeks in Wyoming. I am very thankful for my job and life; I work with good people, I can provide for my family, and I find the work interesting. However, I am almost drooling at the thought of two weeks wearing hiking boots instead of shoes.

I have to say I am sad in one regard: we are leaving the dogs behind. As much as I am looking forward to a day on the trail I am sad to think they won't be with me. I suppose that is dumb, but I think I absorb some of the joy they exhibit running up and down the hillside when we spend a day in the woods here. The national park websites say that dogs are not allowed outside of developed areas, and I suppose that is for the best. I am sure going to miss my girls when I am out in the woods, though.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Mt. Washburn hike:

This guy looks like he'll have some success with the ladies this fall:

Big Horn sheep grazing:

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Day 30

A travel day. From northwestern PA for my younger son and I; front NM for my step-father; from Fishing Bridge in Yellowstone for my wife and older son; to Colter Bay Village in Grand Teton.

Here is a campsite at Colter Bay in case someone is thinking of going.

The sites are not level - we use the levellers (orange items) - really easy, works great.

 

[Bill Stockard]

I see the RV pads at Coulter Bay RV park haven't become more level. I carry two bags of the orange levelers and it takes all of them to get close to level. When we parked there back in the 70s, those pine trees were only about 8-ft tall and the RV sites were much more secluded by the small tree's lower branches.

Bill

 

[crispyboy]

Those Anderson Levelers are on my wish list. I know several folks who have them and love them!

 

[bigceltic]

Those Anderson Levelers are on my wish list. I know several folks who have them and love them!

I have them and they are worth every penny. Make leveling a breeze.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Day 31

Started my day by having my coffee and watching the sun rise with this view.

My step-father had never been to Yellowstone, so took a drive and visited the geyser basins. Stopped at Hayden Valley in the evening and watched a Grizzly feeding for about half an hour. He was quite large - the hump on his shoulders was clear with the unaided eye even though he was way across the river. Saw around twenty bison.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Day 32

A short hike to get my 500 ft elevation body used to altitude - around nine miles all told, around ponds and the lake. Only saw ground squirrels, an osprey, and a grouse. Saw a number of moose on same hike twenty years ago. A ranger told me that all mammals in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem are doing well other than moose, which are declining. Not sure why.

In the evening took a drive and spotted a dozen or so pronghorn antelope, three separate sizeable groups of elk, and a herd of bison about sixty individuals. Going back at dusk watched a cow elk and calf cross the road - very tense.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Day 33

A relaxing day - hiked around six of seven miles around the two inland lakes in Grand Teton. Still no sighting of moose. The sky got real dark as we wrapped up hiking in early afternoon - started raining, so a good time to do laundry. The "thrilling" aspects of life follow you everywhere, I guess.

I am not sure when I am going to get used to this view - I bet it will take more than two weeks. I think sometimes when I am here I could live by looking alone. There is nothing quite like the smell of the lodgepole pine forest in the morning.
U

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Meant this picture - Mt. Moran and the skillet glacier.

 

[kcv67]

Moose are declining because of a predator that was reintroduced. There is places over here where the moose population has been totally wiped out.

Casey

 

[Bill Stockard]

Russell,

I could look at those views in your photos for weeks and never tire of it. Grand Teton NP has been our favorite for many years. What's interesting is on a cool clear morning a cumulus cloud will begin to form over Mt Moran, and as the day warms, more cumulus clouds form over the rest of the mountain range. By afternoon, the clouds drift slowly to the east and form brief afternoon thundershowers. By evening there a few high clouds left over the mountain range to produce beautiful colors at the sunset. By dawn the next morning, the sky is clear and the process begins over again.

Bill

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Bill, that been exactly the pattern - each afternoon has had a brief shower and the morning dawns clear. It is really nice because of the enjoyment of a warm day and then a cool evening.

We were looking at the Teton range as the sun set last night - each shift of the sun makes them appear different.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Day 34

Hiked around Jenny Lake, then up Cascade Canyon. This is not a hike for solitude! Very crowded. Still, as you work your way up Cascade Canyon the view is remarkable - both out over the land and up at the mountain peaks. The crowd thins out and it is more enjoyable after the turn to Inspiration Point. We had to step to the side of the trail to let a group of riders and pack animals pass. There were three riders on horses, each leading a string of four mules with the packs. The mules in two of the three strings of four mules were dark in color. The mules in the third string were a light brown or tan color and noticeably larger than the other mules. Something I would like to learn to do some day. Packing and camping through the Teton range sounds like a small preview into heaven to me.

Jenny Lake is over 250 ft deep, which is deeper than Lake Erie at is deepest. These mountains will make you work - we don't have continual miles of uphill in Pennsylvania like here. I was puffing going up the canyon. My older son does cross-country and track and he just flies up the trail - a little more wind than I have!

Came back and made chicken fajitas for supper with watermelon and an ice-cold beer. It sure is enjoyable to eat after a full day outside in the air and sun.

The boys wanted to watch a movie in the trailer right after sunset but I only lasted about ten minutes.


I'll get some pictures of Cascade Canyon as soon as we hit a good WiFi spot.

 

[MLee]

Russell;
As a day trip, If you have time, leave the trailer, drive over the Teton pass and look at the Tetons from the west. This is how I view them and have known them ever since I was a small kid. My Family is from that area. The Teton valley

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Day 35

Was a cool, rainy day all day - very unusual. My step-father wanted to see more of Yellowstone so we drove around and did little side hikes. We saw a lot of elk and mule deer. I lost count after the sixth group of elk. We were about fifteenminute walk down a trail and watched four calves in a group chase each other around.

Saw no moose. If the wolf is the reason for the decline of moose then it must be something in particular about moose because the antelope, mule deer, and elk seem more numerous than I remember. Or I am lucky in seeing these others. Sure seem to be plenty of bison as well. Puzzling. Still looking for moose.

 

[kcv67]

Like you said you have seen the herd animals,elk,buffalo, antelope even deer to some extent. Moose are loners.
The most luck that we have to see moose is the road you are on south of Yellowstone or go to the Big sky ski resort north end of the park in the Gallatain county north of West Yellowstone.

Casey

 

[RUSSELL5000]

MLee, we will be talking about a day trip to the west side of the range - so much here, and the days are flying by. Thanks for the idea.

Casey, finally saw a cow moose and calf on the morning of our Death Canyon hike (below). They were in the grassy area made by a series of beaver dams. I guess it is the loner aspect of moose that makes them more susceptible to the wolf. It is hard for my thinking - I see a mule deer and I would much rather take that on than a moose! Some day I would like to go far north to Canada to see moose. I would also like to go to Isle Royale NP where I understand the wolf and moose stay in balance because it is an island.