Trip to Yellowstone - tips?

[JyRO]

Long drives...

Steve - The warden, little buddy, and I made the drive from MI. to Mt. Rushmore (Hill City, approximately 1,250 miles) in 2 days. The warden and I are used to long drives and it didn't bother us, we probably could've done a couple more days like that. And my little buddy did exceptionally well. He fussed maybe 20 minutes per day out of the 2 12 hour days in the truck. BUT, the worst part for me was, that I really wanted to let him be running around playing, and not stuck in the car seat. When we stopped we did let him play as much as we could, but it still wasn't enough. Little buddies need as much excersize/play time as they can handle. Even though its not the safest idea in the world, we did let him out of his car seat while traveling, a couple of times during some of the longest stretches. But the reward for the long drives was well worth it. He got plenty of play for the next 2 weeks.



I thought you had a daughter? Maybe her name is Samantha and you call her Sam? Anyway, (s)he'll have plenty of fun once y'all get there.



One thing I am wondering about is what kind of tow vehicle do the grandparents have? Will you be having to wait on them on the grades? Or have you helped Papaw bomb?



- JyRO

 

[WyoJim]

Paul... . Yellowstone's east gate is west out of Cody. I don't like it because it is straight up, narrow with bad pavement and no scenery after you get into the park. And it has been under construction for the last several years.



North on HWY 120 out of Cody a little less than 20 miles is "The Chief Joseph Scenic Highway". It goes to Cook City and the Scenery will rival Alaska's, Especially if you side trip up Beartooth Pass and back. This could be done if you were to arrive in the area (Sunlight Basin)in the afternoon and set up camp in one of the many Wyo. National Forest campgrounds for the night, unhook the 5th. and go up the mountain. Believe me it is worth the effort!!



Then on through to Mammoth where there is a Park Campground that runs without reservations. If you are early enough in the afternoon you may catch a spot. If not I would go on to Norris, then Maddison where there is a campground you might consider making a reservation at because it is so handy to the loop road you can see on the map. If not there are campgrounds in West Yellowstone which is almost as handy and there are Forest Campgrounds outside of West Yellowstone.



After you have seen Yellowstone, go right down to the Tetons and Jackson for a day or so then take Hwy 287 through Dubois WY and Lander to I-80 at Rawlins.



I see you have a Manual Trans. so going down the mountains shouldn't be a problem. The mistake most people make is riding the brakes instead of applying them to slow down then getting off them untill they need to slow down again.



If you have anymore questions, fire away.....

 

[Andy Perreault]

Reviving an old topic, here...

Hey Steve, are you still going on this trip? What plans have you made? Where all are you stopping along the way? I saw on the NWBombers site that Claymike and Michael Brolin took off today for Yellowstone with their 5'ers.

Andy

 

[10-G]

If you get tired of the crowds in Yellowstone,drive south. Stop at the Elk Horn tavern in Bondurant,Wy. Ask for an outfitter named Paul Crittendon. Have him horse pack you into the Tetons for a couple of days. You will never experience anything like it. You will not see another human while in the mountains either. Pack some warm clothes

 

[Jim Fulmer]

So what is the quick trip through the mountains up there, I'm leaving Oklahoma Sat. the 29th and have to be in Pendelton Or the night of the 2 July, thought I might deviate from 80 at Rocksprings and drive up that way then back down to Idaho Falls, I haven't made it up that way in 20 years now... . 17 then!



Jim

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Nope, I'm bumming. My mom and dad have a 3/4 ton Avalanche with the 8. 1 liter motor and a new 32' Jayco with a slider. With fuel prices being as high as they are right now and my dad having just retired they say they can't afford to make the trip (big block gasser fuel mileage you know). I considered for a moment putting a hitch on the back of one of the trailers and double towing em out there ! (BTW, just kidding in case anyone has a heart attack - I'd be about 90' long!) So instead we're going to make a smaller trip up into the UP of Michigan this year. I plan on doing the Yellowstone thing next year with or without the parents though.



-Steve

 

[BIG BOB]

Steve,



Sorry you had to change your plans.



Fortunately ours are still on course. Kathy and I will leave on June 28th for the Black Hills/Mount Rushmore for a week and then on to Jackson Hole and the Grand Tetons. We'll be gone 17 days! Yahoo!

 

[Paul Somers]

Steve, hate to hear you cancelled Yellowstone plans. I retired four yesrs ago and money is going to be tight but this has been something wife and I have wanted to do for years. Fuel will probably never be cheaper. May have to get into savings but that is what it was saved for. We are leaving July 3rd for Michigan. South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana and on to Colorado. Plan on four to six weeks. Biggest thing is getting wife to not see grandkids that long.

 

[Jim Fulmer]

Too good of a post not to bring back to the top, Colter Bay like Steve was talking about is too nice, there are things around to do and services but it's not too touristy, if you want that go to Jackson Hole. South of Jenny lake is a drivable path to the base of the mountain range were you can park and walk up the trail as far as you heart desires. I went up it 3 miles to get some pics and wish I would have had more equipment and time to keep going. The good Lord has touched this place, I have been to 12 different countries and all over this one and this is the top prize winner of them all, Telluride is second, after that I don't rate them but Germany is in there close!

 

[Forrest]

By far the best trip we had to Yellowstone was 1 week after season ended. The park employees were partying, visitation/crowds were minimal. Gonna have to do the winter thing @ the lodge some year. One of the evening fireside slide shows was about the park in the winter. A whole new park!