My Journey
- Thread starter YukonMontanaTannerTrapper
- Start date
YukonMontanaTannerTrapper
Explorer
JD.....I'm not sure of the distance. You probably recall that it's a short hike from the trailhead to the falls. As best I recall, it took us about 5 hours roundtrip which of course includes plenty of exploring around the ponds, lakes, & rock formations.....the All Trails ap says it's 7.5 miles (roundtrip).....
Our hiking took us past the remains of a log cabin.....how amazing it must have been to live up here in these wild Montana mountains.....
As I posted previously our goal for this day was a pair of alpine lakes.....looking at the map it appeared that the trail passed between the two aforementioned alpine lakes.....Blue Lake to the left and Granite Lake to the right. If one were to follow the trail further on you'd encounter the steep rock mountain face that would eventually take one to the summit of Crazy Peak.....
So of course when I came to these two small lakes (ponds) on either side of the trail, I made the assumption that I had arrived.....
We hung out here for a short time just enjoying our quiet time along the waters edge.....other than a few song birds we seemed to have this thin canyonland to ourselves.....
I did notice at some point that there was a fairly well worn trail that continued beyond these waters.....
So we continued on.....
And further along I met a solo climber returning from the summit of Crazy Peak. This guy had left the trailhead at 2:47 a.m. (he wanted to avoid the thunderstorms that were predicted for that afternoon) and we talked about the route to the summit and he pointed out to me that the alpine lakes were just ahead.....these were actually the two lakes that were my goal.....
Our hiking took us past the remains of a log cabin.....how amazing it must have been to live up here in these wild Montana mountains.....
As I posted previously our goal for this day was a pair of alpine lakes.....looking at the map it appeared that the trail passed between the two aforementioned alpine lakes.....Blue Lake to the left and Granite Lake to the right. If one were to follow the trail further on you'd encounter the steep rock mountain face that would eventually take one to the summit of Crazy Peak.....
So of course when I came to these two small lakes (ponds) on either side of the trail, I made the assumption that I had arrived.....
We hung out here for a short time just enjoying our quiet time along the waters edge.....other than a few song birds we seemed to have this thin canyonland to ourselves.....
I did notice at some point that there was a fairly well worn trail that continued beyond these waters.....
So we continued on.....
And further along I met a solo climber returning from the summit of Crazy Peak. This guy had left the trailhead at 2:47 a.m. (he wanted to avoid the thunderstorms that were predicted for that afternoon) and we talked about the route to the summit and he pointed out to me that the alpine lakes were just ahead.....these were actually the two lakes that were my goal.....
YukonMontanaTannerTrapper
Explorer
The waters of alpine lakes are always frigid and crystal clear.....
Perfect for Tanner to cool off after a morning of climbing.....
I thought about it too cause I really needed it bad but I just couldn't do it.....
So again we hung out here and explored the shores of both the alpine lakes.....
And then we headed back down.....
With lightning and thunder overhead we down climbed at a rapid pace.....not too sure what's up with that growl on Tanners face.....
As we were leaving the national forest we met a guy installing fence for a local rancher and we made tentative plans to climb Crazy Peak together in the upcoming weeks.....but who knows for sure.....I'm not much for plans.....
Perfect for Tanner to cool off after a morning of climbing.....
I thought about it too cause I really needed it bad but I just couldn't do it.....
So again we hung out here and explored the shores of both the alpine lakes.....
And then we headed back down.....
With lightning and thunder overhead we down climbed at a rapid pace.....not too sure what's up with that growl on Tanners face.....
As we were leaving the national forest we met a guy installing fence for a local rancher and we made tentative plans to climb Crazy Peak together in the upcoming weeks.....but who knows for sure.....I'm not much for plans.....
ghostdancer
Member
We’re in Carbondale Colorado right now, visiting friends. We’ll boondock our way down to Durango and then figure out what direction to take. I love New Mexico, but it’s closed to out of state visitors , mandatory 14 day quarantine. I want to stay up high and cool and not head back to Florida till mid October. We may just decide to head back up to Wyoming, we really liked the Snowy Range west of Laramie.
YukonMontanaTannerTrapper
Explorer
Riversdad.....yea, it's a good life.....the key is staying healthy. Sometimes Tanner & I will be hiking way back in those mountain forests and I'll say to him "come here" and we just sit down and lean back on a random tree and we take it all in. The sky & the clouds, the mountain peaks & cliffs, the streams & rivers, the green forests.....and I can't help but think right then & there.....what a wonderful world it is.....
Ace.....yep, that's old snow from previous seasons. I love old snow.....with every season of climate change, it becomes more & more of a rarity.....much like the glaciers.....disappearing with time.....
JD.....that water was so inviting but even this late in the summer it was frigid.....and he loved it.....
ghostdancer.....I've climbed one mountain in that area years ago. It was really remote and we camped at the base of it.....I think it was like 60 miles of forest service roads to access it.....and I loved it.....
Now we had only a few days left before my commitment began so I decided to head down from the mountains and camp along the Yellowstone River.....
Somewhere west of Big Timber, Montana we found one of those fishing access spots that always have signs that say "No Camping" and we pulled in there and did our best to look inconspicuous.....
I guess we did a pretty good job of it cause nobody said leave.....and the people that would say it were obviously right there.....
I feel like if you're respectful of others and cause no harm, law enforcement really doesn't care in situations such as these.....
These two guys were as friendly as could be.....they were out looking for "knuckleheads" just like me.....
The Yellowstone River is busy this time of year.....it's really amazing to see the number of river guides taking clients down that river. We hung out at the rivers edge for a bit but we also spent time walking the backroads that lay beyond the rivers edge.....
.....and it was good here.....
Ace.....yep, that's old snow from previous seasons. I love old snow.....with every season of climate change, it becomes more & more of a rarity.....much like the glaciers.....disappearing with time.....
JD.....that water was so inviting but even this late in the summer it was frigid.....and he loved it.....
ghostdancer.....I've climbed one mountain in that area years ago. It was really remote and we camped at the base of it.....I think it was like 60 miles of forest service roads to access it.....and I loved it.....
Now we had only a few days left before my commitment began so I decided to head down from the mountains and camp along the Yellowstone River.....
Somewhere west of Big Timber, Montana we found one of those fishing access spots that always have signs that say "No Camping" and we pulled in there and did our best to look inconspicuous.....
I guess we did a pretty good job of it cause nobody said leave.....and the people that would say it were obviously right there.....
I feel like if you're respectful of others and cause no harm, law enforcement really doesn't care in situations such as these.....
These two guys were as friendly as could be.....they were out looking for "knuckleheads" just like me.....
The Yellowstone River is busy this time of year.....it's really amazing to see the number of river guides taking clients down that river. We hung out at the rivers edge for a bit but we also spent time walking the backroads that lay beyond the rivers edge.....
.....and it was good here.....
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chet6.7
Explorer
If the pictures were taken at the same time,I suspect there is a critter in the hole under the rock,there is a faint trail to that opening.
Have a lot of friends that have been camping in the mountains of New Mexico, so you need to check that out. It appears you would be fine. Most of them traveled from neighboring Texas
YukonMontanaTannerTrapper
Explorer
chet6.7.....that very well could have been the case. He does loves chasing the critters.....
JD.....Texans are definitely traveling. I've heard Montanans grumbling about Texans (and other states too) coming here and spreading the virus. Basically any state that has a high number of infections is talked about. It's a tough time to be a wanderer.....
.....and then it was finally time to get to work (or as I like to think.....time to start my vacation).....
Driving west we finally encountered the smokey skies that locals say came from the California wildfires.....
Simply amazing that fires from so far away could affect our skies here in Montana to that extent.....
While on the subject of forest fires.....as many people well know, Tanner & I have spent an incredible number of days for the past three years living for free in our national forests so it just seemed appropriate that we should show our gratitude and pay our respects to Tom Duffy, a local SAR helicopter pilot that lost his life fighting forest fires in Oregon last week.....
One afternoon his body arrived at the Bozeman, Montana airport.....a helicopter hovered over the airport as we all awaited the arrival of a true heros body.....this man has quite a resume.....
The northern side of the airport was surrounded by vehicles from law enforcement, fire fighters, forest service workers, local businesses and plenty of just plain old citizens like me.....
A procession of vehicles accompanied his body into town and streets were lined with grateful citizens showing the respect that he deserved for making the ultimate sacrifice.....his life.....
Afterwards we returned to the little ranch property.....
.....to enjoy daily hot showers and daily fresh eggs.....
It's really nice to just chill on a piece of property that we know so well.....it was good to be welcomed "home".....we are thankful.....
JD.....Texans are definitely traveling. I've heard Montanans grumbling about Texans (and other states too) coming here and spreading the virus. Basically any state that has a high number of infections is talked about. It's a tough time to be a wanderer.....
.....and then it was finally time to get to work (or as I like to think.....time to start my vacation).....
Driving west we finally encountered the smokey skies that locals say came from the California wildfires.....
Simply amazing that fires from so far away could affect our skies here in Montana to that extent.....
While on the subject of forest fires.....as many people well know, Tanner & I have spent an incredible number of days for the past three years living for free in our national forests so it just seemed appropriate that we should show our gratitude and pay our respects to Tom Duffy, a local SAR helicopter pilot that lost his life fighting forest fires in Oregon last week.....
One afternoon his body arrived at the Bozeman, Montana airport.....a helicopter hovered over the airport as we all awaited the arrival of a true heros body.....this man has quite a resume.....
The northern side of the airport was surrounded by vehicles from law enforcement, fire fighters, forest service workers, local businesses and plenty of just plain old citizens like me.....
A procession of vehicles accompanied his body into town and streets were lined with grateful citizens showing the respect that he deserved for making the ultimate sacrifice.....his life.....
Afterwards we returned to the little ranch property.....
.....to enjoy daily hot showers and daily fresh eggs.....
It's really nice to just chill on a piece of property that we know so well.....it was good to be welcomed "home".....we are thankful.....
Mekcanix
Camper
Very cool, if today is indeed your Birthday I would like to wish you all the best. And again thank you so much for everything you post in these pages. I still find it all amazing and it makes me smile