My Journey

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

Riversdad.....it's a simple life.....dogs, travel and a small cabin in Montana. I hope you get out too.....it's so good for the soul.....



We are currently on the road.....

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

It seems like it's been far too long since I've done a book report (I've read 7 books since my last book report), so I'd like to get that out of the way before I begin to journal about our current somewhat short trip.....

And by the way, there was a reason for me posting a picture of that bottle of whiskey which I will reveal soon enough.....



The books.....


I enjoyed Kabloona In the Yellow Kayak quite a bit although I often felt that the author was a bit overly obsessed with herself.....no doubt she didn't mean for that, but unfortunately that's how it came across. It was indeed a fascinating journey that she embarked upon.....she truly loves an adventure.....



Everyone that follows my journal knows that I'm a huge fan of David Roberts, having read at least 15 (?) of his books. This one, The Pueblo Revolt, could possibly be my least favorite. It took me weeks to get through it as it read like a classroom textbook. I guess you can't always hit a home run.....



Ed Viesturs, the first American to climb all 14 of the Seven Summits.....without supplemental oxygen I should add.....is an American icon in the climbing community. I loved reading The Will To Climb that he co-authored with David Roberts.....



Broken Country by C.L. Rawlins.....I wasn't much of a fan of this book but finally I completed the task and made my way to the ending.....the cover photo is so much better than the story.....



The next book.....The Highest Andes.....was an excellent read (probably not for most). Maybe that's because I know both of these mountains.....Aconcaqua (22,837').....the highest peak in the western hemisphere and nearby Tupungato (21,555'). This is the story of the first ascents of each of these mountains that occurred many years ago. If mountaineering in the Andes is your thing, I'd imagine that you'd enjoy reading this one.....



This was a great book.....all 592 pages. Michael Jacobs travels the entire length of the Andes Mountains and he mixes in the history of the mountains with his own travels. Once you get into this book, it's a tough one to put down. I'd say it was the perfect book to read when you're nursing a sore knee.....



Another great book for the mountaineer.....Chris Bonington.....another climbing legend. The hardback edition of this book is filled with color photographs.....something that I just love (it's something that I've always attempted to do with My Journey.....more pictures & less words). The author is an excellent writer as well as a climbing legend.....and he also had an amazing story to tell.....Kongur.....

 

[ITTOG]

And by the way, there was a reason for me posting a picture of that bottle of whiskey which I will reveal soon enough.....

I was definitely surprised since you do not drink. So I cannot wait for you to reveal the story.

You listed some a lot of books (five of them I think) that I couldn't find on audible. I assume they are just older books with limited sales. Not sure why though. Oh well, I think I have over a hundred, with probably ten to fifteen from you, on my read next or wish list.

 

[Trailboss]

.....
And by the way, there was a reason for me posting a picture of that bottle of whiskey which I will reveal soon enough.....

Is that 399?

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

ITTOG.....my guess is that for the most part, the books that I read aren't best sellers, and maybe not even good sellers. I think that my interests aren't a good representation of the general public. I pick up a lot of my books from used bookstores while traveling.....

You're right.....good memory.....I don't drink alcohol.....

Trailboss.....yes, it is Grizzly 399. After she died this past summer, the owners of Wyoming Whiskey decided to blend a Limited Edition in her honor. Total production was 720 bottles and were priced at $84.95 per bottle plus $5.10 sales tax for a total of $90.05 per bottle.

They went on sale early December and sold out within a couple of hours. The bottles were only available in Jackson,Wyoming (where the owners reside) and  Kirby, Wyoming (which is where the owners have a ranch as well as their distillery). A limited number of bottles could also be bought on line (which is how I snagged my bottle). At first I received a congratulatory email on my purchase, a week later an email saying that I was put on a waiting list, and then after another week, I received another congratulatory email as I was taken off the waiting list. I paid immediately online but I had to pick up my bottle in  Kirby, Wyoming prior to June 30, 2025 (no delivery by mail).

Bottle #399 is going on aution today. Staff told me that they expect that bottle to bring in $15,000 which will be dontated in its entirety (see below). If you wanted to watch or participate in the auction, you have to register online at their website.....(wyomingwhiskey.com). Staff said that they believe that the auction is being handled by Sotheby's Auction House.....

An interesting fact: staff told me that people flew in from all over the country to purchase a bottle (limited to one per customer). They said that the Jackson, Wyoming location sold out in 1.5 hours and that the Kirby,Wyoming location sold out in less than 4 hours.....

 

[ITTOG]

I have been watching her for years and reading about her even longer. Not sure when it all began for me. I sure would have liked to snag a bottle of that whiskey. Congratulations to you!

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

ITTOG.....thanks, I feel like I got lucky on that one.....

Here's another book that you might be interested in reading.....I have not read it.....yet.....

Local paramedic covers Grizzly 399, 'chonky' bears and more in new book

Local paramedic covers Grizzly 399, 'chonky' bears and more in new book

JACKSON, Wyo. — Even as a full-time paramedic with Jackson Hole Fire/EMS, Kevin Grange still finds time to pen award-winning nonfiction books. His latest, “Grizzly Confidential,” is a deep-dive into all things grizzly bear. The new tome examines grizzlies from myriad vantage points, ranging from...

buckrail.com

Grizzly Confidential: An Astounding Journey into the Secret Life of North America’s Most Fearsome Predator
Grizzly Confidential: An Astounding Journey into the Secret Life of North America’s Most Fearsome Predator https://a.co/d/18LOLxY

 

[ITTOG]

ITTOG.....thanks, I feel like I got lucky on that one.....

Here's another book that you might be interested in reading.....I have not read it.....yet.....

Local paramedic covers Grizzly 399, 'chonky' bears and more in new book

Local paramedic covers Grizzly 399, 'chonky' bears and more in new book

JACKSON, Wyo. — Even as a full-time paramedic with Jackson Hole Fire/EMS, Kevin Grange still finds time to pen award-winning nonfiction books. His latest, “Grizzly Confidential,” is a deep-dive into all things grizzly bear. The new tome examines grizzlies from myriad vantage points, ranging from...

buckrail.com

Grizzly Confidential: An Astounding Journey into the Secret Life of North America’s Most Fearsome Predator
Grizzly Confidential: An Astounding Journey into the Secret Life of North America’s Most Fearsome Predator https://a.co/d/18LOLxY

Thanks for the info. I found it in audible and added it to my list. It may have to jump to the front of my up next list.

 

[Pacific Northwest yetti]

Now added to my audible as well.

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

ITTOG / PNWY.....I sure hope it's a good read.....I ordered the hardback yesterday.....



We headed east along Interstate 90.....through what I consider to be some of the most breathtaking parts of all of Montana. We got a late start that first day so we didn't travel too many miles. We made it to Columbus, Montana and by 5:00 p.m. we had set up camp in the city park / fishing access / campground.....



I just happened to notice this spot as we crossed the bridge over the Yellowstone River and for some reason unbeknownst to me, I made a U-turn to check it out. It turned out that there was a free campground here.....



Initially I wasn't so pleased with my decision.....this place was packed and even worse, it was packed with RV's that had visible, noisy generators.....could it be any worse I thought.....



We grabbed one of the few remaining sites and then headed out for a walk. After maybe a mile or so down a gravel road we found another campground.....which was a part of the other campground.....yet there was nobody camped here.....



You guessed it.....we moved and had a blissful night sleeping along the Yellowstone River.....all alone.....



The following morning we wandered south with a destination in mind.....but of course we never made it there.....



As we were driving south along Highway 310, I couldn't help but admire the sensational snow capped mountain range to the west.....



And to the east we admired the Pryor Mountains.....



As we were passing through Bridger, Montana, I made an unplanned turn to the east and headed into the Pryor Mountain Range.....



.....and we loved everything that we were seeing as we left the pavement of Highway 310 behind.....

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

I thought it interesting.....the contrast of the old.....the X-X Ranch and the windmills that surrounded it.....




We followed a seldom used dirt road as far into the wilderness as we could go with my rig and when we came to this small brook filled with the Spring snow melt.....I thought.....right here, this is where we will spend our next night.....



The sounds of those tiny rapids.....just a few feet from our camper window.....were just as blissful as were the roaring rapids of the Yellowstone River.....



In the evening we hiked up a nearby ridgeline.....you know.....to see what we could see.....




Then it was back to that babbling brook at our campsite.....



We experienced stellar cloud formations that evening....



The next morning we ventured out to walk along the dirt roads and found ourselves amongst a small herd of wild horses.....

 

[Sierra Valley]

I sure love camping next to a small creek like that they make for the best nights sleep!

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

Sierra Valley.....it's funny that you say that. I wear a Fitbit watch and for that night I scored a 91 (excellent) for my nights' sleep. I couldn't agree more.....


***********************************


I received this email from Wyoming Whiskey this morning and I thought that some members might be interested in keeping up with this auction. These are screenshots of my email which I think explains it pretty good.....

















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It never occurred to me to look at the back of my bottle (maybe because I'm not a collector or maybe because I'm an admitted knucklehead.....who knows ?). I simply put my bottle on the wooden shelves above my range.....and I admire it probably too often as it sits there. Well, that email got me to have a look & it appears that I own #209.....

 

[furbucket]

 

[ITTOG]

I will definitely be bidding but I could see that bottle fetching six figures if the auction is advertised well. That would be too much for my blood. Oh well, hopefully someone really goes all out and makes a huge donation the park can feel for years!

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