Roam About with "Big Hank"

[seeNik48]

Subscribed. I am enjoying your narrative plus some engaging images. We live near 1000s of acres of forestry and there are these llamas that are always breaking out. I think the owner is letting them free range. There are bears and mountain lions, here too. Name of waterfall and range with jagged tooth? We plan to return to western Wyoming next fall for exploring and photography. You have made want to be there right NOW! Yes, we couldn't be without a dog, either; have 2, standard poodle and poodle cross. Best friends.

 

[parkkitchings]

Subscribed. I am enjoying your narrative plus some engaging images. We live near 1000s of acres of forestry and there are these llamas that are always breaking out. I think the owner is letting them free range. There are bears and mountain lions, here too. Name of waterfall and range with jagged tooth? We plan to return to western Wyoming next fall for exploring and photography. You have made want to be there right NOW! Yes, we couldn't be without a dog, either; have 2, standard poodle and poodle cross. Best friends.

Thanks. Checked out some of your pics and really liked them. Although I'm not that good at it I love to get in the outdoors and poke around with a camera in hand. Never know what you'll run across. I'd have to break out the map to get the range you inquired about. I keep telling myself to take more notes as to where I take some of my pictures but seem to get sidetracked. The picture in question was taken from the truck on the road leading into South Basin. It's a one way road end which dead ends at a trail head probably about 30 miles outside of Cody. The range parallels the road and ends in a canyon area. It's a real pretty drive in with a couple of primitive type forest service campgrounds. I opted to just pull off on some Forest Service land next to a stream and save myself $14 dollars. One thing to consider out here when stealth camping. Was hiking up the road late that evening when a rancher stopped in his truck and inquired if I had some bear spray on me, which I did. Told me the sow and cubs had been spotted in the area yesterday. He was a photographer as well and broke out his camera and showed me some shots he'd taken of bears in the area. He had some really good stuff. Told him that was basically why I was in here in hopes of getting some pictures. He then proceeded to tell me about a friend of his who had his nose and part of his face taken off awhile back by a grizzly that he surprised when rounding the corner on his barn early one morning. Chatted awhile and he offered me a ride back to camp since it was almost dark but I declined and walked the remaining mile. Never did see any bear while in the basin but it is a real pretty area to spend a few days poking around.

The falls were also shot from the road but I don't think they are named or anything. It's simply snow melt from the high country during melt off. Lot's of smaller ones like this as well along the road. Taken with a 500 MM zoom so I was a considerable distance from it. Pretty sure most of them dry up later in the summer.

Stayed one night in the basin and then back into Cody. They were having some activities down in the park so hung out there and watched some of the native tribes perform dancing and drumming. Never did end up seeing the musuem in Cody. They wanted something like $20 to get in and just couldn't see it so I walked back downtown and toured some of the photo galleries instead. Should have taken more pics but didn't want to lug the camera around.

 

[Sierra Valley]

Great thread and pics! Looks like such a blast. Can you tell me where this is or what river it is? Been planning to head up to this part of North California and Oregon. Would appreciate it.

 

[parkkitchings]

Great thread and pics! Looks like such a blast. Can you tell me where this is or what river it is? Been planning to head up to this part of North California and Oregon. Would appreciate it.

Thanks. Was a great trip as I spent over two months just bumming around with no set schedule. Picture was taken headed east on Hwy 140 (Warner Hwy) in southeastern Oregon just outside of a little one store town called Adel. The creek is called Deep Creek and depending on runoff you can have water like in the picture or a lot less. Some great areas to explore in southeastern Oregon. Some good hot springs in the area as well. Let me know if you need some beta on where to go while in the area. I've done quite a bit of roaming around in SE Oregon over the years.

 

[parkkitchings]

Took Hwy 14 out of Cody towards Yellowstone in search of a campsite. Not much in the way of stealth camping so had to stay in a National Forest pay site. I got to camp early in the afternoon so unloaded the bike and went exploring. If you're going to see wildlife you usually don't around here until really late so I had some time to kill as I was going to hike back into a drainage area a ranger had told me about. Riding was fun but I kept getting closed out on creek crossings. Weather was really starting to warm and the run off was really picking up. Some of the crossing were pretty easy but a few were way to high, especially being solo. Maybe, and just maybe would I try it if I had some backup. Basically just poked around for a few hours before getting back to camp.

After getting back to camp and feeding Hank it was discovered that I was out of beer! Eight mile slab back to a little store down the road was going to fix that. While there made friends with this guy. He went and checked out every car that drove up for gas or anything else trying to mooch something. He was alot of fun watching make the rounds. He'd come hang out with me until another car drove up and then he was off to see what he could score. If the pickings weren't to his liking he'd come back over and hang out with me some more. I sat out front while having some ice cream, which he got half of, and watched him do his thing. All the locals who stopped in knew him and they called him "Mooch". When not mooching he was napping out front. This guy has a great life!

Some random shots just off the road leading back to camp.....

Thought it was interesting how this tree had contoured to the shape of the rock...

Stayed one night at the campground and drove back into Cody the following morning. Decided I need a real breakfast and needed to get back into Cody to take the Chief Joseph Hwy to the north out of Cody leading into Yellowstone. Plan was to also check out Sunlight Basin area. A guy I ran into on the bike who was on horseback had told me about it. Supposedly a real pretty drive in with stealth camping. Also stated that I would have a good chance of possibly seeing some bear for pictures.

Some nice street ride across from the off road combo parked across the street.

Left Cody after breakfast and headed off to the Chief Joseph Hwy. A spectacular drive.

Pulled off at the Sunlight Bridge Overlook and observed a large group of Harley Riders pull in. I could write a dissertation on pack mentality which transpired over the next twenty minutes but I'll just post the picture and let your imagination take over. Sitting and watching was quite entertaining to say the least.

 

[chet6.7]

Mooch has life figured out.
That is some nice country.

 

[parkkitchings]

Turned off Chief Joseph Hwy and headed up Sunlight Basin Rd. If you're ever out this way it's a must road to explore on. It was wet and there were a few places where four wheel drive was required but nothing bad. Couple of nice side roads to explore here as well. Road dead ends and there are some great camping opportunities. Rode up the road and just kinda spotted for any wildlife to shoot pics of. Was able to spot a wolf crossing a pasture but nothing else other than a couple of Elk. Was really hoping I could get some pics of the wolf but was only able to check him out with the bino's. Beautiful animal.

Campsite for the night up in Sunlight Basin.

View from the road on the drive out early the following morning.

Old homestead.

Drove into Cooke City, Montana late in the afternoon. Headed out of town a little ways and found a dirt road that gained some elevation to look for a campsite. Plan was to drive over Beartooth Pass the following day into Red Lodge and possible camp there a night or two as well.

Cooke City in the distance...

Awesome campsite outside of Cooke City. Easy 3 or 4 mile ride back into town with the bike.

Unloaded the bike and poked around as well....

Old Mercantile store in Cooke City.

 

[parkkitchings]

After camping outside of Cooke City decided I'd make the drive over Beartooth Pass to Red Lodge. Weather wasn't very cooperative as it was socked in on and off during the drive over. This road is a motorcyclists dream. Twisty road and impressive views. Rolled into Red Lodge, walked around a little, stocked up on some groceries and splurged on a pizza and cold beer. Lake up top was still frozen over in places and a large storm front was moving in.

Some artwork in Red Lodge. Red Lodge is a nice little town but crawling with tourists in the summer months. Had considered staying the night but opted to drive back over the pass and camp again outside of Cooke City.

They have a pizza joint right on the main drag and it's worth a visit.

Drive back over the pass was in the clouds. Got back to the other side and found a place to camp. Prior to setting up the rain started coming down in buckets so I jumped back in the truck to wait it out while going over some maps with a cold one.

View from camp as the clouds rolled in. Camped in the clouds that night. Of course Hank had to get out and take a leak at two in the morning and you couldn't see your hand in front of your face due to the heavy cloud cover. He always has to find the perfect spot to do his business so walking around in the middle of the night with heavy fog in grizzly country can be a little discerning. I laughed at myself as I was roaming around in nothing but my underwear and boots. Could read the headlines........ Moronic camper & fat Jack Russell eaten by grizzly while roaming around in underwear and boots.

 

[parkkitchings]

Spent one more night stealth camping outside of Cooke City and then drove about 20 miles from there into Yellowstone National Park. I love Yellowstone as I have been in the park many times over the years but it is being overrun with people nowadays. Really feel that they should start having some type of quota system for entry into the park. It is literally being loved to death! If you can go October through May it's still a great place but anything during the summer months and I'd avoid it like the plaque. Only good stuff in the summer is to hike into the back country areas. Anything with road access is a zoo. I wanted to camp in the Lamar Valley area in hopes of seeing some bears and was very lucky to get a campsite. Pulled in and the camp host was able to squeeze me in between two other campers since I didn't really need a picnic table, fire pit or anything. Since no stealth camping is strictly enforced in the park it was my only option. Campers start lining up in the morning outside the campgrounds in hopes of getting a site. I personally can't stand staying in most established campgrounds. Generators running, screaming kids, a dozen people in one site, boomboxes, etc., etc. Stayed two nights but that was all I was able to withstand. I did however go out late each evening and find some black bears to photograph. During the day if a bear is spotted from the road it can back up traffic for miles. It's almost as entertaining watching the moronic tourists as it is the wildlife. A few years ago I literally watched a father and his little girl get out of a motorhome and walk to within 50 feet a sow grizzly and two cubs. The idiots think they're in Disney Land or something. Luckily a ranger came along and started screaming at him to get back in the vehicle and fired some form of dummy rounds at the sow to run her off. I certainly didn't want to see the little girl get hurt but it wouldn't have been any loss whatsoever to the gene pool if he'd of been lunch. Ranger read him the riot act once he got to him. Should have ticketed him and thrown his dumb *** out of the park.

Lamar Valley..........

Didn't run across any grizzlies but did find some black bears......

 

[seeNik48]

Really fine wildlife images of moose and bear. We feel the same way about crowded parks; people are just plain dumb sometimes. Thry stop right in the middle of the road, open their doors, leave them open and run out to the bison. We thought taking the Blacktail Plateau Road would get us away from the crowd. Nope, little sedans and Priuses, for Cripes sake, were on that road. I know for some it is a once in a lifetime thing, but use some common sense. We boondock a lot and prefer the quiet and solitude like you do. When near Cooke City, we camped up the Lulu Pass road just a ways out of the town. Understand about the dog doing his business in the middle of the night in grizzly country; I have done the same thing in a nighty and flops. We were in that area last fall
but ran out of time. Plan to return next fall to explore Western Wyoming with many of the same places you have mentioned. Thanks for keeping us posted. My blog is https://clikrf8.wordpress.com/2014/12/08/

 

[chet6.7]

I had a class C motor home for awhile,the comfort was nice,having to stay in campgrounds was not nice.
I am surprised more people aren't killed by wild animals that have nothing in common with Bullwinkle and Yogi.
Keep the updates coming,I don't always comment but I am following along.

 

[unkamonkey]

A few years ago I was working on a house outside of Kremmling CO. The shortest way home was going through Rockey Mtn. Natl. Park. I had to stop a few times because the entire road was blocked by cars that were stopped to get a picture of an Elk. The other thing that irked me was people riding their brakes all the way down the pass. Gosh, what's that funny smell?
I'm surprised some people are still alive...

 

[parkkitchings]

Really fine wildlife images of moose and bear. We feel the same way about crowded parks; people are just plain dumb sometimes. Thry stop right in the middle of the road, open their doors, leave them open and run out to the bison. We thought taking the Blacktail Plateau Road would get us away from the crowd. Nope, little sedans and Priuses, for Cripes sake, were on that road. I know for some it is a once in a lifetime thing, but use some common sense. We boondock a lot and prefer the quiet and solitude like you do. When near Cooke City, we camped up the Lulu Pass road just a ways out of the town. Understand about the dog doing his business in the middle of the night in grizzly country; I have done the same thing in a nighty and flops. We were in that area last fall
but ran out of time. Plan to return next fall to explore Western Wyoming with many of the same places you have mentioned. Thanks for keeping us posted. My blog is https://clikrf8.wordpress.com/2014/12/08/

Nice blog and pics. Keep telling myself to start a blog but never seem to get around to it. If you get back out to Wyoming, Ten Sleep area is worth checking out. The Big Horn Mountain Range just to the east is an Adventurer delight!

I had a class C motor home for awhile,the comfort was nice,having to stay in campgrounds was not nice.
I am surprised more people aren't killed by wild animals that have nothing in common with Bullwinkle and Yogi.
Keep the updates coming,I don't always comment but I am following along.

I sold a Class C Tioga before getting the FWC. Mine was a gas hog and I hated that I couldn't get to more remote areas with it. You're right the comfort was nice but not worth having to camp with the masses. I use to camp on some forest service roads with it but hate remote camping where others can drive up on you or easily see you from the road. That's what I love about my current rig.....four wheel drive and leave the road with the low profile of the pop up. Thanks for following along. Sometimes you take the time write up a report and sort pictures and you wonder if anyone is reading it.

A few years ago I was working on a house outside of Kremmling CO. The shortest way home was going through Rockey Mtn. Natl. Park. I had to stop a few times because the entire road was blocked by cars that were stopped to get a picture of an Elk. The other thing that irked me was people riding their brakes all the way down the pass. Gosh, what's that funny smell?
I'm surprised some people are still alive...

We need a few, no many of them, natural disasters to thin out the human herd. The lack of common sense in the world today is mind blowing.

Left camp very early the next morning headed west out of the park in hopes to avoid the crowds and possibly see some wildlife. Some shots of the drive out.

Ran across this cow moose and only stopped to take pictures when I noticed the wounds on her back legs. Appeared something had taken a chunk of meat on each. They were healing well as they appeared to be old but were a serious wound. Could have possibly been a grizzly attack when she was a yearling or something. Just speculation but about the only thing I could figure would cause wounds like that.

Decided to stop in at Old Faithful to get some pics but didn't even stop. Couldn't believe how crowded it was. Drove through the parking lot and just kept going. I'll bet there were at least 50 tour buses in the lot. In my humble opinion a quota is must for the parks future or at a minimum some kind of restriction on vehicle traffic similar to Zion and Yosemite. Only problem with that is the routes that go through the park are major through fares. Not really sure what the solution is but something needs to be done. I'll be back for sure but it won't be anytime during the summer months.

 

[chet6.7]

http://youtu.be/qr2i3HZJ5Z4

There was a complete video of that event,but,I can't find it now.
Those wounds may have been caused by a bear,I wonder about wolves as well.
Life is rigorous.

 

[unkamonkey]

Now would be a good time to read some of Edward Abbeys books, or reread them as I am doing now.