Unexpected Dangers Of the Road

Even the waves here are dangerous

It's dangerous out here.  In Florence, Oregon alone we've been warned of sudden fogs and sneaker waves. We also went to see the rare, and if you're an insect, very dangerous Darlingtonia California. While hiking up Collins Mountain a few days ago, we passed a Big Foot Trap, and were reminded that bears weren't the only thing to be concerned about in these woods.

So far however, our closest encounters with big scary wildlife came two weeks ago in the Grand Tetons National Park. The  day was clear, and after drying things out from the previous evenings thunderstorm we set off on a 7 mile hike around Jenny Lake with a few short side trails planned up to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point. More than half way through the hike all was going as as planned, although really, you can't plan on views, and nature being that gorgeous.

We had also planned on not seeing bears. "Bear Aware" warnings are everywhere in Yellowstone and

3 Bear Warnings are Better Than One

the Grand Tetons. They're nailed to picnic tables, they're posted in bathrooms, they're plastered on bear safe garbage cans, the campground had bear proof food storage containers in each camp, etc. It's a good thing, and they're all very informative. The general impression you get however is that you need to be prepared to have some kind of encounter with a bear. I am not. Neither physically nor psychologically.

The trails we took however were well traveled and the Rangers (all whom carried holstered bear spray) thought we'd be okay without spray. We hiked most of the way around Jenny Lake to String Lake when we were stopped by a Ranger. He informed us that the trail was closed due to "bear activity." Apparently this bear had been hanging around the nearby picnic area and was becoming dangerous, the Park Service was attempting to trap and remove him. We could see the giant bear trap up on the hill, didn't get to see the bear. However, we did have to turn around and hike all the way back around the Lake. We ended up walking a bit more than 12 miles all-in-all.

Our next encounter with dangerous wildlife occurred that same evening. After returning to the campsite we had dinner and were just settling in for the night when an elk wandered into the campsite. A big bull elk. He didn't really pay us much attention, just ate the grasses, stripped leaves off the various bushes, and looked around once in a while. It wasn't until another camper attempted to shoot a close-up photo and the elk lowered his giant antlers in his direction that anyone became alarmed. But that was enough of a threat for all of us to back off and realize that his being comfortable with us didn't make him any less dangerous.

Tomorrow we head up into the mountains of Southern Oregon to do our first week of serious hiking.  Experiences with these animals reminds us that while all the places we've been, and scenery we've seen, isn't just for our benefit.  There are lots of other folks out here, and there is still the need to be safe. If we meet Big Foot on the trail, we'll be sure and say hi.

The Places Between Places: Powder River Pass and Ten Sleep Canyon

The eleventh day of our cross-country camping trip was a road/town day. We'd been camping and hiking for five nights and six days, our clothes smelled, the van was funky, we had no consumable food. In addition to that, we needed to get some westward mileage under our wheels and we needed to take care of some business, business that needed a good internet and phone connections. To accomplish that we intended to drive most of the day and get a hotel for the night.

We left South Dakota early in the morning with the plan to spend the night in Grey Bull, Wyoming. That would put us just outside the Eastern entrance to Yellowstone where we'd spend four to five days camping both there and in the Grand Tetons National Forest. It was going to be a long drive, with nothing spectacular to do or see. Or so we thought.

There are two possible routes to the Eastern entrance of Yellowstone. One, the more common, exits I-90 at Sheridan and follows RT 14 over the Bighorn National Forest on the Northern side. the other, less common, and slightly longer exits I-90 at Buffalo, follows RT 16 and crosses the Bighorn National Forest on the Southern side over the Powder River Pass.  Wanting a less commercial and less-crowded drive, we took the southern route, not expecting too much, just wanting to get to Grey Bull without a lot of fuss.

Aside from being generally happy on this trip, there have been a number of times when I have turned to S.D. and said "Holy Shit!!! This is so awesome, I'm the happiest I've ever been!" The next hour were 60 of those times.  Climbing up to the Powder River Pass, and the Pass itself were just gorgeous. Stunning views, full forests, snow, wildflowers, just beautiful. S.D. had to stop and throw a few snowballs. 

Part Two - Ten Sleep Canyon

 

 And then there was the ride down. Down through Ten Sleep Canyon. I mean, "Holy Shit!!! This is so awesome, I'm the happiest I've ever been!".  Ten Sleep "Creek" was running crazy. Like a huge river just rushing down still down carving out the massive canyon it had already formed. The road kept making tight hair pin turns as we descended further and further down to the floor of the canyon.

When at last we came out at the bottom, and like the Ten Sleep Creek flooded out on to the plain and through the town of Ten Sleep I was speechless.