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Published: September 5th 2007
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On the trail
Where we saw the wolves NOTE: we thought the previous entry was published on the 29th--sorry!]
09/04/07
Okay, we didn't think we would have wi-fi here in Grand Teton NP, but we do. And I'll try to be brief cause Jim and John need to add their two cents worth. We decided to stay two nights at Signal Mountain Lodge versus the one night we had planned. Two days camping and two more nights backpacking is a LONG time. I'm glad to report John arrived and is having a swell time also. Alas I am sad to say he does not care for his name of "Bear" so he is now officially "Silverchin". And since he isn't shaving, I can vouch that the name is fitting for him. We are having a grand time. Lots of wildlife and exciting experiences. Lots of hiking (or lots for me anyway) and beautiful scenery. We did the touristy stuff in Yellowstone and it was great. Geysers are groovy and who would have thought the Grand Canyon of Yellostone was so grand. I will say Moose and Silverchin were a little too ambitious last night after our arrival in Grand Teton NP. We had backpacked out from a hike on
Bear Print
Company on the Trail the Snake River (my pack weighed at least 60 lbs and we had to do two fords each way) and after a shower and hot food (much needed by all of us) and some "beer", they were thinking we could do 14 miles today (with a 2500 foot elevation gain I might add). Fortunately they saw the light this AM and we did a more realistic hike and saw two beautiful lakes and visited Moose Visitor Center (which was one of the most beautiful and creative centers I have visited). Jim had to tie John up a few times, but that is another story in itself. We will return to Yellowstone in a day or two. We have a lovely view on our porch of the Tetons. John can now confirm that having fun is hard work. We are whipped most days. But in a very good way. Weather warmer than expected, but should be a little cooler tomorrow. More blogging in a few days.
Squirrel
Mummy Meat & Bondage Hiking
Wow! We just completed one of the greates backpacking trips ever. Beautiful campsite on the Snake River filled with wildlife. And snakes, of course. On the way in
Teton Reflection
Hiking at Bradley Lake we saw a Black Bear, then the next morning John saw a bull Elk and Mule Deer. But the National Geo moment was when we hiked up to Basin Creek Lake and saw 5 Wolves crossing the basin! Awesome! We also saw two sandhill cranes. The final morning I saw a cow Moose and a calf coming out of the water (where we bathed--I think that's why they came running out) and we all saw two more bull Elk. Well, all of us but John. It was incredible. As for Mummy Meat, that was some stuff Susan bought that was actually very good but according to John, "looked like mummy." Mummy: it's what's for dinner. I did have to tie John up but that was because his pack broke (he was NOT happy). When we stopped I had to untie him, then when we started again he would ask me to tie him up. I have to admit I kind of liked it. It made me think of a few things I need to talk to Susan about later. As in when we bath regularly. It's been great and we still have 2 days. Back to Yellowstone!
Moose
Five Wolves and a Fumarol
Woo-Hoo!! My journey was delayed a bit on the first day, The United Express Stage Company claimed it was a wagon wheel malfunction. They put me up in the O'Hare Hyatt, a hotel that had a lobby the size of Bryce Canyon, Utah. It was rough sleeping in a king-sized bed with six pillows, two cushions and a roll but I managed. The next day it was on to Bozeman where I met my guide for this expedition, an old Native American chief named White Rabbit Who Hops Across The Prairie On Two Bad Knees. Accompanying the chief was his wife, Pale Squirrel. A kind woman who had quit her job with the tribe finding tepee spaces for braves who had collided head on with the great "Iron Buffalo's" the white man races across the prairie. We grabbed my baggage, mounted our Appalloosa ponies and headed Southwest towards the Yellowstone basin.
This is an interesting experience, I have been reading this blog for a couple of weeks and now I am in the blog. It's like driving to the ciniplex, watching a movie for an hour and then walking through the screen and BAM I'm in the movie. Yellowstone is awesome!! I have always wanted to see Old Faithful but that is just the tip of the geothermal iceberg out here. Take what Susan said about the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and multiply by 3, it was great. Four days without bathing, not so great. After two nights of car camping and two nights of backpacking here is a song I made up while we were trekking back to the car so we could go to the Signal Mountain Lodge. If you know Neil Young's "Sugar Mountain" sing along.
When we get to Signal Mountain
They have good food, clean sheets and hot showers all day.
When I get to Signal Mountain
I'm going to get clean and seista the day away.
Anyway, thats the kind of silly thing that rolls around my noggin when I am walking along in the woods grimier than the average third world denizen. Jim has been really funny. Susan has a Gatorade powder supplement called Propel that she is putting in their water. Jim cannot remember what it is called so he keeps saying things like, "Do we have any more Impulse?", "Pass me the Flume." and "Can I have some Primal Urge?" We are not watching the Discovery Channel we are the Discovery Channel. We saw the wolves, bald eagles, bison, swimming bison, bison walking down the opposite side of the road. You have to be careful they do not use their turn signals. The other morning, I scared off some mule deer on my way to the bathroom and then followed the bugling of an elk until I found him standing in the middle of the Snake River. About my title, The wolves have been mentioned but what the heck is a fumarol? A fumarol is like a geyser but instead of water exploding from the earth it is just air. This causes a flatulant type noise. I have not seen a fumarol, but after eating Montana Beef, Buffalo Chili, Elk Chili, Buffalo Sausage, Cliff Bars and freeze dried meals I am a fumarol if you get my drift and Jim and Susan have been for several days. I feel so blessed to have seen all of the sights and animals but the biggest blessing is getting to share that experience with good friends. One more silly song and I am done. Here is the set up story. Yesterday we were hiking on a trail in the Grand Tetons that the National Park Service rated as EASY. Easy, as in,"It would be easy to drill a hole in the Hoover Dam with a bird feather." Anyway, as we were standing in front of a beautiful pristine mountain lake a bald eagle flew past us. We all saw it. A little later Jim saw two more eagles. I did not see them. This caused me to get a case of Bald Eagle envy which thrilled Jim to no end. Farther up the trail he not only boasted about seeing the eagles he started bragging about seeing the moose cow and little moose. I have been to Maine, I have seen plenty of moose. So here is a song I sang to J&S on the trail. If you know James Taylor's "Fire and Rain" sing along.
I've seen moose cows and I've seen little moose
I've seen bull moose standing in the lake.
I've seen every kind of moose you can think of
But I didn't see those eagles Jim saw.
My heart belongs in East Tennesse but my soul belongs out here.
With that said, imagine me on a tall bucking bronco, the reins held firmly in my left hand while I wave my cowboy hat high over my head with my right hand. Vaya con dios my darlings.
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dave
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I am with you in spirit!
Well, for a quarter mile or so, then my spirit needs to lie down and take a spirited nap. I am dealing with the heartbreak of no movie night by staying home sick today, but I am going to try to get out to the new downtown Riviera this afternoon and see Rat uh too wee, if the interval between, uhhh, let's call it visitations from my little friends widens. I've heard the "adult substances" out west are fabulous; let me know if you see a camel. dave