Trip around Wyomings Wind River Mountains

[Frulk_imp]

Part two with some additional pictures that are a composite of the same route but from different trips. Click on the pics to enlarge for more detail.

We had a good winter locally....read that to mean lots of snow that recharged our reservoirs. Stopped close to the summit of Monte Cristo and took this pic of a big drift (one of many still remaining at this relatively low altitude).



As I was heading due east on the old Oregon Trail coming out of Farson Wyoming I saw this sign. Luckily it was a tailwind. I was really having a problem on this stretch keeping the bike under 85 mph and in fact was routinely bumping the three digit mark all the way until I started climbing South Pass.



As I rolled into Lander I stopped at the Cowfish Saloon to fill up my aluminum growler with the locally brewed Hefe for my evening camp. I backed the bike in next to this Triumph that was being ridden by a young gal. As soon as I took off my helmet and she got a good view of my chiseled weatherbeaten good looks she struck up a conversation. She took off 5 weeks ago from Maryland. Think she said she completed her masters and was taking a solo road trip of the western USA and Canada. She was having problems finding a replacement for the bald rear due to its odd size (?). I wasn't much help as Lander really is in an isolated part of the US. Desperate to get to the hefe I pointed her to the oldest Kawasaki dealership in the country (of all places just up main street in Lander).



I left Lander the next morning heading towards Dubois. These next two pic are over 70 miles apart. The first one is of a winter wildlife refuge area on South Pass and the other one is 30 miles south of Dubois. Notice the red soil strata is the same in both pics.





I make it a point to stop at the cemetery in Dubois every time I go through and visit this grave. If you've never seen the movie 'Taking Chance' it's worth a look. Explains how this 19 year old marine took his last trip home.



Once west and outside Dubois the climb over Togwotee Pass begins. Pic is somewhere on the pass.



Coming down the other side of the pass you hit Moran Junction. Turn right to go to Yellowstone, turn left for the grand Tetons and Jackson. I turned left, pic is in front of the Tetons. Wasn't too busy on this day.



I hit Hoback junction and headed south east through Big Piney, then Labarge. South of the ranching, gas and oil roughneck hamlet of Labarge you come across Fontenelle Reservior. A dam was built across the Green River and backed it up. At full pool its about 10 miles or so in total length. Windy body of water that many years ago, according to rumor was stocked with a pure strain of Scottish Loch Levin trout. I've fished it with powerbait soacked in single malt scotch on downriggers but have yet to get lucky.



So, while I have talked about this mt range a few times and posted pics of the roads around them I've never actually shown a pic of what's IN THEM. I'll close with this pic for Ferret since he really likes our western mountains.

This is in the interior of the range. One of my best friends and I hiked deep into the middle to fly-fish for a few days. This pic has us standing at approx. 10,600 feet a few years back. We came back several years later from the western side of the range and fished a remote glacial lake behind the ridge in the middle of the pic (to the right of the big snowfield/glacier) on my birthday. That ridge is in fact the Continental Divide at about 11,200 feet. About 25 miles one way on foot from the west. We smoked a cigar and sipped some scotch while straddling the divide and flogging the water. Didn't catch fish up there but still one of the best Birthdays I've ever had.

[Cormanus]

Crikey! What glorious country, Frulk. You lucky bloke.

By the way, don't waste the single malt on the fish. Lightly lubricate your stomach and put the unadulterated bait in the water.