Oh Colorado!

I made it back over Teton Pass, and the weather was MUCH MUCH better this time.

Then headed south with a destination of Dinosaur National Monument.   I am trying to avoid freeways as much as possible, so I headed down Hwy 191 south into the corner of Utah, past Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area.   It was a great drive, with little traffic, just the way I like it.      I spent 1 night at Dinosaur NM, went on a 3 mile hike that turned into a 5 mile hike  because I missed the junction where the trail looped back and didn't realize it for about a mile.   Nice hike though.

The Green River

The campground is in those trees

The next day I headed south on Hwy 139 from Rangley to Grand Junction.  What a beautiful road!  Again, not a lot of traffic.

From Grande Junction I took Hwy 50 to Montrose and to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.  I'd heard about this park, but never been there.   I decided to spend 2 nights and I'm glad I did.  The campground was small and the sites close together, but I didn't spend a lot of time there.  The weather was a bit overcast, and there was a DOWNPOUR the second day I was there.

Lots of wildlife wandered through camp, including this lovely Dusky Grouse.

And there were lots of wildflowers.

There is a 'rim road' and a lot of short hikes off that road to overlook the canyon.  I hiked most of those trails and I struggled to capture the canyon with my camera.  It is a very deep, very narrow gorge, through which the Gunnison River runs.    Very interesting history of people trying to survey the river; it is a wild one.   It was finally accomplished on air mattresses!   There was a tunnel dug through 6 miles of solid rock to divert water to the Uncompahgre Valley that is an amazing story in itself.   Here are a few of the photos I took:

I left the park early this morning heading for Colorado Springs.   The drive was again wonderful.   Colorado is a spectacular state.     I crossed the Continental Divide at Monarch Pass,

I am staying at a motel for a couple nights in Colorado Springs because the only campground near town is a State Park that was booked solid until Sunday.    So I'm feeling like I'm abandoning Waddles, but she's safely parked outside my room.   There was a huge thunderstorm and downpour for a couple hours after I arrived so I guess I'm glad to be in a Motel!

The reason I'm in Colorado Springs is because I lived here when I was in the 5th and 6th grades (back in the dark ages) and my best friend and I have kept in touch over the past oh, 50+ years.   She now lives in Chile and I usually hear that she's been in the US after the fact, so when I was planning this trip I asked her if there was any chance she'd be in the country.  Turns out she was planning a surprise 70th Wedding Anniversary party for her parents who still live in Colorado Springs.  The party is June 3, and I was invited!    The last time I saw her was in the 1970's.   The last time I saw any of the rest of her family was in 1965, when I spent a month backpacking, with her family, her aunt, uncle and cousins and 10 burros, in the Sierra.    All her siblings are going to be here, her two daughters, their  husbands, and their 2 new babies, none of whom I've ever met.   This was reason enough for me to divert from a direct route to Illinois!!!  I'm very excited to see them all.

Colorado Springs has grown a great deal since I was here last, but I managed to find the two houses we lived it.  They were both rentals when we lived in them, and both look like they have been well cared for.   My elementary school building is no longer there, but new building/school has been built in it's place.  I guess that is called progress.

My sister and I shared a bedroom, window to the left of the front door.  My sister and I took accordion lessons when we lived in this house. I've always wondered why my folks thought that was a good idea!

My bedroom was the window above the porch.  My best friend and I used to dumpster dive behind the local flower store and rescue geraniums.  My bedroom was full of them.

Lots of memories are flooding back to me!  The next few days are going to be fun.  And then I'll be back on the road.

Victor, Idaho

I have spent a most lovely 3 days in Victor Idaho, catching up with an old friend, exploring the area and getting sunburned!   After the snow on Friday the weather has been improving daily.

Day 1 we went north to Mesa Falls, an amazing area.  Did a little walking around and just enjoyed the drive and the falls.  The new Pirates of the Caribbean was playing at the local theater so we took that in on Saturday night.  Great movie, we were exhausted at the end of it!

Day 2 we did a little hike up Pine Creek Pass, and then sat in the sunshine and just enjoyed being among the wildflowers and the vistas.    Another old friend I've not seen in 37 years stopped by and again we had a lovely visit reliving old stories and catching up.

Day 3 we enjoyed the amazing weather and went for another hike up Moose Creek Trail.   Saw signs of moose, but no live animals (which is just fine with me!).   The Glacier Lilies were everywhere.

Tomorrow I hit the road again.   I'll be winding through Colorado for 3 or 4 days so I'll be off line.   See you at the next opportunity!

Wandering in Awe

Good Morning Blog!  Sorry I've not been here, I've not had internet access since the last time I posted.  

I ended up driving north, through Yellowstone National Park.  I hit Madison Campground, inside the park, at about 3:30 and it was full.  I was able to have them secure me a spot in Bridge Bay Campground, some 58 miles away, so off I went.  Along the way I saw Bison, Elk, and lots and lots of tourists.  I was hoping I'd hit the park before the big rush of the season, but I was wrong.  

I drove over a couple 8000' passes, crossing the continental divide.  There is still quite a bit of snow on the side of the road, but the roads were fine.    I checked in to Bridge Bay, which filled up quickly. It is a big open area, with no power, so generators running, dogs barking and lots of people.   I woke at 5am to 32 degrees and decided to beat feet out of there before the masses hit the road, headed for Grand Teton National Park.

Shortly after leaving I came across a BIG HEALTHY Black Bear on the side of the road.  Didn't stop, but tried to take a photo as I drove by.  Can you find him/her?

I then saw a lovely fluffy fox right along the side of the road.    Back over the Continental Divide and into Grande Teton NP.   Just before I turned off the main hwy another healthy but smaller Black Bear ran across the road right in front of me.  I had to brake, to avoid hitting it!  Not all the campgrounds were open yet, but I got to Signal Mountain Campground before 8am and secured the best spot in the campground for the next 2 nights, because the folks in the spot were just leaving.   Here is the view from my site:

I took a little drive and came across this view!  OH MY....

I wanted to do some hiking, but clearly the bears were everywhere.  There were signs saying do not hike alone, carry bear spray, make lots of noise.   There were flashing temporary signs along the roads saying "Bear Crossing next 3 miles" and "Bears with cubs, next 2 miles".    I didn't have bear spray (I priced it in the Visitor's Center....$45. a can).  I started out on a short hike but felt very vulnerable even though I was singing at the top of my lungs (making noise you know).  So I cut the hike short and just did exploring by car.  Lots of stunning vistas.   The Tetons are amazing.

I visited a thing called "Kettles" or "Potholes".  These are small patches in the sage flats where ice calved off glaciers and melted, causing low spots and unique ecosystems. The tree patches in the photo below are the 'Kettles'.   I found lots of lovely wildflowers in the area too.

Yesterday I decided, after some bird watching and more exploring, to go to the Olaus and Mardy Murie Education Center.    I have read books by the Murie's about their time in the Alaska Brooks Range, but knew nothing of their work in this area.    I spent over an hour talking with Dan, the interpreter at the site, about their legacy and this place where they lived after 'retirement'.   Olaus was the first president of the Wilderness Society and meetings were held on the front porch and living room of this house.   It was the highlight of my visit to this park.   As I was talking with Dan, about my career with the Forest Service and everything else, he gave me a gift of the book 'A journey to the Far North', by Olaus about his early years in the Hudson's Bay area, Canada and Alaska.   WOW.

This morning it is time to move on.   I woke to overcast, 34 degrees and rain.   I have had spectacular blue sky and sunshine until now.    I drove over Teton Pass to Victor Idaho this morning, to visit a wonderful friend, the woman who drove with me to Alaska back in 1981 when I moved to Seward.   I hit some snow over the 8000' Pass.

I know I'm back tracking a bit... remember, this is Wandering with Waddles.   I will be spending the Memorial Day weekend in Victor, while my friend has time off work, and I can avoid fighting the holiday weekend crowds.  It worked out perfectly.   The only 'hard' date I have on this trip is Colorado Springs on June 3.

Onward

I had a lovely drive from La Grande to Craters of the Moon on Sunday.    I stopped in Boise for a visit with someone I'd not seen in 15 years!!!   It was a wonderful visit Mary Ann!  Thanks for lunch.

I arrived at Craters of the Moon at about 5pm, and found a lovely spot in the Campground.   With my Senior Access Pass, it cost me a total of $15. to enter the park and spend 2 nights at the campground. Can you find Waddles in the next photo?

I took a short hike around an interpretive trail and then settled in for the night.   There was a fair amount of interest in Waddles.

Monday I had the day to explore the park.  I hiked a number of different trails.   First was up a volcanic cone for a 360 degree view.  Short but steep hike and worth every bit of effort.

It was quite the moon-scape!

Then I hiked the Tree Molds trail.  The Tree Molds were underwhelming, but the hike was lovely, with vistas of snow-capped mountains, and lots of wildflowers and birds.

Next was a short interpretive hike called Devil's Garden...

Last was a 4 mile hike, out and back, around North Crater.  This one took me up and down across lava flows and up high to look into craters.    It wore me out but was spectacular.  Here is a snippet of the hike for you.

Then I spent the afternoon resting and bird watching in the campground.  Lots of Rock Wrens! I got a bit sunburned, and enjoyed every minute.   The other campers were friendly, interesting and quiet!   I was a bit sorry to leave this morning.This was my view as the sun was setting last night...

 

Today I started out heading for Victor Idaho to visit another friend, but I may divert up to Yellowstone and back down the east side of the Tetons, and then go back to Victor at the end if the week when my friend doesn't have to be at work.   I'll let you know what I REALLY end up doing.

The weather has been perfect, Waddles has been perfect, so far I still love her!  I had to give a tour of her just now while getting gas!

Birds!

Last night I was treated to an inspiring La Grande sunset.

Today was all about birds.  I've been attending the Ladd Marsh Bird Festival for many many years, so it seemed like a great way to start my journey.   I lived in La Grande for quite a while and it was wonderful to come back and visit friends and the marsh.

I got up and onto the marsh by 6:30 this morning.  I was rewarded with Sandhill Cranes with beautiful fluffy cinnamon-colored babies, and an American Bittern that landed on the path right in front of me.

I forgot how much I loved this refuge.   When I lived here I spent a lot of time hiking, sitting and photographing in the marsh.  I won't bore you with a list of all the birds we saw today, but some of the highlights include BIG baby Great Horned Owls, 2 nests full of them.  Ruddy Ducks, Green-winged Teal, Blue-winged Teal, Common Yellow-Throat Warblers, and the always charming Marsh Wrens. Full disclosure, the following 3 photos were not taken today, but were taken on Ladd Marsh.

Yellow-headed Blackbird

Canada Geese

Marsh Wren

Afternoon was spent with a good friend birding around the spectacular Grande Ronde Valley.  We found a Bunting, Eastern Kingbird and oh so much more.

The weather was perfect, the day was perfect and I am leaving early in the morning, heading east....