Coop's Corner: Wyoming - Riding west of Dubois

Thursday, August 17, 2017

Wyoming - Riding west of Dubois

I was out of Riverton, WY early and still dark. Only a few miles out of town, I suddenly in my headlights saw a Pronghorn, standing almost squarely in the road. I didn't slam on the brakes but I did brake harder than I wanted to...all the way down to maybe 5-10mph. Within a few yards of the creature, it sauntered over to the westbound shoulder (my direction) and proceeded to run alongside as I slowly sped up, so did the member of the deer family. I wasn't watching to see how fast I was going before it finally bounded off into the darkness, but we were both going along at a decent clip.

Almost as if that had been the plan...a little morning exercise. Along US Hwy 26.

My campsite at Falls Campground......

My rides from the campground over those next few days......

As the previous Sunday was Yellowstone Day, Thursday was Grand Teton Day.

Wind River Lake at the Tugwotee Pass (pronounced toe'-ga-tee)

and Two Ocean Mountain from the same place.

On my way south to Jackson Hole....

Not too far from Teton Village...after lunch at Nora's Fish Creek Inn, Wilson. Only after I was there did I realize how close I'd have been to go touch Idaho.

Grand Teton National Park Visitor Center....

After riding through the park as opposed to trekking through Jackson Hole again (thanks Eric, that Really helped!) I crossed the highway and headed east up the Gros Ventre Valley.

Past the lake there was a Single Track (Motorized less than 50" wide) so I thought I'd try it.

Fun and for the most part, not hard riding. If you remember, a couple of weeks previous on our Trans Wisconsin Adventure Ride, the fan on the KLR started acting up and running when it wanted to...on when I didn't need it and off when I did. To protect my battery, I quickly snipped the wires, willing to compromise cooling for having a battery that would be there when I needed it.

Temps this day were in the 80's, this was all first gear running and actually getting steep. As such, the KLR wasn't going to get along with very much more of this so we had to call this section quits and go back down.

Back down to Antelope Flats for some of my best Teton viewing yet...

Over to the main highway (191), up to Moran Junction and over to Hatchet Resort....for fuel, coffee and firewood.

Back to camp...

The beetles have played havoc with billions of trees in the National Forests and those that are dying or dead near the campsites get cut down.

End of day Thursday/early Friday mileage reading....

Friday's ride(s)....

First of all on Friday, Forest Road 515 up to Brooks Lake....

Brooks Lake....I learned at the Wind River Cafe in Dubois that the film "Mountain Men" with Charlton Heston was filmed in part at Brooks Lake.

The backroad out of Brooks Lake...definitely in the Top 3 of roads I was on those couple of weeks.

After getting back out to Hwy 26, I went back to camp for some peanut butter sandwiches and CHEETO's, then down into Dubois where I turned north to go up Horse Creek Canyon, Forest Road 285.

End of Road 285, Double Cabin Campground.

You can see that Horse Creek has, in the past, carried a great deal more water.

Headed back to Dubois.....

This big boy was Keeper Of The Gate...there on my way up, still there on my way down.

Saturday, August 5th's ride....Union Pass Day. The purple circle is my Falls Campground, the yellow circle is Union Pass. The fat red line is the normal Union Pass Road....Forest Road 532 was the shortcut I took from my campsite. When I returned in the afternoon, I avoided the 'real' Union Pass road and took the shortcut Forest Road 554 into downtown Dubois. Lake of the Woods is in the yellow circle near the Union Pass and Continental Divide.

The area was known for its railroad tie production; this memorial dedicated to the "Hacks" that squared off the ties.

Tie Hack Monument up on the ridge...

My first riding that morning was up Lava Mountain, the location of the Lava Mountain fire in 2016.

Rancher's cabin....

Typical Forest Road intersection....

Close to Union Pass though not quite...

Crossed a LOT of these....

As you can see....Union Pass conquered.

First I've seen this.....we always stapled the wire directly to the post. This allows for movement.

Lots of Side by Sides....

Lake of the Woods....near the Union Pass / Continental Divide

Cabin up top.......

Dropping (and I mean dropping) down into Dubois....

Dinner at the Cowboy Cafe.....

Wyoming Wild Platter....

I had pie ONCE....better than Cheetos.

End of day Saturday, August 5.

Sunday's ride....

To start Sunday.....Green circle is the Falls Campground, the Red oval is MT10, a trail designated at Motorcycle / Less than 50" Wide. You can see that I came back to it, fully intending to continue deeper into the Bridger/Teton National Forest....but....

Forest Road MT10. I told myself that if I came upon something I couldn't reverse course through, I'd quit and turn around. You know how it is....you get deep enough and then...."how bad can the rest of it be?" There were a few times when I wished I'd have had something a little lighter, a bit lower.

It looked dry....enough....it wasn't. Once through it reminded me of the pudding mom used to make, a thin skin on top but gooey and deep beneath. I got through no problem but once through, I had two big muddy doughnuts. I may as well have been riding on marbles. A bit of slope, the bike just disappeared beneath me.....there was no balance, no UP.

The first time I had a bike on its side since I came uncomfortably close to a guardrail. I wasn't hurt, had to get the kill switch 'cause the throttle had twisted open. Even adrenalined up, I had the presence of mind to do the proper lift procedure and without too much difficulty get it back up. I shared this photo with family and friends immediately after and there was concern about my handlebars being bent. The image looks worse than they are...there was an abnormal bend the day I brought it home.

This was a Used KLR afterall.....

Proud to say that I spent more time on this procedure than I've spent this year detailing the entire collection.

It was Lava Mountain after all......

Back onto the Hwy 26, a late breakfast in Dubois and then on to the Whiskey Creek Valley area; blue circle. On the way back to camp, I did Forest Road 513, the green circle.

Whiskey Creek Area....wintering place of preference for the Bighorn Sheep.

Back through Dubois, more fuel (tried to start every day with a full tank) and up Forest Road 513. Definitely one of my favorite rides during my trip....for a couple of reasons.

Missing in this photo....my daily ration of Sugar Snap Peas. Even with my tipover that day, my worst injury of the trip, cutting my finger opening my bag of Snap Peas. The goal for the trip was, no cooking, no bear-dangerous food to worry about, no time spent prepping or cleaning up. It worked out. Normally one meal a day "out", otherwise, I fed myself.

Feeding myself well....(my cooler is awesome!)

A very good day, all the way around!!

Monday, August 8th ride....

Up and over to Turpin Meadow...a pretty incredible "tourist" ranch.

My last trip back to the Falls campground, waiting here for the weather to blow through before I go over the pass. I did and it did....wasn't like I didn't have the time.

Dinner at Lava Mountain Lodge. Seared Tuna and some very tasty, tangy Wakame. Then back to camp, load up the bike and a restful, relaxing evening around the fire. In the morning I'll be up early to head towards Saratoga and the Snowy Mountains.

10 comments:

redlegsridesAugust 18, 2017 at 11:22 AM
Lots of riding off road and only one drop....kudos!

I downloaded several of the pics where you had hazy views of the mountains beyond for practice. Don't you just hate it when haziness detracts from the views?
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SonjaMAugust 18, 2017 at 11:38 AM
You are quite the adventurer, Doug. Bummer that the bike decided to a nap whilst riding. Glad you got off unharmed.

What a spectacular trip, and you brought back lots of pics to tell the story.
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RichardMAugust 18, 2017 at 5:42 PM
I've had pronghorn antelope do that as well right before they decided that the other side of the road was a better place...

Those are quite the trails you found. Thanks for sharing the photos.
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EricAugust 18, 2017 at 7:19 PM
Hello my friend! Been patiently waiting for this post. It is some awesome country. Thanks for sharing!
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TrobairitzAugust 19, 2017 at 9:57 AM
Wow, I am loving all these pictures Doug. Such great gravel roads and then views of the Tetons too! Glad you weren't hurt in your tip over.

I must ask, did you put the Cheetos on the peanut butter sammich? Oh and that pie looked so yummy.
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Others say....

"it was auspicious to approach any situation from a deferential, inquisitive place. Conceding that there is much to learn is the best blueprint for discovering something new." ----B. Fuller

The Man straightened stiffly above the block of salt fixed to the stake and looked at the young cattle ringed about him. The pasture was holding out well and the stock was looking good. This bunch would be ready to sell in another month, maybe sooner if the market was right.

A stir among the cattle down near the river brought him round to face the swinging bridge he'd built years before. Someone was coming toward him from the bridge. Someone in breeches, but it didn't look like a man, somehow. What was a woman doing in his pasture this time of night?

He bent over the salt again; maybe if he paid her no heed she'd go on past and let him mind his own business. He heard her footsteps come nearer and stop. "Good evening," she said.

Her voice was smooth with book learning but friendlier than most, and somehow almost shy. When he made no answer she went on, "I've been sitting on your swinging bridge....I thought I'd like to say thank-you...." Her voice stumbled a little, then she tried once more.

"You are Mr. ____". His name sounded strange in her voice, but she went on to tell her own.

"That's what they've called me the last sixty-eight years," he said, looking past her face to the hills fast darkening under a single star. "I reckon the woods are free for those that like to walk there."

The unfamiliar voice laughed a little. "That's what Emerson said: the grove belongs to the man who walks in it with an open heart....On that basis I guess I've owned part of your woods for a good many years.....". She made a final effort. "I've always wanted to thank you....."

Something deeply hidden stirred in him. "There's a stump up there, in the notch of the woods", he said slowly, "that before the timber grew so tall you could stand on it and see all over this country."

He kept still a minute, remembering, then, "I used to stand up there an' look at things, an' wonder how they come to be like they was, an' how the hills was created, an' all the things in Nature.... I told my wife I guessed all the religion I ever had I got standin' on that old stump, a-wonderin'..." He turned his face away from her.

She helped him out. "I know about that, a little. This afternoon I saw......." Her account of a thing she had really taken time to look at eased him, and he answered with telling of the badger den at the foot of the swinging bridge.

When she had gone, he turned to watch her. After a moment she stood clear and unmoving against the sky. You could hear the sounds of the river where she stood. She was one that could stand still long enough, he thought, really to hear what a body was saying, or a river.

Then she walked down the farther side of the slope and was gone. ------Margaret Snyder from A Chosen Valley

Fall was the end of harvest, end of the growing season, a burst of color and sun-warmth before killing frost turned the land gray and cold. Fall was a moody time, full of both life and death, a time when we were reminded of the power outside of us, reminded that the seasons happen to us. We do not invite the change to come.-------Ben Logan, from The Land Remembers

When you get those rare moments of clarity, those flashes when the universe makes sense, you try desperately to hold onto them. They are the lifeboats for the darker times, when the vastness of it all, the incomprehensible nature of life is completely elusive. So the question becomes or should have been all along, what would you do if you knew you only had one day, or one week, or one month to live. What lifeboat would you grab onto? What secret would you tell? What band would you see? What person would you declare your love to? What wish would you fulfill? What exotic locale would you fly to for coffee? What book would you write? ------- Ben Tyler

We were also cautioned about journeying far from home. As an example of the dangers, the town had a badly crippled lady named Lucy, who as a girl had traveled to New York City. As she traveled along a sidewalk, sightseeing, she was struck by the outstretched hand of a suicide who had leapt from high above. Her spine had been shattered and for the rest of her life, she was to walk bent forward at the waist, tapping the sidewalk with two black canes. Whenever the subject of travel to a big city was raised, someone would say, "Just remember what happened to Miss Tripp." ---- Ted Kooser, from Local Wonders

"Steamboats are like wedding cakes without the complications...." ----Mark Twain

"It's not about having lots of money, it's about having lots of options......." -----Chris Rock

As the very proud father of three former ponytail wearers, hopefully I can get away with this....."For the past few years it's been fashionable for young women to wear ball caps and to snap the strap on the back under their ponytails. I like the looks of that, their shiny ponytails jauntily swinging, but it's hard not to think of the rear ends of horses. There's a piece of harness called the crupper that goes just under a horse's tail to keep its nose down. If the horse lifts its head to look for a way out of whatever predicament it's in, the crupper tightens and hurts the horse. But it's foolish for parents to think that a ball cap might keep a young woman from running away. Anybody can see they're made for running." ------Ted Kooser, Local Wonders

"I tell the guy's girlfriend that the only difference between the book's main character Phaedrus and myself is that I am neither brilliant, tortured or insane, she looks at my bike and there is an uncomfortable silence." --------ahendepe (a.k.a. Vermin)