Matthew_B
The boonies near Dallas, Oregon
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I made sure to open it from home, since looking at your photos at work were too cruel to take  It looks like you're having a real good time!
So what are you plans once you get all the way out west?
As for the continental divide, it doesn't take a straight line. It even has two lines for much of southern Wyoming since there is a real big closed basin that doesn't drain to either ocean.
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FarcticOx
NH or somewhere else
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Go to the Victor Emporium for a Huckleberry Shake.
If you're staying for a while there's a beautiful NFS campground called Teton Canyon just east of Driggs on Ski Hill Road. The ski lift ride at Grand Targhee gets you a nice close view of the Tetons from the west if you get a clear day. Where to next "Oh Happy Wanderers"
Ted
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FarcticOx
Run Silent, Run Deep
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xp8103
Maine
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Awesome trip Anne and Joe! Keep the reports come and be safe!
Nik
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PJCoon
Vermont
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So sorry I missed you at Yellowstone. I am working here this summer and would have loved to take a day off to see you both and remember the New Engand truck campers get-together in Conway, NH.
Great photos of the Park.
Safe travels to you.
Patty Coon - Vermont
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TwoMaineiacs
Near Freeport, Maine
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Patty - we stopped at a few of the Yellowstone campgrounds trying to find you but no one had your name on their list. I didn't have your email to write ahead. Really sorry to have missed you.
Farctic - it was snowing too hard in the Targhee to take a ski lift up! Everyone here says the weather is about a month behind where they usually are this time of year. We've run into about every mix of weather possible so far - except (shhhh!) a tornado.
Here's what we did today:
Tuesday, June 10
Today ended our second week on the road. Doesn't seem that long and in another way it seems forever. We fought the wind and weather all day today in addition to walking a LOT at 7,000+ feet so we are a bit tired tonight. As a treat, we baked potatoes and grilled a steak in the TC convection oven, the first time we'd tried that. Worked great until the smoke alarm went off.
We left Victor,Idaho in thick snow and travelled up through the Targhee National Forest Reserve into what can only be described as wilderness. The Reserve is split by a level, fertile valley called
Swan Valley, filled with herds of horses and cattle. Many outfitters take pack trains out of the valley and up into the wilderness for both scenic rides and for hunting. There were also row after
row of snowmobiles for rent. Asked the young clerk at a diesel stop how much snow they got last winter and he said over 18'.
From Alpine, WY south, Tiny town after town are spread out down Route 89 with nothing in between but prairie and distant snow covered mountains. This is what Route 89 looks like.
It is a stark land with almost no cattle, wildlife or houses. Took us a long time to figure out that the big storage tanks inside of chain link fences were not part of an oil pipe line but were natural gas. Looks stark but wealthy underneath.
Across the main street of Afton, WY is an elk antler arch with two fighting elk on top. Raining too hard to get out and examine it a bit closer but sure catches your eye!
We switched over to Route 30 and headed for Fossil Butte National Monument just past Sage, WY. Both of us have a high interest in geology and paleontology. The education center is in a beautiful
wooden building nestled into the side of a hill and heated/run with solar. Why nestled? because of the almost constant fierce wind. This area was once an inland sea/lake and the fish and other life was preserved in very thin layers that will break apart in sheets. Really amazing to see the actual preparation of a fish for exhibit. We drove a long, dirt road up to the top of one of the buttes to picnic and then walked up the rest of the road to see the view. We chickened out on taking the TC up a 17% grade road but walked part of it. Ouch!
Tonight we are camped at the end of Anvil Draw Road in Flaming Gorge Reservoir. There is no sight of any human habitation or structure, only a long dirt road, fiercely howling wind and three pronghorns who just walked by. I've never in my life been in such a remote place. The TC is working perfectly, generator to run the oven to cook a steak for supper as it is too windy to even think about cooking outside. Finally broke down and got an air card and it worked here so can upload tonight. Pitch black dark outside, raining and windy. You got to love a TC. This is what it looked like when we set up with legs firmly down to keep from rocking in the wind. We've yet to see a western sunset as we seem to be travelling with rain/snow. Hopefully before we leave the west we'll get to see one.
Tomorrow we head to the southern end of Flaming Gorge Reservoir to see the story of how it was created and to see the dam. Then back roads to Arches National Park and Canyonland to start our Great Circle route of the National Parks in UT, AZ and CO.
* This post was
edited 06/10/08 10:03pm by TwoMaineiacs *
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On the Road Again from Rural Maine
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s1214
Vt
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Joined: 05/06/2006
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Anne & Joe. Enjoy the trip west. We had tornado warnings yesterday here in Vermont.
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Lots of Stuff
WA. USA
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Your photos in Wyoming sure bring back memories of our 4 years in Green River.
As you travel south into Utah the scenery will change. Be sure and stop at the Red Canyon overlook as well as the dam. Boating the Flaming Gorge reservoir is great, 90 miles long and very remote for most of it's length. Flaming Gorge made Wyoming winters almost worth it for us.
DG
03 Chevy Silverado Regular Cab 2500HD 4X4 Duramax
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TwoMaineiacs
Near Freeport, Maine
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I agree the Flaming Gorge reservoir is a jewel! Our night last night boondocking was a bit scary because of the wind but will be a great memory. Scott - didn't know we could have tornados in Vermont but guess they can hit anywhere.
June 11 - Manila, UT to Green River, Utah
Today started with (what else) snow and freezing rain in Manila, Utah. We dieseled up for $4.72 and headed down Route 44 to Forest Road 218 which is known as Sheep Creek Road. This road is through part of the Ashley National Forest and is a real treasure of geology.
At every turn the rock formations change, in both form and color. We took a very leisurely drive never seeing another vehicle or person. Lots of rabbits, cattle, deer and raptors but only one small ranch but no one around. This is less than a 15 mile drive around the loop but took us over an hour and a half as we kept stopping to climb a bit and take pictures.
We next stopped at the Red Canyon Visitor Center which hangs over the Flaming Gorge Reservoir. The weather was just perfect by then, bright sun, clear sky, up to 36F degrees but no wind. You could see forever. We walked the trails around the rim, keeping carefully back from about a 1700 foot drop to the rocks and water below.
Followed on to the dam at the base of the reservoir but the walkway to the backside to see the dam was closed for renovation. Interesting posters gave the history of how the dam was built. Backtracked up the grade from the dam and continued on Route 191. There is 7 miles of 8%grade with ten switchbacks going up and over a mountain range. Interesting driving especially pulling into the turnouts so the locals could fly by.
We passed phosphate mine operations and about a bazillion cattle ranches way back in the mountains. The houses had no electric poles to
them so they either run off of solar or generator. Would hate to be back in there in the winter.
Made a stop at the Red Fleet State Park to see three big red rock formations that look like ships under sail. Then on to Vernal to the Utah Museum of Natural History. Had to make a decision to get a bit of rest off the road or push on a bit closer to Arches and Canyonland National Parks. LONG drive down Route 6 which is the fastest road we've been on in the west. It's flat, 70 mile an hour posted and interesting seeing the buttes and sand dunes on the east side of the road. Not too many people in the west go the speed limit and I don't mean slow. We made it to Green River to a small campground. Tomorrow we start our Grand Circle of the National Parks.
Getting close to time for a rest and relax day with no driving. We'll try to find a space within one of the parks and just relax and enjoy the west.
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petekerwien
Camano Island, WA
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Thanks for photos!
People years ago wondered why I left the East Coast to live out West!
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FreeLanceing
Grand Haven Mi
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When you take the road into Canyonlands a few miles before you get to the entrance there is a nice boondocking camp. It is on the right hand side only marked by a small road sign with a tent on it. There are about 10 sites but the few times I've stopped there plenty of room. The views and the sunset are outstanding. You should also check out Zion and Bryce canyon if possible. Zion is amazing. Heck the whole area is amazing.
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