The Grand Tetons and Beyond

As Autumn brings a chill to the air and changes the colors of the leaves, we decided it would be our last weekend to get a tolerable camping trip in before the Wyoming winter hits (eeek!!!) So we planed our route (all on paper maps, I'm learning!) and packed our bags. Way too many bags!! 

Then we got the doggies into their plush beds and headed out

The drive was long (5-6 hours) but beautiful, with the Aspens and their friends all turning colors that made the landscape look like it was on fire. 

Yes, that is snow in September!!

We did some diligent research and were able to drive through Teton National Park without paying an entrance fee :) The views were gorgeous but we were on our way a lil further out from civilization to camp in the backwoods. 

We stopped along the Snake River for lunch and let the dogs frolic in the frigid waters.  

Unfortunately, even about 20 mins down a forest service road out on BLM land, we still couldn't find anywhere isolated. It is hunting season up here in Wyoming and some 30 degree weather won't scare off these folks! But we found a nice campsite and set up camp along the Grey River. 

Once camp was set up, Brad set off to do some fishing while I layed down and napped in the hammock :) Does life get any better?!?

We slept warm and cozy in our beds, but this morning the sun stay hidden and we stayed bundled up until after breakfast. Once the sun broke through, the temperature shot back up to probably the low 80's, its crazy! 

Ani hates the cold

We enjoyed some coffee on the river, a hearty breakfast and then meandered back toward home, stopping at some fishing holes along the way that resembled a Bob Ross painting! I wish the pictures did it justice, perhaps I'll invest in a nicer camera one day... but probably not, some things are just better experienced than through a screen!

Fishing Day in Fremont Canyon, Wyoming

We headed out for another glorious early morning on the North Platte River. This time we headed down to a place called Fremont Canyon which I have been hearing about since we got here. I was not disappointed. In the middle of the high plains, the ground breaks away into an impressive canyon, known best by anglers and rock climbers.

We did some pretty decent climbing and hiking through a few areas to get down to the water so the waders were left behind. The weather did a swift swing from the low 50's when we got out there to the high 80's at noon by the time we left. Guess it's the beginning of Autumn here in Wyoming!! 

I experienced a couple fishing firsts today -caught my first brown trout and also set the hook on a fish that was big enough to break the line. I was able to land this gorgeous rainbow trout as well, one day maybe I'll figure out how to hold the fish so you can actually see it all and not look terrified in all the pictures;) 

Again, this is the guy responsible for helping me land the fish and getting the hooks safely out of the ones I caught. I love spending time with him in the wilderness, watching him come alive as he spends time in his natural element. His patience with me continues to amaze me. 

"From the Hills of Kaycee Wyoming..."

Those are words from a Garth Brooks song, a tribute to the late and great Chris Ledoux.

My first concert ever was Chris LeDoux, at the Cocky Bull in the great High Desert in California. I fell in love instantly with all things country. I was lucky enough to get to see this man several more times before he passed away around a decade ago. I wish I could produce the pictures (if there are any remaining) of me and this man. I was a 6 or 7 year old crazy blonde dancing and standing in line for his autograph.

He sang of rodeos and wide open spaces under the western sky, he rode broncos and lived the cowboy lifestyle. Chris lived in Kaycee, Wyoming on a ranch with his family and ever since I found that out I had decided Wyoming must be one hellva place! I decided way back when that at some point in my life, I wanted to live in Wyoming.

Sometimes we lose sight of out dreams, but God doesn't. Over the years I found myself in places were my priorities were a mess, my life and spirit were a mess and I had no idea what I truly wanted in life. For so long I wanted to be at the beach, and I was blessed enough to live there. As I got my life and head cleared out, the desires of my heart started to surface again...

Several years ago on a roadtrip to move to Michigan for a summer, my mother and I added a couple of hours to our trip so we could spend a few hours in Cheyene, WY and I could at least say I had been to Wyoming. I bought this little plastic horse and have had it in my car ever since as a memento from a bonding experience with my mom, and a the blessing of going to Wyoming unexpectedly.

Fast forward to today... I am now living in Wyoming during the best months of the year and only an hour from the town of Kaycee. It's things like this that make me just stand in amazement of the good things that come into my life when I am living right.

So today we went and wandered around Kaycee. It took all of 2 hours to explore this small town (population 261) including eating lunch at 1 of 2 restaurants, wandering the museum and Chris LeDoux park. There is very limited healthcare in this town, including a doctor and a nurse that each come into town just one day a week.

I always think I want to live in a place to sparsely populated, until I sit down and eavesdrop on the local conversations. I either need to be in a city or live so far off grid there is no one else to know my business or pester me.

Anyhow, here are the pictures. It may not seem like much to you, but to me this day signified so much, and flooded me with memories (good and bad) from a childhood that molded me into the woman I am today.

Post Script: I cannot find a youtube link for Garth Brooks' song "Good Ride, Cowboy", but if you get your hands on a copy, enjoy the tunes. Enjoy the tale of one of the good guys, true to his roots. Thanks for the memories and the dreams, Chris.

Me and Chris LeDoux

The original jail of Kaycee

The original schoolhouse

Is this a joke!?!? 

National Monument Weekend - Devil's Tower and Mt. Rushmore

This weekend we decided to do some heavy driving and see a couple of our nation's monuments while the weather was still warm enough for camping. Brad mapped out our course old-school style and we used a paper map the entire way (which is good, because where we tend to wander, cell service ceases to exist)

We began the adventure in Northeastern Wyoming at Devil's Tower. This strange fluke of nature is America's First National Monument, and although it is the smallest national park I've ever seen, it was worth the travel! Besides, the federal government apparently hates dogs and they are not allowed on any trails in any National Park so we were rather restricted in our exploring :/

Right around sunset the thunderstorms starting rolling in, and although most of the rain missed us, watching the lightening light up the tower and quiet down the campground was blissful. 

Sleeping in the campground... was more laying around then sleeping unfortunately but it did serve as a good reminder as to why we prefer back country camping. There was a crying baby that brought all new meaning to the term "cry it out" and an alarm clock that went off for several minutes without anyone shutting it off. Once people starting waking up and loudly announcing their plans to their families and those in nearby counties, we had good motivation to get up and get going onto the next spot.... Mt Rushmore!!

It was my first time in South Dakota, and that alone was quite satisfying. I had refused to have high hopes for Mount Rushmore after my disappointment with the size and splendor of The Alamo in San Antonio. I was right to not have expectations, but Mount Rushmore was actually extraordinary! We didn't stay long as we weren't allowed to travel anywhere with the dogs (Note to US government - they really aren't a national threat and I promise to pick up their mess!), but I am glad we went. 

We spent the rest of the day wandering the Black Hills through dirt and gravel roads until we found the perfect camping spot away from other human beings and any sense of civilization. We heard a rather large pack of Coyotes announce their kill in the middle of the night, and though startling, there are few sounds I love more than a howl from a Coyote. The eerie cackling went until I fell back asleep. The sound of thunder and rain on the tent woke us up again, but I just rolled over to thank Brad for deciding to put the rain flap on and enjoyed nature in all it's wonder. 

It was another amazing weekend with the ones I hold dear, taking in the wonders that are scattered throughout this great country of ours. 

Confusion in a Car Crash

On Tuesday morning me and Brad were one of the first people on scene a terrifying car accident... Luckily we were safe out of harm's way, but it was an eye opener and it rattled me down to the deepest parts of my soul.

It started sitting in the truck while Brad ran into a gas station about 30 miles out of town to purchase a registration sticker for the canoe. I heard a screeching sound I thought was a broke down motor on a truck pulling onto the highway. Then I saw a huge plume of smoke and dirt about a quarter mile up the highway... a wide open 2 lane highway with a high speed limit.

Brad got back to the truck and I asked him to pull out to see if it was an accident. As we pulled out of the gas station we could see the truck about 300 yards off the highway, laying on its passenger side. We got to where we could pull in near by and I jumped out running, all the while reviewing CPR and First-Aid in my head. There were already 3 or 4 trucks and men pulled in and either at the truck or running over. I started yelling to make sure someone had 911 on the line (they did!) and realized that two of the cowboys (we are in Wyoming and these ARE cowboys) had a crowbar to the windshield yanking it away while yelling inside.

The driver of the vehicle was yelling that he was alone and beginning to stand up inside the cab of his truck. They got the windshield open far enough for him to climb out and he stepped out...bloody, dazed but alive.

Brad came over with water and the man was inspected for major trauma, and though his bald head dripped with blood and shards of glass covered his left arm, he was miraculously otherwise unscathed. He refused to sit or drink water (or follow any other suggestion we gave him) so I wandered through the fields collecting his belongings. His Crossfit gear was covered in weeds and dirt and about 200 yards away from the truck along with other personal belongings.

I learned a few years ago it is very difficult to help someone that doesn't want help... so as the man was safely with 4 men with emergency response on the way, I told Brad we should probably leave. As we went about our day and put the canoe in the water, I realized I couldn't stop shaking and the adrenaline wouldn't stop.

As usual, I had stood up and faced crisis and then when the dust settled down... I lost it. I was so shaken by the fact that our reality can instantly change. That our lives are seconds from ending, our time here on earth so finite.  I do not know what this man was doing when he lost control of his truck, but I am pretty certain he did not plan to get this close to death at 7am on a Tuesday morning.

Are we ever ready for such dramatic events? How do you prepare for a crisis you can't see coming? Is it fate or did you just not sleep the night before and try to drive home after work? Why do we fret about messy houses and whether or not our clothes match when eternity is constantly staring us in the face? Why eat healthy and deprive ourselves of our favorite dessert if we can just as easily die from a car accident or cancer? Am I prepared when its my time to go? Why do some of us get to live to see great grandchildren grow up while others don't get to make it to their college years, or even their first birthday? And if I believe in heaven, why am I so sad when a loved one dies?

First Time Fishing the North Platte River!

I am so grateful for today, I was given a a day off since we are slow at work. We used the opportunity to get out on the 'world-renowned' North Platte River and do some fishing. After a very scary/adventurous start the day (I'll write about that later... I still haven't finished processing all my emotions and thoughts), we put the canoe in and started our quick float down the river. It is my first time taking the canoe on a fast moving river since a colleague's husband lost his life during a canoe trip across a river, so that added to my heightened angst. We had our life jackets as cushions - and security for me.

About 15 minutes in, I got the first bite and landed a rainbow trout (with the help of wonderful Brad who is so patient and skillful with the boat and landing net!). We didn't get a picture of this one as the speed of the river demands rather constant attention to stay safe.

Only a short while after that one, I got another one! Brad is the one holding it in this picture because he is nice enough to handle the stinky fish and get the hooks out of them as they flail around in their escape attempts.

Fish Number 2 for Cheryl!

The good news for me is the first one was just about the twin to this guy, so duplicate the picture and you have a good idea what the first one looked like :)

Brad unfortunately was too busy being my guide and keeping the canoe off the shore (because touching private land is illegal!) to land a trout today, as the Casper wind did not help us stay on a straight course! Every time he threw his line, he had to quickly grab the paddle again :/

Two hours into the float I was convinced we had floated right past the car and were going to be floating for the entire day until we hit the city and then begged for a ride to the car. As usual, the worry was a waste of energy, and we were absolutely fine :)

Because I am not yet willing to strap a canoe to my car, we both drove our cars and went and picked up the truck after we made it downstream. Before we took off, I got grab to snap this wonderful picture of Turbo in the magical sunrise light.

Brad knows I love him since we took my baby down a bumpy back road and then loaded up all our wet fishing gear and put it inside to go get the truck! Luckily, he jumped in to help when I went to give her a bath afterwards :)

Another amazing day (minus the morning, pre-river float), so grateful for this adventure we get to live! Back to work for a couple days and then a long weekend full of road trips and wonder!