A Unique Corner of the World

Leaving the Bighorn Mountains and a slew of friends was difficult,  especially with a low tire light glaring through my retinas and tormenting my sub conscience. However, a kind young Cody, WY mechanic and a horizon full of Yellowstone National Park brightened the next morning.

My fourth visit to Yellowstone was a special one. In a vast land of many faces, colors, sounds, and odors, there was much I had not done. So, I sought out several new-to-me experiences as I made my way around the Grand Loop.

A slow hike here. A fast ride there. A run amongst bison. A nap on a hillside covered with flowers. A new ascent route up a previously climbed mountain. Stillness at sunset in the great geyser basin. Dinner with the Queen followed by a rest at the iconic Inn and a pre-breakfast run through heavy fog and sulfuric mist. Crisp air and variable gusting winds brought occasional strong storms surrounded by gleaming rays of sunshine. All of this activity toasted the magnificent uniqueness of America's oldest national park and quieted internal turmoil. Yes, this was a rewarding trip into the land of the Tukadika.

From Yellowstone the road led immediately to Grand Teton National Park. Again, I sought new experiences in a familiar landscape. A different hike. A ride with a constant grand view. A paddle on Jenny's still water. Aid to stranded backpackers. A beer with a new friend. Dinner with an old friend. The only thing missing was another jaunt up the big one, but I was heading the advice of a reliable source.

The road forked. I went further west into Idaho. There I challenged the ruggedly beautiful and diverse landscape in thin air on my carbon rocket before chatting with a gritty but funny fifth generation rancher who had observed and who professed dumbfounded awe at both my willingness and ability to "undertake such a peculiar act."

Little did he, or even I, know that many more such acts were in my near future. Far too many of those brown signs adorn America's roadways, beckoning curious travelers such as myself to drift aside. On this journey, I was open to the invites.

Here are just a few of the photos I took along the path described above. Sadly, these images barely glimpse into the variable elegance of the vistas I encountered. So, I encourage you to create your own pathways, your own experiences, and your own memories. Here's to wetting your appetite! (Click to enlarge slideshow)

Bighorn Mountains

Yellowstone NP

Grand Teton NP

Idaho

More to come . . . ST

"There are no words that can tell the hidden spirit of the wilderness, that can reveal its mystery, its melancholy, and its charm." - Teddy Roosevelt

Passing Through Wyoming

This trip, reconfigured and redirected, turned northwest as I ventured from Boulder to the Bighorn mountains in northern Wyoming. The drive was absolutely serene. As custom on this journey, I stopped frequently and even took the bike out for a spin midway.

That ride took place on a great strip of super two lane asphalt north of Douglas. A wide and litter free, yes litter free, shoulder allowed safe travel through a gorgeous rolling countryside. And, though there were a number of trucks passing me along the way, I was always given a safe gap as the truckers steered their rigs well clear of me. Several of the approaching truckers even waved - with all of their fingers!

My arrival the the Idiot House near Sheridan brought me back to friends with mutual interests. Everyone had convened there to take part in the Bighorn 100 mile run. Me, I was a late addition to the party, so I had no formal tasks, but I made myself available for crewing and pacing. There were several runners and their crew/pacers at the house. Most were new to me, but our mutual interests allowed us to make fast friendships.

I followed along and pitched in a bit as the runners came through the Footbridge Aid station at miles 30 and 66. Their first visit on this out and back course came late in the hot afternoon and the second visit was early the next morning. This surfaced some intense memories of my 2012 BH100 finish. I must confess that it was fun to comfortably sip a brew, sleep a bit, enjoy a hot breakfast, attempt to run, and take a gentle thirty mile two-state bike ride while friends trashed their bodies and steeled their minds.

Yellowstone National Park was my next stop. I'll catch up on that in another entry. Most of the photos from that tranquil visit, and the stops since, were taken with a new camera. Unfortunately, I have been unable to load the software on this computer, so I will piece this trip together as best as I can and not necessarily in chronological order until the tech comes together. For now, here are some of the Wyoming photos from an old camera. ST

Rolling WY countryside near Douglas

The ride started near the North Platte River

Interesting geology in Wyoming

Blacktooth Brewing in an old Sheridan auto shop

Backcountry border en route to Footbridge

Footbridge aid station

Busy crews and pacers

Mountain pacers from IN

Kari looks great at 30 miles!

This 100 mile vet let her heart
rate dictate her pace

About ready for the 18 mile climb

A crew at work

This young lady had the right attitude
and finished her first 100 mile run

Back to footbridge after a nap

Much quieter aid station for mile 66

Still strong and energetic just after sunrise!

And they are off - Kari put Mr. Hardrock
in pain as she negative split a tough course

My two-state ride V800 data via Polar Flow

Storms rolled through as runners finished

Two days - two nails - same tire - only me

"We are made to persist. 

That's how we find out who we are."

- Tobias Wolf

Above Boulder

Though I've been to the Front Range and the megalopolis pressing against it several times, I wanted to seek out new activities on this trip. For exploration's sake. For fun. The region offers so many options that it was quite simple to accomplish this goal.

With the help of a couple of friends I was able to leisurely climb two peaks that I should have climbed years ago. Green Mountain and Mount Sanitas are staples in the local activity diet. Climbing either of them is like strolling around the block in other towns.

Neither climb was planned. They both happened because good hearted adventurous people made efforts to include me in their lives. For that I am most appreciative. Chris contacted me about a morning ascent of Green. Mark sent Chris a text asking about an evening ascent of Sanitas - just minutes into the Green climb. Chris responded with a picture of me in front of Green and the rest is internet history. Both climbs resulted in incredible views and meaningful conversations. My regrets are not being able to chat/climb with Misti (because of something she called "work") and not being able to do a fast climb on Green with Eric due to the climbing date with Mark. I want a rain check on that, Eric.

I also tried another brewery. Avery. Again, I should have been there earlier in life. I should have been there often. Great beer! Because I'm watching my figure, I kept to small glasses while I sampled distinctly different formulas. Those boys know what they are doing.

Another new-to-me experience was the Bhakti Chai with goat's milk at the Laughing Goat. This coffee/tea house on Pearl Street is a gem. I sipped on a uniquely spicy tea while a jazz quartet played on a stage at the rear. (Same thing is happening right now!) Sometimes I do these "new" things and I feel like I've been living in a bubble - a different bubble.

Anyway, here are a few of the pics from the day.

Avery delights

A knowledgable tour guide

Healthy combo - reading, writing, and . .  .
Ben Franklin would be proud.

Looking across Chautaugua Park meadow to
the Flatirons fronting Green's east slope

Looking down on the Boulder bubble

This mad beast is said to have drawn blood from
a local running star, but Chris was there to protect me

Chris leading Fred up the boulder trail

Cairn based summit plaque on Green -
Love these cheat sheets!

A fragment of the panorama beyond Green

We took it easy on Green
Just kidding - this a minute after topping Sanitas

Mark after the plummet off of Sanitas 

Is it me, or does he look better in CO?

Blogging with Bhakti 

Later - ST