Friday, July 31

Big Horns MT/WY

There was a deer in camp when we woke up at around 7:15.  Comfortable 54 degrees and blue skies.  Only one other camper in the rv section of the campground.

We made our way out of the park, back to highway 14A. Saw lots of rabbits this morning and several deer.  Stopped for another look at Devil’s Canyon – different lighting but still a lot of shadows.  Had breakfast there – this was our view.

juniper berries

Just before Horseshoe Bend campground, we saw some more wild horses.  This mare with a colt and a foursome across the river.  Beth walked and took some photos while Greg replaced a latch which had broken on one of the cabinets – glad we had a spare! 

We went into Horseshoe Bend which is on a  lake formed by the Bighorn River.  Across the lake are red cliffs, which looked nice in the morning light.  Walked a bit and noted more rabbits and quite a few small lizards, like this one – about 5”. 

They had a dump station, so we emptied tanks and refilled the fresh water tank before moving on.

We are driving east, into the Bighorn Mountains now.  Very steep and steady climb with lots of switchbacks – 10 miles of a 10% grade!  We stopped at an overlook, looking out over the Bighorn Basin – a 140 mile long by 100 mile wide area surrounded by mountains: Beartooth and Absaroka to the west, Wind River and Owl Creek ranges to the south, Pryor mountains to the north, and the Bighorns to the east.

Medicine Mountain is our next stop, where we hike up to the Medicine Wheel.  This is a  circle of rocks atop the mountain that was built long ago.  It continues to be a very spiritual place for over 50 different Indian tribes and the Forest Service helps to protect it. 

Adam, a ranger stationed up there, says there are ceremonies held there almost daily.  Lots of prayer flags, small pouches, and all sorts of offerings are attached to the ropes surrounding the stone circle.  There are many other remnants of Medicine Wheels throughout the mountains, but this is a well known and well preserved one.

We see a few fossils in the rocks on the way back to the parking area.

We are thinking we will stop at a visitor’s center at Burgess Junction, but it turns out that it has been closed for several years, so we turn south toward Shell Canyon.  Nice drive through tall pine forests but it is a warm day and wildlife is probably laying low.  Deer, elk, moose and some bears are resting in the shade today.

Next stop is Shell Falls and an interpretive center.  The Falls are nice and there are several hummingbird feeders by the building. 

They have four different types and we see two while we are there – I think they are black chinned and roufus. Helpful ranger lady shows us some maps and suggested camping spots.  We continue through the  Canyon and finally leave the mountains and forests near the town of Greybull.  There is a rough road called Red Gulch road that we plan to take, but we pass it to go into Greybull where we get gas and a few groceries.  Lots of irrigation here , with sorghum, sunflowers, and hay.The temperature has passed 93 as we head back to Red Gulch road.  5 miles in, there is a dinosaur track site so we decide to go there and then decide whether to continue on dirt for another 30 miles or not. 

 

We are in rocky, brush covered land, a few rock formations being the only break.  We reach the dinosaur track site and do a boardwalk to see the tracks. 

They are not easy to see, so we use our imaginations. Lots of signs warning about rattlesnakes, scorpions and lizards, so we decide to head back the way we came to the mountains for some cooler temps.

We remember seeing a campsite back before Shell Falls, so head that way and are fortunate to get the last site, #14 of 14.  The sun is still brutal, but in the shade it is comfortable.  Just a few yards away there are many trees and a nice stream – green grasses, moss and ferns – a completely different world!  Chef salads for dinner.

The full moon lights the landscape and few stars can compete. Slept well.