My Side of the Adventure

Big River, CA

Next stop: Big River, CA, near Parker, AZ. For some reason, I’ve regularly seen some of the prettiest sunsets here.

Tarantulas are a challenge for me and my arachnophobia!

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There’s something about looking into warm, glowing coals.

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Pahrump, NV

Next stop was Pahrump to volunteer at a Homes on Wheels Alliance event. These are images from before, during, and after the event.

After Dinosaur NM, I headed to Great Basin National Park. It was my luck that I hit it perfectly for the Aspens in their peak golden autumn color. I recommend visiting there in September of the year. The caves are also worth a visit.

The Great Basin

Golden Aspens at Great Basin

Dinosaur National Monument

On the way to Nevada, I stopped at Dinosaur National Monument and ended up having a bit of an adventure (not involving dinosaurs).
This place is unusual in that part of it is in Utah and another, in Colorado. I recommend the west/Utah portion where the bones can be seen, but don’t skip the eastern/Colorado part. I was in the area called “Echo Park”. It’s also interesting and beautiful and may include a small adventure, if you have the right kind of vehicle.
Following are photos and then videos. As usual, first are a few sights along the road.

One of the many unique views from the “lower part” of Echo Park

A remote homestead

Steamboat Rock

Whispering Cave

Looking down on the lower part of Echo Park

Remote Wyoming Stop

Remote camping spots like this…

…often make for these kind of views.

Wyoming reservoir stop

On the way to my next destination, I found camping by a reservoir in the booming metropolis of Meeteetse, Wyoming, population 309. The short stay was pretty and eventful: Water overlook, distant snow-capped mountains in two directions, a rainbow, and even a hail-filled storm. After that, a few sights along the road to my next stop.

Chief Joseph Scenic Byway to Cody

After exploring Beartooth Highway, I returned to Cody via the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway.

Driving through the clouds

Beartooth Highway (Part 3-videos)

Two videos are below from two special experiences on the Beartooth.

I happened to stop again at a lake picnic area along the Beartooth Hwy that I had already visited before. This time, however, to my great joy, I spotted a grizzly sow and her cub coming down the mostly treeless mountain across the lake. They progressed down, down, down the mountain. The sow methodically made her way down but her cub would get distracted by one thing or another and stop. The cub would then suddenly look up and scamper down to catch up with mom. They would walk for a short distance together until the cub got distracted again and the process started again. I stood by myself watching them for quite some time. It was a special thing to witness. I wish I had taken more video but I got enough to capture the memory. (This was taken with a telephoto lens).

This was such an iconic thing to happen with the “Beartooth” standing majestically in the background – a cowboy and his dog driving cattle down the Highway. My videography is not great but I’m so happy to have had this experience and this video–especially the ending. Loved it.

Beartooth Highway (Part 2)

Beartooth Highway (Part 1)

I first heard about the Beartooth Highway many years ago so it has been on my “to do” list for a long time. I think most people access the Highway via Yellowstone’s northeast entrance/exit but when I went last year, that was still closed due to the flooding. This, however, enabled me to enjoy the views out the east entrance/exit along the highway to Cody and also the amazing vistas from the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway north of Cody, as I made my way to the Beartooth. I lucked out and stayed at a national forest campground on the Byway that had just stopped their full services but was still opened and no longer charging a fee! I was very close to Beartooth so I took day trips on the Highway from camp where I had dropped my trailer.
The Beartooth Highway. Well, it was everything I had always heard it would be–and more. The “more” turned out to cause my first ever panic attack–at least I assumed that’s what it was. I have a very healthy fear of heights and it absolutely overwhelmed me on this occasion. The scenery was truly stunning and I’m glad that I went but, because of my fears, I don’t know if I’ll ever return.