Flora Hiker

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Smoothies, Bagels, Historic Signs

This is the first trip in our history together where the driver has taken the time for historic signs. Our first one was for Crowheart Butte. (I always think of stopping at these as a tribute to Michael Barr: to the best of my knowledge he has never passed one up!)

On our way to Yellowstone we stopped in Dubois, WY for lunch. Had smoothies and bagels at Tammy's Coffee Haus. Nice place w/ chatty owner.

You could tell we were getting closer to Yellowstone due to the amount of traffic and sight seeing opportunities.

We even had to park at Lamb Park since we couldn't find a spot on main street.

Monday, August 6, 2012

Sinks Canyon State Park

Sinks Canyon State Park was a great half way point for us between Fort Collins, CO and Yellowstone National Park. We went about 300 miles that day (http://mapq.st/PeONbn) arriving in the late afternoon. We were able to get our campsite (Popo Agie Campground) right away (#22)

right along the river.

A couple of tenter's arrived after us so we were glad we had our pick of which tent site we wanted. The kid's were initiated into the joys of 'holey' toilets right away. Little did I know that my life for the next 3.5 weeks was going to revolve around 'holies' and 'flushies'.

After setting up our tent we headed down to the visitor's center. The kid's took note of all the different skulls they had of the local animals (bear skulls down to bird skulls).

The canyon is named for a unique geologic formation, “The Sinks,” where the river vanishes underground near the mouth of the canyon. This is where it disappears underground:

We took a walk down the Sinks to Rise Trail

to see where the river emerges.

Rainbow and Brown trout hang out there for food from the tourists ($.25/handful).

In the morning I went for a run (3.07 miles) down to the Sinks Campground on the Canyon Trail Loop and did all of the Popo Agie Nature Trail. Everyone headed down to the Popo Agie Nature Trail after cleaning up in the river.

The kids loved the suspension bridge (it swayed as you walked across) that crossed the river.

We saw butterflies

snake grass (this is what I called it growing up....it comes apart in sections and you can put it back)

and these cool leaves.

We headed out for Yellowstone later that morning.

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Biting Flies @ Red Mountain

It was a nice, cool summer day (80 degrees) yesterday for a family hike up to Red Mountain. Put the top down on the jeep,

cruised there (50 minutes), hiked (good except for the biting flies along the small stream in the beginning),

and had a picnic (hotdogs and Guinness brats),

wrapped the day up with a cold brew from the Mayor of Old Town. Nice day!

Hike: Red Mountain

Trails Used: Big Hole Wash to Sinking Sun Trail

Distance: 3.66 miles

Difficulty: Easy
Overall average: 2.2 mph (went the exact same speed as last year)
Overall Time: 1 hrs, 38 min
Total Ascent: 438 ft.

Friday, August 3, 2012

Tent Camping for 22 days, family vacation for 25 days

Tent Camping for 22 nights, family vacation (with a 4 and 5 year old) for 25 days. Can we make it? Will we still be sane at the end?

Our Goal: tent camping at Yellowstone National Park, the Tetons, Craters of the Moon, Glacier National Park, and Mt. Rushmore over 3.5 weeks.

Our photos and experience are covered in the month of August on my blog. There are only two entries that aren't of our trip. Enjoy!

The overall map/route of our trip:

Left Ft. Collins, CO on a Saturday headed for Sinks Canyon State Park near Lander, Wyoming.

Got lunch (Taco Bell) in Rawlins, WY.

We made a stop at the Rawlin's Elementary School K-1 Campus.

It was a good stop where the kids could stretch their legs on the play equipment. We even saw this family of pronghorn's grazing on the tasty, green grass.