The Tour

The Tour
Planning thread
Sept 2017


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This is the planning thread for a 2 week adventure across Southern Montana and North West Wyoming.

START DATE: September 17th. Will be meeting in Big Timber at Iron Star Pizza(hopefully)
TRAILS:

There...are a lot. But here is a quick run down.

-Independence pass in Montana.
-Goose Lake trail
-Sun Light Basin Road
-Big pryor Mountain and East Pryor Mountain
-Medicine Wheel
-Copeman's Tomb
-Woodchuck Pass
-Boulder Basin
-Kerwin
-Shoshone Lake
-Christina Lake


COOL SHIT WE WILL SEE:

-Old Mines
-Old Homesteads
-Wild Horses
-Ice Cave
-Indian Religious Site
-Petroglyphs
-Dinosaur Tracks
-Abandoned Town
-Ancient Volcano

ITINERARY:
NOTE! This is very loose. Things change all the time and we play it loose. Not promising we will see everything or get to everything.

Meet up in Big Timber the afternoon of the 17th. Find camping south of Big Timber that night.

Monday 18th- Run Independance pass and hike(those that want too) Monument Peak. Camp at Blue lake or at camp sites below trail.

Tuesday 19th- Drive to Red Lodge, eat lunch at Mas Taco(optional). Drive up the Bear Tooth Highway(HWY 212) to Cooke City. Refuel and drive north to camp below Wolverine Peak.

Wednesday 20th-Explore the area, top out Fisher Peak and Sheep Mountain. Drive into Goose Lake to camp for the night

Thursday 21st- Drive out of Goose Lake and head to Sun Light Basin down HWY196. Find camping in Sun Light.

Friday 22nd- Drive out of Sun Light and over Dead Indian Pass. Hit Highway 120 north to Bridger Montana. Head East to the Pryor Mountains. Find camp.

Saturday 23rd- Drive up and over Big Pryor Mountain to Ice Cave. Drive down East Pryor see Wild Horses. Stop at Devil Canyon Overlook. Head up into the Big Horns for camp(possibly below mountains).

Sunday 24th- Drive to Medicine Wheel. Drive Hunt Mountain Road over to Copemans Tomb. Hike to edge of tomb cliff. Camp either at Copemans or drive off down to Red Grade for Camping at Moran Creek(time dependent)

Monday 25th- Drive Ranger Creek Road head up to Shell Reservoir. Run Boulder basin(Rough!) up and out. Head to Paint Rock Lakes. Camp below Lakes.

Tuesday 26th- Head down Big Horns to Hyatville. see Pictographs. Drive North on Red Gulch Road to Dinosaur tracks(dusty!). Head across the Basin to Meeteetse and drive into Kerwin(Major water crossings) to camp.

Wednesday 27th- Explore Kerwin(on foot). Drive out to Lander through Wind River Canyon. Meet up with Lander Locals(Hi Marc/Jen/Brett/Heather! ) Camp in park in town or head up to Forest(time dependent)

Thursday 28th- Run Christina or Shoshone Lake(will decide on trip). Camp at lake or trail head.

Friday 29th- Come out of Christina/Shoshone and run the other. Camp at lake or trail head.

Saturday 30th- Head to Killpecker Sand Dunes/Boars tusk in time allows.

Sunday 31st- If your still here...you live here.


IMPORTANT NOTES:

As you probably noticed, this trip is late in the year. ANYTHING is possible in the Rocky Mountains. I've wheeled at 9000' around these trails in Nov with little snow. I've also had 2' of snow dump over night in September.

BE PREPARED FOR SNOW AND COLD!

Bring cold gear like coats, gloves and boots as well as shovels and sleeping gear for cold nights. We will be at 9000' or higher several times for this trip.

On top of that, if we are in an area like Goose Lake all cozy around the campfire and a big snow storm starts. We are leaving. I don't care what time it is. We are not staying to risk getting snowed in miles from any help.

But the otherwise is it could absolutely beautiful. Ive been in most these areas during September(hunting season!) and it can be perfect. Just come prepared.


On that note...


"RULES":

Okay i don't have any real rules..i can't make anyone do anything. So more like Guide lines id appreciate everyone follow.

1) We are all in it together. As in, we are all doing this for generally the same reasons. To get away from busy life and enjoy some fun driving, camping, and sights with great company. This also means if someone gets hurt, or damages their rig. We all help how we can. Your tools/parts/gear should be considered OUR tools/parts/gear. I know that often goes without saying but just wanna put it out there.

2)Respect everyone. We do this to get away from drama, not to create it(despite my constant explosions). So chill. Breath the fresh air and enjoy the moment


Thats pretty much it. Lets have a good time!



How do I come?:

As much as I would like to have 20 tacomas or more come on this, it just isn't possible. A lot of the areas have limited camping room. So I am limiting this to 8 rigs at any given time.

That said!

Getting 2 weeks off is not feasible for most. So if you only plan on coming for a week, let me know! You can track us online via APRS so it is easy to see where we will be.

Some people have been invited before hand. I will have a list of ''slots open". If no one comes, no problem

Mike and I both run APRS so it is easy to track us online to intercept us. So you can join whenever you are able!


Gear/Rig Prep:

Almost all of this trip is doable with a truck on 32s. Even 31s really. But 33s are recomemend for some of the trails.
Sliders are highly recommended though not just as armor but as recovery points.
CB Radio is required. Not kidding. If you don't have one, get one.
COLD GEAR!! Seriously. It could get very cold. Who knows though these days.
5 gal of extra gas minimum! We won't see a gas station for 4 days in the Pryor/Big Horn section
Full size spare, lots of rough tire killing roads here

Thats it for basic gear. Of course all the other cool shit is always great. But don't feel like you need to spend 10 grand on the truck suddenly for this...because you don't.

That's it! Who's ready for an adventure??

 

Trip is Full! Sorry!


Going 100% commited whole trip!

1. @Blackdawg
2. @Digiratus
3. @turbodb

Going for part of it.

@IDtrucks for the weekend
@joshipps for the weekend
@m3bassman 19th-23rd
@drr First whole week.
@Speedytech7 First week, maybe more
@Glenn_R 22-25th
@BossFoss 22-lander


On the fence for 1 week(priority)


On fence(priority)

 

60 days and counting.

 

Damn..really not that far.

I gotta order a diff for frank tonight

 

This sounds pretty awesome - I think I could swing the first week. Put me down as a maybe until I can check my school schedule.

 

Done

 

So this will definitely be a Frank trip eh? I'm not surprised. Other rigs with dirtyfives will be there.

 

Dude...i miss driving frank. I "put" around town with him every now and then...more like floor it everwhere i go. So fun.

Im fixing him damn it. Before this trip.

 

Ok guys, here is your chance. @Bennett707 @ramonortiz55

 

I'm down in 3 years

 

you bet!!

 

My new truck will be ready. Looks like a fun adventure

 

lol

 

I get it. I was just poking fun.

And tell me more about this. Saturday 30th- Head to Killpecker Sand Dunes/Boars tusk in time allows.

Doable in one day or is it a go in one day come back out the 2nd day. Also, where exactly is the area? Near Lander?

 

holy guacamole

 

@Blackdawg just moved up my regear

 

South of lander. Few routes to it really. the fun way is the route Marc plotted two years ago. The fast way is over the pass to Farson then south to Rock Springs.

Easy to see it on the way south, least the boar tusk. Like 14miles off the highway.

Good man

 

Trying to figure out if I can stay for that.

 

Probably put you back home on Monday afternoon/evening..

 

haha. Yup. Looks like Boise is about halfway between Rock Springs and home. Hmmm....

I'll think more about that tomorrow.