Tundy, house and beetle build thread...and exploring.

I like this. Give it to me

 

You need to update your first page. How am I supposed to show people your build if it isn't accurate. Too much time on that drone of yours. Looks like you need to give it away.

 

The interwebs aren't on the top of my list and cell service isn't plentiful out here. But yeah I'll probably get around to it tonight or tomorrow since i need to decide where I'm headed.

 

OK princess, first post updated.

 

Seems about time for "ARE YOU THERE YET" post

 

I've been there.

Just pulled into old faithful. I think I'm going to regret this decision.

 

Yellowstone has changed a lot. Don't camp there, you'll hate the 30 minute check ins by the forest rangers making sure you aren't bear bait yet.

Teton however has some nice campgrounds. Exit out the Idaho side and there are spots for dispersed camping.

 

Yeah i was just passing through. Camped off of Lulu Pass.



Currently sitting on top of Dead Indian Mountain for lunch.

Punk ass marmots won't come out for picture time.

 

Guess what time it is!!!

Figured I would update while I was eating lunch.

Week 2: History and Tourists

After I signed off last week, I drove west from that classy Taco Bell I was hanging out at and into the Red Desert. I drove, and drove, and drove along some fairly smooth, very wide gravel roads. The area is littered with oil rigs with some BLM land and roads sprinkled in the mix. After driving for a while, I finally just picked a random BLM road, drove for a while in the pitch black and found a random place to stop for a nap.


When I woke up, I found myself in a sage desert.. Not much showing for the “red” desert.


0706170635_HDR2 by Brandon M, on Flickr


DSC039472 by Brandon M, on Flickr


I continued north, then west and ended up in Lander. I picked up a few supplies, an important ice cream cone since it was VERY hot while making use of the internet access in town. I snagged a burger before driving up Sinks Canyon. Pictures did not turn out well, but the river in the canyon goes into a cave, travels about ¼ mile down the canyon and pops up on the other side of the highway. Nobody is really sure where it goes in the meantime or how it gets there. They suspect there are small channels that the water goes through. It is the same water (as they confirmed with dye tests), but apparently more water comes out than what goes in. At the rise area, there are HUGE fish. They are well fed, likely mostly by the fish feed that is available to throw to them.


I continued up the canyon and still being picky about camp spots, I ended up driving south through Atlantic City, and by South Pass City. In the 1800’s, there were substantial gold deposits found at the Carissa Mine and people flocked. The mine closed/opened and changed ownership many times over the years before being closed for the last time in 1949. South Pass City is among the smallest continually inhabited cities in Wyoming, the current population can be counted on one hand.


07061717022 by Brandon M, on Flickr


I decided to head towards the sand dunes that are also in the Red Desert. While on my way there, I found a trail that most of us have all heard of!


DSC041092 by Brandon M, on Flickr


Quite a surprise trail to randomly turn onto! I am mapping trails with trailsoffroad.com so this was a no brainer. The section I did went by a few different names as the trails used the same tracks in this area. The California Trail, Seminoe Cutoff of California Trail, Mormon Trail, and the Pony Express Trail shared these tracks. It was quite interesting to realize that I was on the same trail that thousands used to settle the west. I stopped at the Pacific Springs Station that was established along the Pony Express route and was originally established in 1860-61. There are three structures that are mostly standing with a few others that have succombed to the elements over the years. This was my campsite for the night.


The Pacific Springs area was an area that was used very often by the travellers coming through. It offered clean water and grazing land for the livestock. In the area, there are grave site remains of those who did not make it any further.


DSC040322 by Brandon M, on Flickr


DSC040452 by Brandon M, on Flickr


DSC040522 by Brandon M, on Flickr


After all that hard work, escaping without catching dysentery or losing my wagon while fording the river crossings, I started to head north towards the Tetons.

 

Week 2 Continued: History and Tourists

I lucked into a perfect camp spot across the valley from the Tetons while having a landscape view of them. I shared the spot with a great family from California who were also in the area to check out the Tetons and Yellowstone. Both nights we were lucky enough to watch the lightning storms over the mountains.


0708171927_HDR by Brandon M, on Flickr


DSC041772 by Brandon M, on Flickr


The next day my plan was to do a small hike in the Tetons (2-3 miles), then find water to fill up the water tank in the truck. I started the hike… somehow missed the turn to the closer lakes, and only realized it when I was hiking a good way above them. It was warm and much more humid than I expected. But since I already passed the first lakes, I decided to continue to the next ones. Yeah…. Those were the lakes I was shooting for on this quick hike.


0709171258_HDR2 by Brandon M, on Flickr


But, as I hiked higher, I was awarded with a nice cool breeze and a bit of cold rain. Then a bit of snow to hike over and through. The view was well worth it! Now it was time to hike all the way back down, nearly 5 miles and 3,000 ft elevation. What I didn’t mention yet was I have this inherited condition called crappy-knee-itis. They don’t mind climbing up, but the impact of going down, they quickly get sore especially when I dont use poles which were stowed nicely in the truck.


0709171406a2 by Brandon M, on Flickr



I survived, went to the visitor center to fill up the water tank, as I was passing the dam, I figured it would be a fantastic place to ice my knees in the cold water. It was a horrible place to do it since the views there were also nothing special to look at.


0709171731c2 by Brandon M, on Flickr


I went back to the campsite, and hobbled around until it was bed time. Thankfully when I woke up in the morning, I was able to walk without pain. I planned to drive through Yellowstone and find somewhere to camp once I got up there. I drove past Old Faithful and figured I was obligated to go see it since I have never seen it before. I thought I was at Disney with the amount of cars and people wandering around. There were huge crowds that were waiting around for it to erupt; at that point it was about 23 minutes past the “expected eruption time”. I continued walking around to the smaller features figuring if it kept delaying and turned out to be the BIG blast, extra distance would help. It erupted to a crowd full of “ooh’s and ahh’s” followed by applause. Good boy Ole Faithful.


0710171357a2 by Brandon M, on Flickr


The next thing on the to do list; get as far away from the crowds as possible, ASAP. I continued northeast, through Cooke City and onto the Beartooth Pass Highway. I found a camp site fairly early since I was ready for some dinner. Just under 9k ft elevation, fantastic views, quick access from the highway; SOLD!


07101717432 by Brandon M, on Flickr


Next up, I’ll likely head east, bouncing back and forth across the Wyoming and Montana border. I really wanted to do the Morrison Trail, but due to the current snowpack, its looking like it will not open as scheduled on the 15th of this month. Theres quite a bit I want to see and knock out along the way, I’ll be sticking to shorter hikes… hopefully get the knees used to it. I previously did a lot more mountain biking which my knees had no issue with, this slow hiking stuff is new for them.


Thanks for reading, I’ve been throwing together some short videos on my Youtube channel. I’m new to the drone and video editing, so go easy on me!

And follow me on Instagram, aero3685, I get to throw pictures up there more often since I can do that when I have a few minutes of minimal service.

 

Goofing off with the drone..

 

Ok, time to head east!

Turns out pyrex glass stuff is great for storing stuff. Not so great for reheating it on the stove.

 

Morrison Trail is closed until at least the 22nd of July if not longer.

 

Tire properly patched (was plugged on July 4th).

Oxen shit washed off (from Oregon Trail).

Time to replace the sunglasses I lost on my Tetons hike, fill her up with gas, hit the grocery store since Cody is a massive town! Then head east.

 

Sweet ass trip Brandon! Someday....

 

Hit the Buffalo Bill museum in Cody if you have time. Hands down the best museum I've been to in a long time

 

Are you still trying to hang around until Morrison is open?

 

Won't hang around... I'll have a bit to explore in Montana and that's not a for sure open date so I'd hate to hang around and it not open.

But if it opens and people are up for running it, i could swing back down there the 28-31st.

@kashtyaatsi

 

Waiting for the sunset at the Medicine Wheel... It's a bit brisk at 10k feet in sandals. But I hiked all day so i didn't want to put my shoes back on.