Posted 2009-07-22 10:31 AM (#108364) Subject: Trip to Gallatin National
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 376
Location: Missouri
We spent 16 days at a camp site on the Taylor Fork River in SW Montana's Gallatin National. 15 days of riding and, oh well, one day of shopping in West Yellowstone. Our 18 yr old grandson was with us. This was his graduation present..
We had a more than normal amount of rain fall. You can expect some rain showers in the mountain passes, but this year we had general rains several days. No dust and the trails were in general in good shape. Had some muddy spots on some of the lower trails, but not bad. We rode a different trail every day, and did not begin to ride as many as we'd like. One of these days we need to spend the summer riding these trails.
We had ice on the water buckets several mornings and highs in the low 80's a few days. Most days were in the 60's and 70's during the day. The camp fire, in the evening, was really nice.
Had one trail closed because of snow and a log, did cut several logs off the trails in order to get thru. We could have got thru the snow, but I'd forgot the saw and didn't have any way of cutting the log that was down in the middle of the snow drift. We met several Forest Rangers that were out clearing the trails. They now have a plan of clearing all of the trails once a year.
A lone wolf
This camp site had a spring near by
Our camp site
Kids and playing in the snow
We had snow on this trail
Looks too relaxed to me
Some rare orchids, per some flower experts we met on the trail
Rams Horn lake
Ace said he'd like some too
Across the road from our camp and on top of the mountain is a mailbox
with a great view
Koch Basin
A view from our camp
Bear tracks of all kinds, all over the trails
A few bear pictures
"Deadwood Forest, in Yellowstone, there is still a lot of dead wood from the fires
Carrot Basin
Break time
Ace overcame his fear of the bridges
Had some really old trees
The trail that goes up and over the "blow out" had a nice comfy lunch bench
Posted 2009-07-22 9:50 PM (#108408 - in reply to #108364) Subject: RE: Trip to Gallatin National
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 376
Location: Missouri
We were in the Park(Yellowstone) on several rides. The mosquitos are starting to get a bit pesty, but not bad. I've seen them much worse. No horse flies yet. WE rode the Big Horn trail up to the top. Pretty windy up there.
Posted 2009-07-22 10:01 PM (#108410 - in reply to #108364) Subject: RE: Trip to Gallatin National
Elite Veteran
Posts: 681
Location: Corpus Christi, Texas
It is my dream to someday ride that area. Right now my husband and I are working torwards retirement somewhere over there.. My husb refuses to live that far north because if the cold, but as long as I can drive to areas like that, I'll be fine. Next time, Pulleeease take me with you!!
Posted 2009-08-12 8:22 AM (#109309 - in reply to #108364) Subject: RE: Trip to Gallatin National
Regular
Posts: 64
Location: West TN
Great Pictures. I think we met ya'll a couple of years ago at Blanchard Church in the shawnee, and we came over to your camp at Hayes and visited a bit that night. We ride mules, and I had a Steele saddle, that you wanted to sit in and try. Have ya'll been to the shawnee lately. My husband recognized your truck in the pictures.