[We resume our normal blogging...]
Our return to snow
country took two days, and then an extra day for me to recover from a
malady I'd contracted in California—the usual wintry mix of sore
throat, congestion, cough, chills and aches...fortunately it was only
a three-day variety. The extra day was in Idaho Falls, where we later
retrieved our trailer and snowmobile. Thanks, again, Mr. Walton.
After analyzing entrails, tea leaves, The Weather Channel, and a call
to the Fremont (Idaho) County C of C, we decided to head to higher
ground, namely, Wyoming, and reportedly decent snow on the Grey River
trails near Alpine. Alpine and the Wyoming Range east of there were one of our favorite places in earlier snowmobiling years, and
although the snow level was just barely OK now, we were able to do
some of our favorite rides again, including the 100 mile round-trip
to the Blind Bull Hut and on to the Sherman guard station and its
view of Wyoming's great mountain range, the Winds. Hopefully
we'll see more of them in coming days.
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In the Walmart fly-fishing shop (!) in Idaho Falls; tells you a bit
about Idahoans... |
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And in an Idaho Falls truck stop, a (real) Grumman Avenger
dives toward Japanese carriers...not a very realistic scene, since
the Avenger was a torpedo bomber...but appreciated
nonetheless... |
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The parking lot at the Grey River outlet, near Alpine; by
Friday, the place was totally packed |
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| Suburban Alpine |
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| Ouch! |
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| Scenery along the Grey River |
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Ditto; there are just a few mansions along the way; note hobbit/
snowmobile gate; most all of the area is Bridger National Forest |
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Arrival, at 8,600 feet, at the Sweetwater Snowpokes' Blind
Bull warming hut, apparently new and improved |
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| Same functional decor |
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Snowmobilers are perhaps not best known for their political
correctness |
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| The hut's surroundings |
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Riding further east, up to 9,000 feet perhaps, and then down
to the Sherman opening, the Green River valley, and the
distant Wind River range |
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| Gannett Peak there left of middle, Wyoming's highest |
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The Winds are 120 miles of granite, snow and ice, great lakes
and rivers and streams, and forests...nearly all of it inaccessible
and protected...still one of the West's better kept secrets |
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| High country...riding back after a really good day |
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