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  1. Western Mountains Outside the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

NorthForkDupuyerCreekMay2015

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  • IMG_4040-1.jpg

    IMG_4040-1.jpg

    Not sure how many of us started the hike, but it was a challenge just to get there. Definitely want to access this route with a high clearance 4WD. And yes, everyone is putting on rain gear.

  • IMG_4042-2.jpg

    IMG_4042-2.jpg

    The trail starts as a road, and yes, it would be possible to drive further, but I think it is faster to walk the road.

  • IMG_4043-3.jpg

    IMG_4043-3.jpg

    Some lupine blooming in late May. Likely pretty darn early at this latitude and elevation.

  • IMG_4049-4.jpg

    IMG_4049-4.jpg

    Everyone likes to hike at different speeds, and take a different number of photos. That always puts me in the rear of nearly every hike. The massive mountain to our west southwest is the Old Man of the Hills.

  • IMG_4052-5.jpg

    IMG_4052-5.jpg

    The nice thing about this hike, given that it is in grizzly country, is that even if you had forgotten your bear spray, the line of sight is pretty good.

  • cropped IMG_4059.jpg

    cropped IMG_4059.jpg

    Eventually, the skies started clearing up and it turned into a pretty nice day. Here, the photo is looking straight up the cleft thru which the North Fork of Dupuyer Creek flows.

  • IMG_4060-6.jpg

    IMG_4060-6.jpg

    Neat waterfall coming down thru the rock north of the trail.

  • IMG_4064-7.jpg

    IMG_4064-7.jpg

    To avoid crossing the Creek, the trail climbs across a long talus slope.

  • IMG_4066-8.jpg

    IMG_4066-8.jpg

    After passing the wilderness boundary sign, there are nice views to the east, with some old snags.

  • IMG_4069-9.jpg

    IMG_4069-9.jpg

    Because of meeting schedules, we had to be back at a specified time. I decided to stop when I caught up to several of our crew, and enjoy a lunch break. It turns out that the lunch spot was less than 5 miles from where I had hiked in 1980 on this backpack https://twohikers.smugmug.com/Western-Mountains-Outside-the-/Bob-Marshall-Wilderness-1980/

  • IMG_4071-10.jpg

    IMG_4071-10.jpg

    Some pretty asters blooming.

  • IMG_4075-12.jpg

    IMG_4075-12.jpg

    I turned around, and started to mosey back, so I would have time to photograph. This was a lovely park-like area perhaps a couple of miles from the trailhead.

  • IMG_4073-11.jpg

    IMG_4073-11.jpg

    While entering the grassy area in the previous photo, I hear some screeching that sounded like ground squirrel. I finally saw him - or her - and took the photo.

  • MVI_4078.MOV

    MVI_4078.MOV

    As mentioned previously, the approach to the trail head is.... well.... "interesting" It crosses at least three creeks without bridges. We were packed into my Honda Pilot and everyone was going crazy on the way back. The female voice you hear in the background is that of Shannon Freix

  • IMG_4082-13.jpg

    IMG_4082-13.jpg

    Back at the Education Center, we are back into our meeting posture.

  • IMG_4117-1-16.jpg

    IMG_4117-1-16.jpg

    But there are always hazards lurking. In this case, one of the horses decided that Faith Doty's pants looked pretty tasty. She had hung them over the railing to dry out after our wet hike.

  • IMG_4118-2-17.jpg

    IMG_4118-2-17.jpg

    Faith runs after her pants and shoos the horse away. (BTW, this same horse was likely the one that ate part of some one else's tent during the previous evening.)

  • IMG_4119-3-18.jpg

    IMG_4119-3-18.jpg

    Faith checking for damage.

  • IMG_4102-14.jpg

    IMG_4102-14.jpg

    A great way to end the day: a lovely Rocky Mountain Front sunset.

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