Hi, I moved to Powell, WY a bit over a year ago and just discovered this site. I was really excited to see so many posts about places to go in the Bighorns, Yellowstone, the Beartooths, and the Absarokas, which are all fairly near me. I realized I was in a pretty special place when I crossed the street today, and in looking to the left, I saw the Bighorns in the distance, and looking to the right, I saw the Absarokas. There must not have been any traffic coming, because I got happily distracted and cotinued on my way. I would have never guessed I'd live in a place with proximity to such mountains! Just the thought made me happy.
I like to backpack, though I go alone and am a poky whimp. Before I moved here, I had done 40% of the AT, mostly down south. Because I lived in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, I had hiked at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore during the more temperate seasons. (Look at your National Parks Pass for this year, that's Pictured Rocks the kayakers are looking at.) I have done a wee bit of canoeing in the Boundary Waters, and gone canoeing with outfitters just north of the Everglades, on the Missouri in Montana, and in the Yukon and Alaska. I've also managed to do some guided rafting trips, and a bit of kayaking. Mostly, I go for the scenery, but I love to get far enough into the back country that I meet *the best* people, don't have to listen to someone else's radio, or deal with small children on Big Wheels at my campsite.
Since I've moved here, I've done about as much exploring by car as I could. I've done an overnight backpack at Bighorn Canyon (didn't get attacked by a bear or rattlesnake, or eaten by a mountain lion), an overnight from the Hellroaring Trailhead in Yellowstone, and an overnight in the Bighorns. I tried another one night backpacking trip in Yellowstone, but a bison gave me the evil eye, and then moved into the campsite. Really, he gave me an extremely odd look. Fortunately, it wasn't horribly far from the trailhead so I just hiked out.
I'm making plans for next summer, and hope to do a couple of overnights in Yellowstone, one or two overnights in Bighorn Canyon, do some of the Teton Crest Trail, and explore the Bighorns more. I'd like to take my kayak and do a backcountry overnight either in Yellowstone or the Tetons, too.
I'll probably be asking some questions, and hopefully will be able to share some stories and pictures.
Pringles
I like to backpack, though I go alone and am a poky whimp. Before I moved here, I had done 40% of the AT, mostly down south. Because I lived in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, I had hiked at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore during the more temperate seasons. (Look at your National Parks Pass for this year, that's Pictured Rocks the kayakers are looking at.) I have done a wee bit of canoeing in the Boundary Waters, and gone canoeing with outfitters just north of the Everglades, on the Missouri in Montana, and in the Yukon and Alaska. I've also managed to do some guided rafting trips, and a bit of kayaking. Mostly, I go for the scenery, but I love to get far enough into the back country that I meet *the best* people, don't have to listen to someone else's radio, or deal with small children on Big Wheels at my campsite.
Since I've moved here, I've done about as much exploring by car as I could. I've done an overnight backpack at Bighorn Canyon (didn't get attacked by a bear or rattlesnake, or eaten by a mountain lion), an overnight from the Hellroaring Trailhead in Yellowstone, and an overnight in the Bighorns. I tried another one night backpacking trip in Yellowstone, but a bison gave me the evil eye, and then moved into the campsite. Really, he gave me an extremely odd look. Fortunately, it wasn't horribly far from the trailhead so I just hiked out.
I'm making plans for next summer, and hope to do a couple of overnights in Yellowstone, one or two overnights in Bighorn Canyon, do some of the Teton Crest Trail, and explore the Bighorns more. I'd like to take my kayak and do a backcountry overnight either in Yellowstone or the Tetons, too.
I'll probably be asking some questions, and hopefully will be able to share some stories and pictures.
Pringles