End of Summer in and out of Star Valley

The weather is getting cooler, so when we got back to Star Valley, we decided, one more Kayak Trip.
This time we did the Lower Snake again. This time it was Lynn and Linda, Anne Reynolds, Peggy Bradley, Kath Kaufman and Bob and I.  Had a great time, but the difference in the size of the waterfall from our 1st trip to now is unreal.

Falls on July 2nd

Same Falls on Sept 4th

Juvenile Eagle just sitting at the boat launch

We celebrated 21 years of marriage on Sept. 12th.  Went out to dinner at the Flying Saddle.  One of the few white table cloths restaurants in the area.  Good food too. Also, since it was our Anniversary, we had a free dessert. 

On Sept 13th, Bob and I hiked the Middle Ridge Trail off of Grey's River Road.  We had worked on this trail with the Friends of Bridger-Tetons earlier in the summer.  This summer we joined this group and the Star Valley Ranch Trail Crew.  We figured since we hiked, we could spend one day a week or so to help with trail maintenance.   Met some neat people.

 

On the 22nd of Sept. we headed out for one last trip to the Tetons for the year. Got there before noon so we boon docked on Buffalo Valley Rd., close to Turpin Meadows where we camped earlier in the summer.  

As we head to Gros Ventre to look for Moose and whatever we find (our friends Dom and Sue are in the area, so we want to connect) we drive straight into this view.  When we get there, just before Kelly, we find to young bull moose, playing around and practicing for when they can fight over the cows.

Just playing around

Resting up for next round

I think they were laughing at all the spectators, look as faces full view

That's enough of that

After the moose left we drove on and discovered this red tail hawk

The rest of the day, we drove and drove and discovered areas we hadn't been yet, but no moose,bears, elk or anything . But you get home in the evening with a view like this, everything is great.

Morning of 23rd. We head back out to the Tetons in search of guess what, Wildlife, whatever we can find.  We finally got in touch with Dom and Sue the day before and are texting them and others if we find something.
Our first stop is just after dawn where we know a herd of elk hang out.  One of my goals for this trip is to hear the bugle of the elk and possibly see some rutting.  We did see a herd of elk, no bugling.

It was just getting light, so the colors and focus at a distance is more like a watercolor.

As it got lighter, the herd wondered away and out of our view.  Or just laid down in the bushes. So on we go down Moose-Wilson road in search of more animals.  This is a popular place for moose, but it was just opening back up after a week because of a grizzly bear on the road.  Nothing, Nothing at all after 16 miles of bumpy, rough and curving gravel road.  So instead of going back though Jackson, we turned around to go back down the bumpy, rough, and curvy gravel road.  Guess what! 3 Bear Jams in the same area we had gone though.  It's all a matter of timing.  They were only Black Bears, but we hadn't seen any black bears all summer, only Grizzly.

Only interested in the berries! But then he/she crossed the street This is the bear of the 1st jam

As she crossed the street, she just walked among the cars.  I was with a group, that was behind, so I only got rear shots.  Bob had gotten ahead of her and was continually having to back up since she was coming straight down the road.

Still needs to eat more berries and gain weight for the winter.

After this bear finally left the road.  We moved on down the road to the next bear jam.
This was a Sow and Cub, in the trees.  Couldn't get good pictures, but fun to watch.  The next jam, the park person made us get off road so bear would have right away.  It walked right by the car and decided it had an itch.

I was outside the car taking pictures when this bear came up to the back and I had to jump in car for it to pass.

 It's starting to get late and we've been out since 5 in the morning, so we head home.  But did run into some Bison along the way.

On the 24th we start out to see the elk again at Jackson Dam junction. It's not light yet, but people are already moving about.

Elk were there, but lighting was bad.  They disappeared into the bushes early.  We drove around enjoying the beauty of the place, stopped for lunch then went back to the rig for a rest until later in the evening. 

Needed some animal to take a picture of

Colors are starting to change

Just a coyote but it's something anyway

We decided to stay one more day since I hadn't really got to see and hear the Elk bugling.  It's the the 25th.  We're a little later getting out, but the elk are still there that morning.  And more than usual in the morning.  The lighting was a little better so we did get some pretty good shots.

Attracting his harem

Rounding up his females

Baby Elk

His harem

After the elk left or hid, we headed back out to Moose-Wilson rd.  Saw one bull moose that was just laying around.

We went over to Rockefeller Reserve to hike since there was a bear siting there.  Didn't see one there,  But we did see a Sow and her cub along Moose-Wilson Rd.   She scooted the cub up the tree to get the best berries.

 Around 6 we went back over to the Elk, hoping for some action.  The lighting was getting dim, but the action was great.  Several Bulls, trying to keep their ladies.  Did see a couple females switch herds.

 One last view from the rig before leaving.

 Headed back to Star Valley, but the weather was turning cold and rainy, so we headed out on Sept. 28th.  We missed the rain on the way, but it really rained while we were in Jordanelle State Park in Utah.  Still was able to see some great color.

Beautiful area, but with didn't get to do much with the rain and getting cold, so on to the south (some).  We explored a new area near Castle Dale, UT.  We boon docked in Dutch Flat area.  Easy in and out with phone and data, but bumpy and rutted in the camping area.  Must have been rode on when it was mud and rutted pretty bad.  Otherwise, after you got set up, it was nice and big area.
Here we did a lot of off road riding and exploring.  This is in the Northern San Rafael Swell. 

Completely different terrain than where we were all summer, But still beautiful.

This is also where the Little Grand Canyon is.  Since it's high desert, it was warm during the day, but still pretty cool at night.  Just right for me.

This is called the Little Grand Canyon

If you can see the river in the bottom, it's the San Rafael River

We drove all the way to the bottom of the canyon and walked across the San Rafael Bridge.










We visited the Buckhorn Wash Pictograph Panel and discovered the Morrison Knudsen Tunnels that were drilled in the formations by the Department of Defense in 1948.  These were Subterranean Tunnels drilled and shot in the Navajo Sandstone.  The purpose was never revealed.

Entrance to one of the tunnels

The area was interesting and diverse, but not a lot of hiking.  We were needing to get to an area we could hike.  So on the 1st of Oct, we headed to Exit 131 on Interstate 70.  This was on our way to the Mt. Temple area outside of Goblin State Park.  This was listed in www.freecampsites.com as having a good boon docking area.  It was a little bumpy getting back to the Juniper Trees, but there was at least 10 to 15 big sites.  We were there before noon, so just had to take the jeep out exploring again.

Found some neat cliffs, an old homestead and some more Pictographs and actually some petrogyphs    but only a short hike. 

Swasey Cabin built 1921

Old trough and water pails

Climbing up to the Ice Box foot trail 

This was a slot canyon that they would store food to keep cooler.

Only stayed one night, but may make it a regular overnight place to discover more.  We could have driven across a dirt road between our previous place to here.  Lots of exploring in the jeep.

We moved on down the road to a dispersed camping site near Hanksville.  We stayed here before with Rita and Judy.  There was one particular hike we didn't get to complete last time since the water was up to my chest. 

Did 3 8 mile hikes during our 4 day stay.  Took one day off to rest.  That day, Rita and Judy pulled in to stay for a while. They came on Friday and we left on Sunday.

1st hike was Little Horse Canyon.   In a wash down in the Canyon, only had a short area of Slots.  Hiking or walking in the wash is really like walking in coarse sand.  Your legs can really feel it later.

The next hike was Clute Canyon.  You have to understand that getting to these hikes are an adventure in themselves. It's almost a 4 wheel drive road for 10 miles or more to get to the trail head.

The last hike on Saturday was the one we actually came for.  The Bell Canyon /Little Wild Horse Canyon loop hike.  The recommended way is to enter Bell Canyon first and come back by Little Wild Horse Canyon.  Between the canyons is a 1 1/2 of road up hill.  Bell Canyon was ok, Little Wild Horse Canyon is beautiful.  I would just do the first couple of miles of Little Wild Horse if your looking for a neat slot canyon.

This was the narrowest that Bell got  and there were plenty of places that you had to climb over boulders.

The best parts of Little Wild horse has to be maneuvered

Great area, but been dry camping too many days.  Need to wash clothes and ourselves.  Next stop Kanab. Only one night to clean up.  Then on to our friends house right outside of Page, AZ. Had a great visit for a couple of nights.  Out to eat and a short hike on a ridge trail near the lake.  The sounds of Happy Trails and friends were calling.

So arrived in Happy Trails on Wednesday, Oct 9th. Washed the rig and the jeep before we unload and put the rig to sleep for the winter. Then on Oct 10th, my 70th Birthday, we went to eat with friends, Wayne and Nancy and Mary (whose birthday is also Oct 10th) but she was 85. and her sister who was visiting her.

Great time, good food and friends

 So good-bye until our next adventure.