More of the Winds

Ahhhh Brooks Lake

Every time I drive over Towgotee Pass I have to take a detour up to Brooks Lake in Shoshone National Forest. Back in the summer of 2007 when I took a NOLS backpacking course, (National Outdoor Leadership School), we finished the 34 day trip by coming out at the picturesque Brooks Lake. Not only is Brooks Lake sentimental to me because of that course but the scenery is stunning in every direction. Some of the pictures look smoky from the nearby Cub Creek forest fire.

Northern Wind River

This was a nice little solo backpackin' trip with just Charlotte, and I. She is the best backpacking dog EVER!

Beartooth Mountains

There are a lot of really cool places within a 4-5 hour drive from where we live. For example, the Beartooth Mountains. This mountain range sits upon the larger Beartooth Plateau, the largest true high elevation plateau in the United States. Almost 400 species of plants have been discovered and the Beartooths are considered to be the most biologically unique mountain range in North America. The region is also one of the few remaining with sizable populations of Grizzly Bears outside of Alaska and Canada. Black Bears, mountain goats, Bighorn Sheep, elk, moose, wolverine, mountain lion, and lynx are also found here. The Beartooth's are composed of Precambrian granite and crystalline metamorphic rocks dated at approximately 4 billion years old, making these rocks some of the oldest on Earth!

WHY I love backpacking

Sometimes I ---- feel fat, like a loser, like a burden to my friends, like a complicated mess, ugly, annoying, selfish, out of control, hate people, hate my job, don't like my friends and all of their problems, hate the sound of my own voice, feel so insecure, talentless, not unique or special and unloved. But when I'm backpacking in the Wilderness, all of that goes away. None of that silly stuff matters anymore. Its just me and the trees. Life becomes so beautifully simple while in the woods. I know what I have to do to survive and keep my mind and body safe, and I do it. I do it well. I enjoy the pain of carrying a 40-50lb backpack for miles deep into rugged Wilderness. Those blisters on my feet are a sign of being free from societies screaming burdens and my pressing insecurities. And they feel great. I love it. I love it with a passion. The Wilderness is my church. I enter it's trails and everything becomes clear and okay again. There is nothing more true and real than being surrounded by nature and it's blanket of peace that it brings me.

Darby Canyon Waterfall

This set of pics are from a hike with my friend Nicole and our dogs early July. I love where I live!

Flowers in the Winds

Julie vs. Moose

I day hiked Moose Creek Trail on Tuesday. I think it was about 16 miles total. I was flyin'. I only saw 3 people within the first hour and no one else the rest of the day! It was great! I was trail running the last few miles out when I came around a bend in the trail only to discover a young female Moose on the trail. We had a moment together. I watched her watch me. It seemed as if we were both waiting to see who would step off the trail first. She slowly walked toward me and stopped. I stood my ground and slowly took a few steps toward her and stopped. Eventually, she was the first one to leave the trail. It was a great, interactive, non threatening moose experience! I hope all of my future moose encounters will be this pleasant and uneventful.