Now sorry for my absence. Have been retired and just living on my bike. Left Jackson Hole on Sept 5th, and right now in the Tucson area. Maybe next over to Ajo and Organ Pipe with staying warm. Lots of empty places in the desert.
But since this is about GYE and Absaroka Mountain Resources including for the Teton Wilderness, then will chime in. Now it seems one book overlooked by Everyone is the book by the Bonney's. Do think there names were Orin And Lorraine Bonney. They later had a book on all of Wyoming's Mountains. They had various editions in the 60s and early 70s with lots lots of very valuable information tucked into the book. Then if you can find one ... Ralph Maughan wrote a book on the Teton Wilderness entitled 'Beyond The Tetons' back in like 1982. It only sold a few copies. But a great resource. Have copies of both.
But the thing is that not much has appeared in print recently. Actually do think this is a good thing. There is much country back in both the South and North Absarokas as wild as it has ever been. There is also all the old topo maps. The only real way to really get to know is to Go! Put aside your jobs, grab your backpack and just spend all summer back in there. Then go the next summer, then the next, then the next ... then you soon will be the expert. Take a look at it .... from South Pass to Livingston Montana there is only 4 ... again 4 roads to cross. They are the Union Pass Gravel Road, Togwotee Pass, East Entrance YNP road, NE entrance to YNP road. Much wilderness in here ... NW Wyoming and Southern Montana that one can get lost in on purpose and still live the mountain man life if that is what one wants. This is what I have done ... just gone into those wilds. There is still sooooooo much, sooooooo much that I still have not seen. Gosh, wish I was still young. But seriously considering of doing a prolonged walkabout all over this country again next summer. Anybody care to come along all spring to fall?
But put all the resources together. ... the falcon guidebook, Tom Turianos book (which do have), the Bonneys old guidebook, all the topo maps, and more. Go to a library near YNP and in NW Wyoming with browsing the historical section and old maps .... this will even simply more info longgg since buried and forgotten. But the important thing is GO Go Go GO Go!!!!!!
Do think that the people who have known this country ... the South Absarokas, the North Absarokas, back deep Yellowstone Park parts, and more ... they could not even fill a room? Many have passed away now, but some are still around. Many don't talk of what they have experienced for many in the outside world just simply would not understand. The wilds make a mark on the person when one truly experiences the deep wilds. That person then will never be the same. True for myself!
How many people think or dream of the mountain men of days gone by. The country is still there. Get out of the matrix and Go!
Now remember onetime years ago, like 15 to 20 years ago when I was heading up the Upper Yellowstone River. I was somewhere above where Castle Creek came on down and joined the Yellowstone. Here coming down the trail was a lone horseman. He was a middle aged plus. He said he was the son of an outfitter and grew up in this country in the. 60s when as a kid with his father. He said those trails were covered with people then coming and going. Then when we met it was only us two. And we talked. In some ways those mountain wilds is wilder now then back then. I remember when first going in 40 plus years ago, people were everywhere. The last time when in saw old abandoned trails with the grass growing up. Old campsites now all grass covered, and not many people.
Guess will say this to end ... do the research, look at the maps till you know them by heart and more, find every scrap of material you can on the country during the longgg winter ... and then come spring Go Go Go!
Sorry if preached to much but just my thoughts and such.
Wishing Everyone The Very Very Best!
