Non kilt wearin’ version of th Gneiss Creek trip, part 2,

Joined
Jan 18, 2014
Messages
376
FFADE28B-345E-4940-8871-52CBC17B74C2.jpeg
It was….wait for it…legendary! Being serenaded to sleep by wolves is the best! I innocently assumed this was a frequent thing as Scatman has literally spent well over a hundred nights in th Yellowstone backcountry, to make sure I asked. Much to my surprise he’d only heard wolves howling’ only 3 or 4 times previously. My thinkin was this can only get better…
FDC06636-B7E0-4C0D-96FB-F0B57AA27E5C.jpeg
After eatin a hearty breakfast, 4 of us got ready to embark on a 16 mile day hike…unbeknownst to us,Yellowstone would approach record temps that day( in th mid 80s). Austin had been hot n humid, but Yellowstone is 1.5 miles closer to th sun for me up here n that extra close raditional heatin with little shade would work it’s magic on me On th hike.
F3EEE6DE-1104-4FA3-900C-F702EAE12232.jpeg
Valliantly off we strode, 4 explorers ready for an adventure! We were not to be disappointed .
01F84EEC-20D1-4122-9897-C7ADFEF4C563.jpeg
Tatanka(bison) no payin us any mind at all( thank heavens)
D5432917-D3F6-47C0-AA38-AE725D57AF7F.jpeg
WOW..the terrain on th topo didn’t appear this up n downy…
14AD080C-5B19-4338-90C0-847E7B827C34.jpeg
it looked Ike more open, level meadows to me..
FA5E9F53-BA2E-4FC6-B9A8-23767BB0E303.jpeg
That Maple Creek doesn’t look like th rock fill stream bed I’d envisioned like a lot of mountain streams…this was the work of those dam buildin beavers! A meandering’ creek…with soggy bottoms
D5906678-087F-45FB-99E6-82DF180D4A60.jpeg
Really, NPS, you want me to cross where?
36BA1D2D-B7E3-4CF3-AFAF-4F8F3F8172C4.jpeg
This looks good. At this point I’d like to say I only remember stepping in to th abyss ,then my left croc shod food goin, down,down, down. Then gravity pulled me forward( and Scatman was in front of me to save me). I do not recall my hand slidin down his back to th kilt)
C88F7488-F6CB-4D3E-8BB6-9F52EF1D628E.jpeg
dryin n cleaning off our feet after th boggy creek(but no Bigfoot) we put on dry shoes n off we continued..it was warm n Thot th next creek would be one of th patented mountain streams aforementioned Where one could replentish th my dwindling water supply.
FA753D53-E93C-4461-AB4D-6FEDBE15862F.jpeg
hey, there’s a meadow..where are th trees n shade(
E5CB0801-6873-433F-BA53-5280A7986B89.jpeg
there’s be some fires in th area since th big one of 1988)…there was a tad bit o shade..
1585B82B-318D-4997-89C5-26F5B318B719.jpeg
but then it was gone..much like my water( I’dstarted with 2.5 liters) but I do drink a bunch. By this time I was feelin th heat n gettin plum turckered out.
6201F9B1-FCE4-4DEE-94B6-2E7CBA7DF1A8.png
this was as far as I made it. Bout 6.5 of th 8 miles, where I knew I’d have to rest up until the guys brought back some water to revive me for th trip back. One of them gave me bot 16 oz to help .
CD100AE2-6138-4F05-B14B-90AFEA23334B.jpeg
CFA8C1DF-4AB3-4EB8-BCA8-04F75A89E427.jpeg
I had brought my trusty lightweight hammock set up( bout10 or so oz) which was literally a life saver. That’s my view while th guys went to find that Cougar Creek ranger cabin. They were gone close to 3 hours, finding a great water source, and Savin the day For me.
673A3CC8-07A2-430A-B71B-6185CF509DCF.jpeg
After a couple hours restin in th shade n hammock…I felt much better and did a bit of lookin round, thankfully, Mr Bison was nowhere near his dirt bath tub
6CE54B95-F28A-462A-BD7C-7D5E47241DC8.jpeg
meetin’ back up with th guys and drinkin a bunch of water, off we headed back…The Maple Creek crossing to come, haunting me.
A56BCB4F-E9E1-41BE-8231-DE65DB9CFD19.jpeg
Scatman, was it me, or were th meadows abit longer on th way back?
81BC277E-905B-4355-8348-3D8C41F67A41.jpeg
the fireweed was beautiful in th afternoon sun…
E133CD09-55BA-40F9-9C50-A9CAAA21DB16.jpeg
lookin back on where we crossed…Scatman was great at insisting we find another place to cross..not 5 ft this time but bout 30 n crotch deep..didn’t sink too bad here tho…
477CDE87-59E5-44AF-A0BF-67852FCF210E.jpeg
gettindried out n renourished
9D50CB15-BD1D-42F5-925D-EFEF9977BFFE.jpeg
straight up th hill n onward to camp
CF19FA45-4E4E-4A98-B2F1-D05D96CA349C.jpeg
tired at this point…are we there yet?
FC26E2CA-36C2-4E55-9108-311501219D2C.jpeg
followin my trail angel who shared water….left,right, left, right…
4A5DD16B-81AC-4F21-A2A1-94CF9E86EBE3.jpeg
I see camp!
9C46D3B0-5172-4D89-8336-A77536B4B793.jpeg
The Hulk( in green of course) had a nice fire goin for us when we arrived home and we started preparing dinner…I was tired after goin 13 or so miles n th guys were too after 16 ish miles.
F16FBB79-30C2-484C-847C-3A1EB625CD81.jpeg
I had not on survived, but also relished in my foray into th Scatmans adventure laced dayhike…tired, but triumphant..albeit with scratched up legs and other various bumps n bruises. Tomorrow would be amuch appreciated rest day..I knew I’d sleep well after this.
 

Attachments

  • C7402AED-1B90-4067-93BE-E871CC9C3EF9.jpeg
    C7402AED-1B90-4067-93BE-E871CC9C3EF9.jpeg
    481.9 KB · Views: 3

scatman

Member
.
Joined
Dec 23, 2013
Messages
3,426
@The Trout Whisperer - Nice follow up to your first report.

You carried a hammock on the day hike? No wonder you didn't make it to the cabin. :D And all this time, I thought you were fending off grizzlies while we were eating lunch, not having a snooze. :)

Yes, those meadows grew a bit on our way back to camp, as did the width of Maple Creek. ;)

I wouldn't mind heading back to Gneiss Creek, but I would want to do it in a year that wasn't so dry.
 
Joined
Jan 18, 2014
Messages
376
@The Trout Whisperer - Nice follow up to your first report.

You carried a hammock on the day hike? No wonder you didn't make it to the cabin. :D And all this time, I thought you were fending off grizzlies while we were eating lunch, not having a snooze. :)

Yes, those meadows grew a bit on our way back to camp, as did the width of Maple Creek. ;)

I wouldn't mind heading back to Gneiss Creek, but I would want to do it in a year that wasn't so dry.
I had a lightweight hammock I’d gotten..bot 11+- oz straps included..but, after readin an article bout grizzlies in Alaska being curious about brightly colored tents….I didn’t really rest much, crept taken a load off my feet! Figured if I dozed off, I be awoken by a grizz sniffin my backside!..I’d l8ke to go back there again….but with normal temps and maybe a pack raft!
 
Joined
Jan 18, 2014
Messages
376
I like your descriptive phrases - valliantly off we strode, Tatanka, up and downy - was the double trail for NOBO and SOBO, kind of like a freeway?
More like a tollway to open to that little space in your head ,sayin that at th time of th mucky creek crossings and th leg rippin n stabbing plants, I never wanna do this again…once is enough. But now, lookin back after the toll had been extracted in blood n mud, I’m anxiously awaiting my next Scatman approved adventure…( and, I’m shopping for a kilt ta boot!)
 

Similar threads

Don't like ads? Become a BCP Supporting Member and kiss them all goodbye. Click here for more info.

Top