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

[The Trout Whisperer]

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…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.Valliantly off we strode, 4 explorers ready for an adventure! We were not to be disappointed .Tatanka(bison) no payin us any mind at all( thank heavens)WOW..the terrain on th topo didn’t appear this up n downy…it looked Ike more open, level meadows to me..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 bottomsReally, NPS, you want me to cross where?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)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.hey, there’s a meadow..where are th trees n shade(there’s be some fires in th area since th big one of 1988)…there was a tad bit o shade..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. 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 .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.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 tubmeetin’ back up with th guys and drinkin a bunch of water, off we headed back…The Maple Creek crossing to come, haunting me.Scatman, was it me, or were th meadows abit longer on th way back?the fireweed was beautiful in th afternoon sun…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…gettindried out n renourishedstraight up th hill n onward to camptired at this point…are we there yet?followin my trail angel who shared water….left,right, left, right…I see camp!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.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.

 

[scatman]

@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. 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.

 

[The Trout Whisperer]

@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. 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!

 

[Rockskipper]

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?

 

[The Trout Whisperer]

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!)