Album The members of backcountrypost.com

[scatman]

He loves skiing, hiking, and mountain biking, and he wants to be close to all that - which is why he wants to move from Iowa to SLC! He's hoping to work at the U.

Looks like he is moving to the right place then.

 

[chandlerwest]

I was all alone in Glacier NP last week, so no one to consider but me. I had my strongest week ever!! 80 miles hiked. 28 new miles hiked so my "Project" total has reached 431 of 734 possible miles. Again.....I am just a day hiker so proud of this lifetime accomplishment. I hiked three class 3,4 (low maintenance/ghost) trails. Made three approaches to the park across the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. (Permit required). For the first time ever I felt the need/desire to unholster my bear spray. Instead of running away she was fairly ambivalent about me. She had two cubs.

 

[Yvonne]

Yeah, the trail reopened two weeks after the little sneaky eruption in the backcountry of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes NP.
When our PR person texted me about the trail opening, I was out and on a crack-hunting mission for the park.

I was not disappointed at all. In early February, we already had a huge magma intrusion in the same area, with about 20 inches of uplift. A few hours before the eruption, there was another magma intrusion and a dike emplacement in the same area, and another uplift of about 15 inches happened.
This put a lot of stress and strain on the entire area, and I knew there would be new ground cracks.
I was blown away when I saw the new cracks!!

Wow, they propagated from the fissure eruption for several miles to the southwest and have opened the ground for several feet!!
That was the most incredible sight ever.
The crack also damaged the trail in many spots, and the crossing was challenging due to unstable ground, overhanging rocks, and still developing cracks.

I went on both my weekend days, two days in a row.

the lower right bottom part is the trail

I like this shot because it shows the trail and one of the rocks now stranded on a piece of unstable ground

the cracks go all the way to the June 3rd fissure eruption

Zoomed-in image of the June 3rd fissure eruption: it shows how close the lava flow came to the GPS station and gas meaning device

The crack cut across several layers of eruptive history!! I really love the layered sediments, silt, sand, and ash exposed in the crack.

 

[scatman]

Pongo enjoying some Scat time.



And Dexter who took a liking to me for some reason


And least I forget about Tucker-Jeff

 

[TractorDoc]

Tucker-Jeff looks like he could use a Circus Peanut.

My weekend hikes to get prepared for @Bob 's Deer Creek/Hidden Creek/Falls Creek/Mountain Top Adventure have been consistent but visually similar lately.

To beat the heat I've been walking thru the woods a lot on trails that look like this.



Sometimes near creeks/streams that look like this.



Today I played with shutter times and f-stops a bit.



Courtesy of Mrs.TractorDoc. Today I was carrying three dumb bells, a large paver brick, plus the camera/water bottle/etc. in the pack.

 

[scatman]

Tucker-Jeff before the Circus Peanut



Tucker-Jeff after a Circus Peanut.

 

[TractorDoc]

Ten days and counting before the flight leaves to Wyoming to meet up with @scatman @Bob @wsp_scott @b.stark @futurafree and @Joey . Looking forward to meeting the last three in person for the first time.

Attempting to offset my lack of altitude acclimation by continuing to carry the 60lb. pack over as much undulating terrain as I can.

A few snippets from this weekend's hike.

I do not think I've ever seen a Great Blue Heron meditating before.



Creek next to the trail.



Wandered to the edge of the state forest for this view.



Some trailside foliage.





Fair Warning for @wsp_scott to look away for this next part.

Two weeks back I was hiking in the same area. I like to think that I am rather observant, and I remember cruising down the trail and thinking to myself "That is a rather dark tree root."



Obviously not a tree root! That snake had to be four to five feet long. I do not mind snakes when I am aware of their presence, but when I am startled by them I instinctually jump and usually vocalize some indecipherable noises. That may or may not have happened in this instance. Once I knew it was a snake and not a root I watched it a bit. It chose to watch me too.



Lastly, a picture for the members of BCP thread. I neglected to take my picture on the trail in the morning, so you get me on the hay wagon in the afternoon.



Almost forgot! I finally put a quick video together of the April 8th Solar Eclipse.

 

[Rockskipper]

Are there poisonous snakes where you live? I don't mind snakes, but spiders, that's another thing, but mostly if they're inside the house. I'm currently renting a small ADU in a house with people upstairs and they called to ask if I was OK after I found a rather large spider gallivanting around. That instinctive shout is a real gut wrencher and I might've felt the same way with a five-foot snake. LOL. Nice video, BTW.

And your life will never be the same after this upcoming trip. Might want to forewarn your wife.

ETA: I'm now seeing snakes where I used to see roots. I guess root snakes are now a thing here in W. Colorado.

 

[b.stark]

Ten days and counting before the flight leaves to Wyoming to meet up with @scatman @Bob @wsp_scott @b.stark @futurafree and @Joey . Looking forward to meeting the last three in person for the first time.

Attempting to offset my lack of altitude acclimation by continuing to carry the 60lb. pack over as much undulating terrain as I can.

A few snippets from this weekend's hike.

I do not think I've ever seen a Great Blue Heron meditating before.

View attachment 132904

Creek next to the trail.

View attachment 132903

Wandered to the edge of the state forest for this view.

View attachment 132905

Some trailside foliage.

View attachment 132906 View attachment 132908

View attachment 132907

Fair Warning for @wsp_scott to look away for this next part.

Two weeks back I was hiking in the same area. I like to think that I am rather observant, and I remember cruising down the trail and thinking to myself "That is a rather dark tree root."

View attachment 132909

Obviously not a tree root! That snake had to be four to five feet long. I do not mind snakes when I am aware of their presence, but when I am startled by them I instinctually jump and usually vocalize some indecipherable noises. That may or may not have happened in this instance. Once I knew it was a snake and not a root I watched it a bit. It chose to watch me too.

View attachment 132910

Lastly, a picture for the members of BCP thread. I neglected to take my picture on the trail in the morning, so you get me on the hay wagon in the afternoon.

View attachment 132911

Almost forgot! I finally put a quick video together of the April 8th Solar Eclipse.

I think everybody else in the group will be in better shape than me! Spent the last 3 days preparing by being at a family getaway and eating ALL the food. Have been getting in some walking and cycling but no 60lb packs involved in my workout routine!

 

[Rockskipper]

You'll probably save everyone's life, since the cardinal rule of hiking is to go at the speed of the slowest hiker.

 

[wick e. pedia]

Ten days and counting before the flight leaves to Wyoming to meet up with @scatman @Bob @wsp_scott @b.stark @futurafree and @Joey . Looking forward to meeting the last three in person for the first time.

Attempting to offset my lack of altitude acclimation by continuing to carry the 60lb. pack over as much undulating terrain as I can.

A few snippets from this weekend's hike.

I do not think I've ever seen a Great Blue Heron meditating before.

View attachment 132904

Creek next to the trail.

View attachment 132903

Wandered to the edge of the state forest for this view.

View attachment 132905

Some trailside foliage.

View attachment 132906 View attachment 132908

View attachment 132907

Fair Warning for @wsp_scott to look away for this next part.

Two weeks back I was hiking in the same area. I like to think that I am rather observant, and I remember cruising down the trail and thinking to myself "That is a rather dark tree root."

View attachment 132909

Obviously not a tree root! That snake had to be four to five feet long. I do not mind snakes when I am aware of their presence, but when I am startled by them I instinctually jump and usually vocalize some indecipherable noises. That may or may not have happened in this instance. Once I knew it was a snake and not a root I watched it a bit. It chose to watch me too.

View attachment 132910

Lastly, a picture for the members of BCP thread. I neglected to take my picture on the trail in the morning, so you get me on the hay wagon in the afternoon.

View attachment 132911

Almost forgot! I finally put a quick video together of the April 8th Solar Eclipse.

I rendezvous with the rest of my Crescent Lake - High Lake - Sportsman Lake crew in Jackson before scootin' north into the park August 2nd through 9th. Say hey if you see this goober around town, I give a mean high-five!

 

[TractorDoc]

Are there poisonous snakes where you live?

I believe we only have a couple venomous snakes in Ohio and fortunately they do not frequent my area. I don't have the same reaction to spiders -- but I know some people are less appreciative than I. We live in an older farmhouse that gets its share of spiders that find their way in. We have a "bug cup" and now and again I will come home to the cup upside down on the floor holding something captive. It is my job to slide something between the cup and floor then transport the spider outside.

I guess root snakes are now a thing here in W. Colorado.

I think my trail pace has slowed considerably now that I give every root a good look before stepping over it.

Have been getting in some walking and cycling but no 60lb packs involved in my workout routine!

At least you are smart and are leapfrogging up Deer Creek!

August 2nd through 9th. Say hey if you see this goober around town, I give a mean high-five!

Will do. Hope you have a great trip!

 

[Rockskipper]

We're starting to see some smoke here in W. Colorado, but checking the smoke map, it's nothing like further up north. I sure hope it clears before you guys head out on your Yellowstone trip.

 

[b.stark]

Pretty smoky out here in Nebraska.

 

[scatman]

I think I might have died and gone to heaven @Rockskipper.

Jay Creek teaser.

 

[Bob]

To come .... separate thread.....

 

[Rockskipper]

I think I might have died and gone to heaven @Rockskipper.

Jay Creek teaser.
View attachment 132923

I recognize that bunch, and if you knew their history, you might think otherwise. That’s the bunch that took off way out in the Thorofare and stranded a bunch of people with no supplies. They thought it was really funny. I had just come back from a pack trip when they all came roaring in, packs and all, wanting their dinner. Kind of disgraceful. Notice how they all have their rear ends toward you and are ignoring you? They’re kind of a haughty bunch. (Will edit if I can think of more ways to use the word bunch.)

 

[scatman]

To come .... separate thread.....

View attachment 132967

My knees hurt just looking at that picture.

 

[Rockskipper]

My knees hurt just looking at that picture.

I can’t zoom in close enough, but it looks suspiciously like that guy in the front leading the expedition is wearing a kilt.

 

[scatman]

I recognize that bunch, and if you knew their history, you might think otherwise. That’s the bunch that took off way out in the Thorofare and stranded a bunch of people with no supplies. They thought it was really funny. I had just come back from a pack trip when they all came roaring in, packs and all, wanting their dinner. Kind of disgraceful. Notice how they all have their rear ends toward you and are ignoring you? They’re kind of a haughty bunch. (Will edit if I can think of more ways to use the word bunch.)

Bunch is a good word Skipper. She if you can incorporate the word fracas in your next reply. It is a good word too.

Those weren't the only mules we ran into on this trip. What do the words "Horse down!" mean to you?