Driving the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway
In my last post I left West Yellowstone and drove to Cody, Wyoming and drove the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, but the weather was so bad I didn’t get any good photos. If you remember, this is exactly what happened when I drove the Beartooth Highway; I had bad weather on...
Two Camps on Bad Roads: West Yellowstone, MT
(Because of a silly mistake on my part, this post is out of order. It should have come before my last post which has me leaving West Yellowstone, MT and going to Cody. This one tells about me getting to West Yellowstone. Oh well, no real harm done.) After my...
Onward to Cody, Wyoming
After the 4th of July it was time to get back on the road and see more of Wyoming. Since one of the things I am trying to do is drive all the entrances into Yellowstone the logical next step was to drive the remaining ones and the closest one was the Chief Joseph...
Join me at the Festival of the Cranes; Bosque del Apache NWR
Last year I went to the Festival of the Cranes at Bosque del Apache NWR and had such a great time I am planning on going again, this year--and maybe every year for the rest of my life! You can see my posts about that experience here:...
Smiths Fork/Grey’s River Road: Part II
In my last post we were traveling the Smiths Fork/Grays River Loop and got as far as LaBarge Pass and the Tri-Basin divide where I turned north on Greys River Road. Once on the Grey’s River Road you go over a slight pass and head down to Alpine. At the top of the pass...
Driving Wyoming's Smith's Forks/Grey's River Road–Part 1
This is the first post of two on the Smiths Fork/Grey’s River Road. I loved it so much, and took so many photos, I can’t get them all in one post. The first post covers the Smiths Fork Road to the Tri-Basin Divide when you turn north on the Grey’s River Road. After I...
Bear Spray—Your Best Choice for Predator Defense
In my last post I explained the reasons I don’t recommend firearms for self-defense against predators, so, if guns are a bad idea, what is a good idea? These are my recommended methods of self-defense Bear Spray: Without doubt bear spray is the best defense against...
Self-Defense-Against Predators: Guns NOT Recommended
After my encounter with the mountain lion I promised to write a post about practical ways to stay safe in the backcountry, here it is! While I’m specifically talking about safety from four-legged predators and snakes, most of what I'm saying can also be applied to...
Camping on the Beartooth Scenic Byway: FR 2412 Camp
Since I’m working on a guide book to Wyoming I’m driving the most beautiful roads but I’m also reporting on free dispersed camping in those areas. Today’s post is about my camp at the bottom of the Beartooth Scenic Byway. The day I drove it started out looking pretty...
Beartooth Scenic Byway
After a few days in the Gardiner camp it was finally time to drive the Beartooth Scenic Byway. As far as I know, I’ve never driven it before, at least I can’t remember driving it. However, one picture from my 1979 motorcycle trip looks like I may have driven it then....
Passive Cooling: How to Beat the Heat in a Van
I'm writing this in July and much of the country is sweltering under oppressive heat, so it seems like an appropriate time to write about staying cool in a van. Before we go any further let me say staying cool is the most difficult aspect of living in a van and the...
Entrances to Yellowstone NP: Gardiner, MT at North Entrance
After three days of the nightmare of dealing with the crowds and traffic at Yellowstone, I needed a break! Next up on my agenda was to drive the Beartooth Scenic Byway from the northeast entrance into Yellowstone up to Red Lodge, Montana. I’ve heard all my life that...