Guest Photos of Medicine Bow Peak Hike

 

This wide angled photo was shot by a fried of mine. He hike the Medicine Bow Peak with me one afternoon as the clouds rolled in.

 

Various trails headed down to pristine lakes. Camping is allowed, with out obtaining a permit, at these gorgeous locations up along the Snowy Range in southern Wyoming.

 

I do recommend carrying water and using hiking poles. While this bit of trail looks level, we encountered several boulder fields and open country. The air is generally pretty dry. Sunscreen is also highly recommended. At higher elevations, the air is thin and serious sunburn can result.

The Ideal Hat

I bought this fishing hat in West Yellowstone for $20. The feathers were added later, trail feathers found along the way. The chin cord has proven to be very useful. Several times while climbing in the Medicine Bow Mountains, the wind gusts nearly ripped it away.

 

I really enjoyed the ventilation design up in the Maroon Bells, hiking the Four Pass Loop with my friend Flo. The wide brim kept the sun off my face, yet it never got hot. Previously I shunned hats because they made my head hot. Now, that problem solved, I love them.

 

 

 

Thanks to our new friend from Minnesota who snapped this photo as we wound our way through massive fields of flowers.

 

I like wearing stealth colors. If necessary, I can fade back into the forest and sit motionless, unseen, while others hike past.

 

My external frame was custom fitted with an ultra light silnylon pack to accept a Garcia bear canister when hiking through griz country. I didn't need the canister this time, but the pack fits so well I opted to use it.

How I Remade My Bag into a Quilt

This was both a learning project and a minimalist ultralighter's fascination. I've had this fantastic Marmot 30 degree sleeping bag ever since I bought it in Damascus while on my Appalachian Trail thru hike.
I washed it by hand in 2009 and dried it in the dryer, restoring the loft completely at that time. It served as a top quilt in Yellowstone last winter, a great piece of gear no matter what outdoor or indoor adventure. But, the quilt is also a great piece of gear and I've thought about making a down quilt for a long time. Put both projects together and you have the video below.


Be patient when working with clean down. Its like corralling clouds. Like the fluff from dandelions.

One thing I realized: a full sized sleeping pad, trimmed to fit this quilt, will provide the bottom insulation. Normally I use a three-quarter length ultralight pad.

Easy Cat Hole

One of the easiest way to dig a cat hole is to find a pine tree and use your hiking pole. Check out this short video. You can use a stick too, if you're just camping or hanging out.


I always wash my hands afterwards. Only you can prevent giardia.

TEOTWAWKI Tomorow

Just a reminder, starting tomorrow, until the 14th, you can get book two of the River Survival Series free at amazon.com

This end of the world as we know it, post grid collapse thriller series pits good survivalists against flesh eating cannibals bent on enslaving every human being.
This free promotion allows authors to get their work out to the readers. I hope to receive good reviews at amazon so others can get a feel for the series. Book Two, All Hell Can't Wait, is filled with action. Our heroes in Rivertown must fend off raiders. We learn much of their history through backstory, the tragedies that made them the No-Prisoner-Warriors they are today. Thanks for your interest and reviews.

How I Camoflaged My Blue Tent

What I've been up to lately.

High Powered Bear Spray a Great Weapon

I always carry bear spray in the back country. A simple caribiner clip hooks it right to the belt loop, allowing a instant self defense weapon.

Happy Fourth Independence Day

Here in Centennial in the Snowy Mountain Range, population 270, the library is open and having a book sale. Lots of Mystery-Action, Fantasy and Politics, the older couple running this event have it well organized and friendly. No cell service in town, but Wifi is nearly as good.

Remember, beginning July 10 through the 14th, the second book, All Hell Won't Wait, will be free at amazon.com. The River Survival Series is a post grid collapse, or TEOTWAWKI thriller.

 

This series incorporates good old American know how and perseverance against a society that has lost everything they know. While civilization collapses, a few struggle in Rivertown to maintain law and order. This town believes in arming and training every citizen against raiders who frequent the Mississippi River corridor. What they didn't plan for was a large band of flesh eaters -cannibals arriving on their doorstep.

 

Although you don't have to read the first book before devouring this one, An End of Days is only $1.99 now and will lend insight into Carla's murderous darkness, why the Henderson's will take no prisoners and how the River Patrol met the escapees from Chicago.

 

Writing this series made me realize how important homesteading skills and the second amendment to the constitution, the right to bear arms, was.

 

 

Good Stay in Riverton

If you're camping along the Great Basin or Wind River Range, you'll know how sweet big trees can be. I found this campsite online and decided all the great reviews I read made it seem a no brainer.

The owner, Dee, is a lot of fun. She makes everyone feel welcome and I hated to leave! Seemed like family. I know I'll be back. Shout out to my new friends George and David who were working in the area. They are hilarious and fun to hang with at the umbrella table.

Yes You Can!

Down in the town of Riverton, Wyoming I bought a mountain bike, used, for sixty bucks. It had a water bottle cage, good seat and 26 knobby tires. After test riding it, I told Shawn who was selling a multitude of refurbished bikes from his garage that I'd take it. Of course, I said, if you can keep it while I find a trunk rack for this little car.

He gave me some pointers and after checking the local outfitters and Ace Hardware, I headed to Walmart. They had one kind and the list on the back of the box was quite lengthy. $49.95 and tax and I was in business. I picked up some sticky backed red reflectors and a plastic sippy water bottle, and headed back to Shawn's to rig it up and haul it away.

It carries well after utilizing three bung cords to keep the wheel from bouncing and the petal from banging against the car. The third strap tightens the bike to the rack frame. All told, I can load and unload it myself.
Sometimes I forget the bike rack is on the trunk when I shut it. It sticks out a ways and can clobber you if you're too close.


I thought I'd have to get a pick up truck if I wanted to take a bike on the road trip. Not so. Thanks to Shawn from Riverton for telling me, Yes You Can!