Flaming Gorge as seen from Canyon Rim Trail |
Continuing from the last post I am doing a little fast-forwarding.
July 2023
While Cyndee was convalescing from her surgery I did some hikes. The anesthesia had some lasting effects and she was sleeping for long stretches so it was possible for me to get in some short hikes during her "naps". The Canyon Rim Trail was close enough to the volunteer campground that I could just walk to it and take in the sights.
Looking east into the gorge. It is 1,380' (421 m) down to the water from where I am standing. |
This is pretty typical of how close the trail parallels the canyon rim. |
Red Canyon Rim Trail. It is loaded with rocks that are perfect for rolling an ankle on. |
If you don't take a picture, it didn't happen. |
The lambs have put on some size since I saw them a month ago. |
Some tourists from the visitor center got too close trying to take pictures and started a small stampede. |
As soon as they crossed the road their "buffer" between them and people was re-established and they went right back to grazing. |
Moving away from the crowd of people put them to where I was the closest human and they were keeping an eye on me. |
Jones Hole Fish Hatchery really is down in a "hole". Entering from the plateau above it is a 10% grade down a lengthy road to the bottom of the canyon. |
Meanwhile, back at the ranch we've had a break-in. One of the two herds of angus cattle breached a fence and found their way into the 14 acre portion of the historic site. It is not the first time I've had to move them out of this pasture and there is a couple of times since that they have found their way all the way up to the cabins and house during the night. There are a couple of bulls in this herd that are gigantic and they are always fighting over control. They have smashed a lot of fencing during their fracases.
A few members of the red angus herd of cattle. |
Fire on the mountain! In mid-July we had an intense thunderstorm that resulted in a double lightning strike on Mustang Ridge, directly across the reservoir from us. Luckily a ranger happened to be looking right at the tree that took the double hit and she was able to immediately call the Forest Service Fire Fighters. Two helicopters with water buckets were called in and a bulldozer was used to cut a fire line. To be safe a campground adjacent to the ridge was evacuated and even we were told to be ready to go without notice.
But the Forest Service got things under control and had the fire contained within 48 hours with little more than 100 acres scorched. Good job!
Back to the flora and fauna. Just out the back of our rig is a stand of milkweed. The milkweed I am familiar with is usually a small clump, no more than a few inches tall. I've planted hundreds of them as attractants for Monarch butterflies. But like all the other flowering plants around here, the milkweed is huge. It stands chest-high to me.
Really tall milkweed right out the back of our rig. |
All kinds of insects were taking advantage of these flowers, bees being the most prominent. |
Swallow-tail butterflies were the next most abundant insect. |
I really enjoyed taking these pics. It was a real challenge getting a sharp image because of the motion of the insect coupled with blustery winds. |
The geological loop is interesting just from the car but getting out and taking a closer look just takes your breath away. |
Tower Rock. That big old thing is just sticking up there, free-standing. |
The outhouse is not yet visible due to brush. The entrance to the root cellar can be seen in the upper-right corner. The foot bridge is for crossing Allen Creek, the ranch's sole source of water. |
There it is! The outhouse is getting back to looking like it did when the ranch was occupied by the Swetts and their nine children. |
Not a slacker in the bunch. These guys worked hard. |
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