Walk The Winds 2018 - There and Back Again

[Sparksalot]

We wanted to attend the Walk The Winds gathering near Pinedale, Wyoming this July. The challenge was getting there from Texas. Road Trip!

The first of many stops to tighten the kayak straps, and a photo op. Also the first kayak compliments. Distance from home 8 miles.


Getting out of Texas takes a long time.


It's dry out here.


It's also windy out here.


Rest break at the Slug Bug Ranch near Amarillo.


Graffiti artist at work. Note dog on the lookout for "The Fuzz".

[Sparksalot]

Day 1 - (Almost) out of Texas. We stopped at Lake Meredith National Recreation Area north of Amarillo. It has more than 100 first come, first served free campsite. It finally dropped below 90F at 10pm.



A recently emerged cicada.


Sunset with Luna and Mars.


Day 2 saw a lot of this, still getting out of Texas.


We missed the Welcome to New Mexico sign.
(insert image here)

We had to drive part way up a volcano.

[Sparksalot]

Still day 2, near Colorado Springs. We visited the Garden of the Gods, then took off uphill on the Rampart Range Road.


Still Rampart Ranging. The road took us to 10,000 ft, and blissfully out of the heat below.


It was a bit dusty, over 60 miles.


We dropped more than 3,000 ft into the canyon, and our campsite. It seemed like we did it all at once.


We awoke to some great red rocks! Lone Rock campground at Deckers, CO.

[Sparksalot]

We took a detour through Estes Park, CO for lunch. In on US 36, then out on US34.


Say, it only took us 1,200 miles, but we're getting closer.


We spent night 3 camped in the driveway of some family friends in Centennial, Wyoming. We got a tip about the Farson Merchantile's ice cream counter.


We've arrived. Dusty, tired, and totally refreshed.

[Sparksalot]

I had been to this lake in 1998, and was very envious of the boy scouts out on the water. So...

The launching beach was at the very western end of the lower lake.


Did someone say scenery?




We ate lunch on a beach at the very eastern end of the upper lake. About 3.5 miles one way.


The Princess Helper and Captain Fuzzball taking some teadrop time.


Being a teardrop gathering, of course there was a potluck dinner. Slow Cowboy has just finished baking some biscuits.

[Sparksalot]

Sunday morning. After some temporary repairs to one of the kayak seats we're about to take another spin. This time around the lower lake only.


Feeling nostalgic in my old shirt...


Why nostalgic you ask? I was in the Winds in 1997 too, on the other side, in the same shirt. Chilling on the Bears Ears Trail at 12,000ft. Continental Divide is the ridge behind me. I had been on it two days before.


Taking a beach break.






We found another "beach" and did some gold panning.




Captain Fuzzball is on guard duty.

[Sparksalot]

Sunset on the last evening.

[Sparksalot]

After we left, time for some more sight seeing.

The Carissa Gold Mine at South Pass City.


Welcome to Atlantic City! Note the population.


We made it to Independence Rock 3 weeks late. I hope we can make it to Missouri before the first snow.

[Sparksalot]

In our wanderings, we crossed the Continental Divide 5 times. At the 5th, we decided to camp. The Silver Lake campground in the Snowy Range Pass was only 10,500ft. It was glorious.


Note to others...microball pens do not like high altitude.



Our last morning in Wyoming. Taken from the tear door.




It's coffee time! And a coffee emergency, we ran out a day early.

[Sparksalot]

Day 8, time for a LOT of miles.






Our final night on the road. We stopped at the same campsite as night 1. It was much cooler this time.


Sunrise on the last day. No coffee, but we did find a stash of tea.

[KCStudly]

Nice trip and pictures. Thanks for sharing!

[Sparksalot]

Nice trip and pictures. Thanks for sharing!

I'm glad you enjoyed them. The trip was great, and the people fantastic.

[Woodbutcher]

Thanks for the travel log. It is fun to follow along as people camp across the country. Walk the Winds is in a great spot, I hope to get back in a year or two.

[Sparksalot]

Me too. I don’t want to wait 20 years for my next trip.

[S. Heisley]

Enjoyed reading about your travel trip and seeing the pictures. Thanks for sharing!