Will Work For Food II

“Well, he's on the road. Prolly in South Dakota by now. A little travel there, then onto the Bighorns in Wyoming... and beyond.

Gojo is great, as are the "kids." He did finish the "surround sound" project, skiracer. Sounds great!

And don't let him tell you he'll work for food. He also dishes out for food sometimes. ;-)

Thanks, gojo!! Missing you and yours, also.”

“Chadron, NE

I ran some errands awaiting the opening of the library. One stop was the Nebraska Natl. Forest headquarters.

I'm leaving the library for the Pine Ridge Trail in the Pine Ridge NRA, about 20 miles to the south. The dogs and I are gonna do an overniter there.

This morning I stopped at The Daily Grind coffee house. It just so happens that the server is a young FS employee. I got more info from him than the two folks at the FS office combined.

I'm looking forward to seeing the trail. I'll do a report soon after the hike.

Lizs -
DO NOT DO ANYTHING TO YER BIKE BEFORE THURSDAYish!
(keep an eye out at work for a package delivery from a uniformed US Service employee.)

Speaking of your bike... find some bolt cutters, and buy a new combo lock, too. Your Landlord will understand...

Thanks again for a wonderful visit.”

“Dang! LOL! You're visiting an area of Nebraska I've been to... and wanted to visit again. I even had a De Lormes Gazateer I coulda lent. lol!

This'll probably get ya too late, but take a peek around Fort Robinson as you head west, at Crawford. Soldier Wilderness is there, too.

So did ya head south down to Valentine and over? Or did ya go through Pine Ridge?”

“Errrrrrrr. OOOOOOOOOPS!!

Just tried the padlock, transposing a couple numbers. It worked. DOH!!!!”

“Gojo,
Here is a Terraserver pic of the area in the Bighorns. The dark areas are Shell Res, Addelaid Lake, and to the southwest Shell Lake. Terraserver is cool.”

“Damn - It all looks like dark areas if ya dont know what yer lookin for.”

“Custer, SD.
Pine Ridge Trail hike turned out to be a day hike. Most of the time we were off trail. That Gizmeaux is a "regler mowtin gote"! Belle did fine, too, but her pack was a bit of an obstacle.

Drove through Pine Ridge. It looked as though someone took a couple blocks of North Broadway Av, NYC, and scattered it across the prairie.


Lizs -
0401 5453
expiration, 04/05”

“I *think* I spied the reservoir, and the natural lake of the same name(?). The lake is way up trail, no?”

“ohhhhhhhhh cryptic numbers!!!!”

“Seen this morning on a corner in a blighted urban area, a disheveled fat man sweating profusely while holding a cardboard sign reading, "Will pontificate and denigrate for Oxycotin."”

“kleetn lives!!!! (and travels through the bad part of town, too)”

“I'm heading up to Burgess Junction, in the heart of the Bighorns. I stocked up on some Winter gear in Sheridan this morning, ie, zero degree TNFbag, $100.00 "Montonya" jammies (underwear), and chains for the Mighty Mighty Tacoma.

The locals were great in Sheridan. I bought stuff at three outfitters and Walmart. Everywhere I was taken under wing and assisted like the pathetic Deep Southerner I am - lol!

I'm staying the night at (?) Lodge near Burgess Junction, where I'll make final preparations to hit the hills and trout streams/lakes tomorrow morning.

I'll come out Friday in order to meet Garfum somewhere (sound okay, Garf?).”

“Sounds good. Sorry I missed your call today.

There's a winter storm coming so be careful up there.

Bear Lodge at Burgess Junction is really dog friendly. I've seen guys in the bar there with there dogs sittin next to them.

You might check out the Dead Swede campground area to fish the South Tounge River.”

“Well I hope you made it to Burgess Junction OK. We have a foot+ of snow on the ground right now in Casper, and it's gonna keep snowin through the night. Probably a couple of feet deep up in the Bighorns.”

“Wowsers! We had a brief snow squall here Tuesday at noon. Too much like winter for moi!!”

“WY is getting schlammed!
I love it!

I chained up the Mighty Mighty Tacoma this a.m., and the kids and I went fishing. Touring, actually. Conditions are a little frosty for this boy.

Sarabelle LOVES the snow. Gizmeaux likes it too, but he has a low low tolerance for the chill factor. He has a hooded sweater (fookin' precious!), but is still ready for the warmth of the truck within a few minutes. We're having fun.

Bear Lodge is a totally self-contained village. Beer, food, fuel, beer, friendly folk, and beer.

Garfum is getting even more snow in Casper, according to The Weather Channel.

I'm in limbo, Garf, as far as bp'ing anytime soon. I'll hang out another night, and *prolly* head to ID from here.

I have recently determined that my roadtrip time limit is T'giving - I gotta be home a few days in advance thereof.

I want to spend some quality time with my bro, plus get to CA and mebbe BC. Then, go to the desert SW enroute home. Time has finally become a factor...”

“One week to late for hikin up there. Oh well, ya cant expect a mild fall to last forever. I figured you'd head on to Idaho soon.

You probably know how dicy HWY 90 up toward BC can be this time of year - so the chains for the truck wont be wasted.

I just heard from an architect who was headed to Burgess Junction for a DOT job we have going up there - he had to turn back at Thermopolis.

Enjoy Bear Lodge - I know I have before.”

“See Wind-O-Rama thread:

I can't see anybody hiking in the mountains this weekend. Having driven over south pass yesterday, barely. Closed the road about 15 minutes after I went through Farson.”

“Well we're outta the mountains - Greybull, WY.
The hills were a winter wonderland.
I'm headed due west toward and thru Yellerstone. Prolly stay the night in West Yellerstone, ID. Then, arriving at my bro's in Challis tomorrow.

That's tentative. I'll check road conditions online.

Garf -
You're right about the timing, hiking and fishing wise. But I had a GREAT time at Bear Lodge.

The lodge is at 8000+ ft. Granite Pass is even higher. The tire cables got me around just fine. I'm confident, but not complacent...”

“I'm pretty sure, Yellowstone is closed, isn't it?

At least the East entrance is closed for the winter.

Joe, are you out there Joe?

If he left Greybull at 12:30 (Non TT Time) he should be in Cody RIGHT NOW!!!”

“Does anybody have gojo's cell phone #?

I think he needs to get a call. Of course, if he tried to get to Yellowstone via Cody, he probably already knows that the East gate is closed, which means he has a LONG drive to get to West. Might just as well head north through Laurel, MT.”

“Liz, got your e-mail, but it says "the # you dialed is no longer in service"”

“Aha! So does that mean he can't get a signal, or it's just not working? He had that problem when he was visiting me. And he called them and thought he had it straightened out. I don't know cell phones, so don't know what the problem is.”

“I got the impression that the # was no longer valid, but who knows.”

“He was talking about canceling, so probably did. More power to him. lol!

Well gojo is a big boy and can handle himself, right? Right...”

“As long as he knows how to read a map. But then again, I supposed gizmo could drive him to where he was going!!!

Would have been nice to have him drop in for a visit whike he was so close though.”

“10/31
8:00 P.M.

The silence was golden. I was standing ankle deep in increasingly colder snow. The wind continued to brush past, but I kept my up-turned collar facing into it. If I had known the wait was going to be this long, I surely would have worn something warmer. Yet still... I waited.

One cigarette, then another. An hour must have passed - who knows. The wait continued.

I tried to ward off the chill by busying my mind with thoughts of other things.
"The snow is beautiful under the half-moon." I said to myself.
Although the moon shown bright, it did not vail the myriad stars cast across the sky from horizon to horizon.
"Awesome..."

All these thoughts suddenly vanished into the air now alive with sound. The barritone solo now echoing through the valley was the unmistakable sound of a wolf howl.
"Awesome..."

No sooner than coyotes began joining the chorus, yet another sound drew my attention.

It was a sound foretelling the arrival of the attraction for which I had stopped. The ground hissed and sighed, and the venting steam grew suddenly heavier and more prevelant. Old Faithful was once again coming alive, and I alone was there to witness it.
"Awesome..."







The gate on the Cody side was still open. This past weekend was the last of the season.

Chief -
You were quite correct, sir. I was in Cody at the time of your psychic post. I was literally passing through. I stopped at the road department and found the Yellowstone roads were still open, then I shagged on through. I was hoping to get through the park before nightfall, but that was not to be. I got into W. Yellowstone around nineish.

I'm currently in Challis, ID. I arrived here on Saturday. I'm watching the weather and trying to decide how and where to utilize my new winter gear...

It would cost $200.00 to take a scout flight over the Frank Church - River of No Return Wilderness. I'd like to get into the Bighorn Crags, but there's a 9200' pass betwixt the trailhead and Ship Island Lake... my preferred destination. I fear the pass might be... impassable.

I can borrow snowshoes. I have an ice axe and crampons. I gotta go SOMEWHERE....

mtngaaaaaaaaaaal!?”

“OooOOOooo... I heard reference to one of my favorite places... the Bighorn Crags and Ship Island Lake! WHAT A PLACE! Absolutely stunning. But in the winter? That's a looOOong approach via dirt road in the summer, much less being covered by winter snow? Would you snowmobile to the trailhead?”

“I'd try to drive chained-up... Crags CG.

I'm debating something in the White Clouds and/or Sawtooths... easier access trailheads.”

“Ahhh... I packed into Big Boulder Lakes in the White Clouds, incredible stuff! And in the Sawtooths I spent a week up the headwaters of Alpine Creek. I guess now would be a great time before the snow gets too deep for avalanche concerns. Man, you got some great choices! I bet Stanley looks incredible right now! Wish I was there.”

“I'm driving up early a.m. tomorrow.
I'm shooting for the road to Yellow Jacket mine - maybe as far as Crags CG. It's gonna be cold.

I'll do an exploratory car camp, then maybe an overniter toward Ship Island Lake. If I do okay the first night, I'll go further still. I'd really like to make Ship Island...”

“Anyone heard from Gojo lately?”

“I have a hunch he might post today... lets see how truly psychic I am.

(ps, smiley girl, I think your fish panties might be at **MY** house. LOL!)”

“I said PSYCHIC not PSYCHOTIC!! fyi ... (gosh, don't ya hate that when I take your jokes away before they even happen??!)”

“Note to gojo when he pops up - Hey man the wallpaper is almost completely down. Painting by Thanksgiving. Flooring update to follow. Thanks again, your work got me started on those projects!!

I'm jealous of your trip, you should've kidnapped a few of us along the way!!!!!”

“I hope he didn't get stuck up in those Idahoan Mountains for the winter!!!

I'm going to have a few (7) new doors to hang, along with base board and door casing too, now that the tile is done. Only took 8 days for a contractor to get done. Perfectly, I might add. So far it looks great and the wife is very happy.

GOJO, I NEED HELP!!!!!!”

“(pssst - lizs, they were buried in my laundry. i know you don't have them! lol!)”

“(note to self: Just whose undies are those?!?! LOL)

Let me try to be psychic once more (since I'm looking bad here with my so-called psychic powers, dang it!!)

Setting the scene... looking into crystal ball... hands hovering above it...

I see gojo at his brother's house... computerless... cell-less... vowing to return to the mountains and become a 'mountain man' for the rest of his living days. Willing to track down the 'skeerywoofbare' so others might live in peace... Dang!... the image is fading.....
















(Ok, in other words, he contacted me today and he's fine. LOL!)”

“HEck of a trip report you relayed, lizs! :)”

“All's well.

I'm leaving Challis, ID immediately from this here library. Heading to metro Jackson Hole for a day or so visit with the Friendly Ranger. Homeward bound from there :o(

I'll fill y'all in on my own little Freeze Yer A@@ Off episode, etc later...”

“gojo, check out the Cheaha trip on the trips page. If you go we'll see if we can keep the mighty, mighty Tacoma from getting broken into.”

“Jackson, WY

Hot on the trail of The Friendly Ranger!

I've got her boxed-in in The Hole - there's not escape for her now!

LOL!”

“Jackson Hole, WY...one of my favorite towns.”

“Jackson Hole one of my favorites too skiracer. 've met some good old cowboys there, yep. Rollickin great time.”

“I HAVE to get out West.”

“Dang, dayhiker. I gotta rethink hiking with you. ;)”

“Well howdy, hutchy.

TFR is found!
She's prolly the most difficult person on the planet to locate.

She's enrolled at the Teton Science School. The view of the Teets across Jackson Hole is awesome from here (the school).

We did dinner at a brew pub last night. I think we're gonna take a tree measuring hike later, but she's up to her hippopotamus in studying at the moment.

I'm just hanging out - loving life in Jackson Hole, Wyoming surrounded by winter...

I may take Belle and Giz in search of griz... I dunno. Mebbe after another cup of coffee.

She told me a joke last night:
How did Canada get it's name?
Well, they put the letters of the alphabet (stop me if you've heard it) in a hat, then began taking them out.
"C" eh?
"N" eh?
"D" eh?
hahahahahahahahahahaha!”

“Howdy back! What a great time it sounds like you're having!! Have a bison brew for me!”

“Ooh, that did sound bad. I really want to go to the Tetons, but for the nature scenery.”

“Yeah, dayhiker, you leave those cowboys to me. giddy ap!

For a taste of nature and scenery hike Teton, then relax at the Cowboy Grill and play pool with the locals. Can't remember exactly the name but there's a "nearly locally" brewed brown ale I found particularly tasty.”