Hiking the Bighorn Pass Trail
A couple coworkers and I headed out to the Bighorn Pass trail head after enjoying breakfast at a local cafe.
Those of us who work in the park tend to find places outside the park to hike on our days off. Bighorn is actually inside Yellowstone, but it's located on highway 191 north of West Yellowstone so there aren't any tourists here.
This one that crosses the Madison River is especially nice. Have you ever stopped to think about how much work it must have been for the trail crew to haul in the materials to build bridges like this?
Although the wild flower season is almost done, there was still the opportunity to stop and "smell the roses" along the way.
Off they go on a multi-day trip into the back country. They carry water filtration systems and their own food. The Park Service has back country cabins that they stay in overnight. They also carry electric fences to corral the horses at night.
It made me miss my horses. How much fun would it be to be a back country ranger?
Those of us who work in the park tend to find places outside the park to hike on our days off. Bighorn is actually inside Yellowstone, but it's located on highway 191 north of West Yellowstone so there aren't any tourists here.
This trail is very flat and meanders through beautiful meadows and sagebrush fields.
There were a couple water crossings and the Park Service has one a terrific job with the foot bridges.
This one that crosses the Madison River is especially nice. Have you ever stopped to think about how much work it must have been for the trail crew to haul in the materials to build bridges like this?
The trail follows the Madison River.
Although the wild flower season is almost done, there was still the opportunity to stop and "smell the roses" along the way.
You'll notice the sky is hazy. The Bacon Rind fire is about two miles north of here and although the fire is only slightly over 400 acres it's still affecting the sky.
More beautiful flowers...I believe this is the mountain blue bell.
The only wildlife we saw was a flock of Canadian Geese.
I think the sagebrush mixed with wild flowers is especially beautiful. After about 6.1 miles a storm started to roll in so we decided to turn back and head for the car. I don't mind being rained on, but lightening is a different story. I recently learned that if you're caught in the back country during an electric storm you should sit on your backpack. I hope I never have to try that.
When we got back to the trail head our fellow back country rangers were saddling up and about to head out to do some trail maintenance. This is Ralph and Apple. Apple is carrying their gear. These rangers and horses live in our housing area.
Across from Ralph is John and Mary. Mary is riding Bosco, John rides Doc and Ralph rides Tuxedo while leading Apple.
Off they go on a multi-day trip into the back country. They carry water filtration systems and their own food. The Park Service has back country cabins that they stay in overnight. They also carry electric fences to corral the horses at night.
It made me miss my horses. How much fun would it be to be a back country ranger?
Comments
Love the back country ranger guys. How many horses in the USA are named Doc? Ole Dad loved to go on the back country pack trips with the Forest Service.