Where the Buffalo Roam
North of the Lee Metcalf Wilderness, sort-of-free-range bison roam the foothills of the Spanish Peaks on the Flying D Ranch.
North of the Lee Metcalf Wilderness, sort-of-free-range bison roam the foothills of the Spanish Peaks on the Flying D Ranch.
When possible, and where legal, we cook by fire. Our normal cook kit we share: a 900 ml titanium pot with lid (no handles), a 550 ml titanium mug, two titanium spoons, and a magnesium firestarter with some firestarting tinder. Total weight for two: 6.5 oz (short trips) -7.5 oz (long trips).
On this trip, I'm testing two key gear systems. The first is the shelter: a 16-ounce double wall tent, that I'm testing for a packraft trek across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in July. The second, my walking clothes: a 4.5-oz "camp shirt" and 4.0-oz "trekking pant", both mosquito-proof, and both woven nylon. This stuff puts 2-layer Supplex to shame, at half the weight.
Chase's tent of choice in mosquito season is the BD One Shot. I have to allow for it, he carries it himself, with the rest of his gear.
Drama unfolds, it's time to start the day. Soon, we'd be yearning for shade under the blazing skies.
It's hard to get moving in a Spanish Peaks camp. There are so many 5-star places to spend the night in this range, that sometimes, you just want to sit and enjoy them.
We both journal in the backcountry. I never encouraged Chase to do so, he just sort of started it. He's at the age where his journals are observational, but he's beginning to pepper them with inspiration as well. I'm finding that his journaling time increases with every trip.
June marks the first big wave of wildflowers in the Spanish Peaks. Lupine, aster, larkspur, and flox are among the first to explode en masse in the meadows.
With lots of snow remaining in the mountains, and the creeks running full, we thought we'd take some time to explore the marshes. In this one, we found trout fingerlings among the willows. Bushwhacking and wet feet were the order of the day.
