Siblings

I recently was paid a visit from my brother Jackson and my sister-in-law Wendy. I was very happy to see them. It had been a long time. I hope I get a chance to visit them in the not too distant future.

Hotshots

We usually make a point of stopping by the California Trail Interpretive Center near Elko, Nevada. This time we passed by a crew cutting sagebrush by the roadside (as a fire break). They were having a great time with their chainsaws and hard hats under the summer sun. Their trucks said that they were the Ruby Mountain Hotshots (firefighters). For some reason all the guys (they were all guys) had long beards so it looked like a convention of ZZ Top impersonators.

I love the smell of freshly cut sagebrush.

Bear Lake

The Utah-Idaho state line cuts right through the middle of this large mountain lake which attracts visitors from around the region for summer sun and fun. It's been called the "Caribbean of the Rockies" due to the turquoise shade of its waters. This place was also a major location for the "rendezvous" of the 19th century where mountain men, Native Americans and fur traders met to do business and socialize.

If you want to find a real estate bargain this place is for you. We saw a sign offering an acre of land overlooking the lake for about the same cost as renting an apartment for a month in San Francisco.

Geography quiz: name another large mountain lake shared by two states.

Answer: Lake Tahoe (California-Nevada).

Bison!

I don't know about you, but I get very happy and excited when I encounter a herd of North American bison (Bison bison). Yes, I know you can't mess with them or get too close, but I think they are the coolest animals ever.

In the picture they are far away, but when we drove by the same stretch of highway later the same day they were very close to the road. We watched them from the safety of the car.

Grand Teton National Park

The last few times I have been to this region the focus was exclusively on Yellowstone. This time we explored the Tetons. We took two big hikes here including an attempt at reaching Amphitheater Lake which lies in the cirque below the Grand Teton (the highest peak in the picture). In the foreground you can see the winding Snake River which flows into the Columbia and out to the Pacific Ocean.

Note to Dad: If you want to hike 10 miles with a 3,000 foot elevation gain, start before noon.

South Pass

It's out in the middle of nowhere today, but South Pass in Wyoming was the main crossing point over the Continental Divide for the Oregon, California and Mormon Trails back in the 19th century. It was "discovered" by Europeans in the 1820s and used by thousands of emigrants (including a few of my ancestors) drawn to a new life in the West over the ensuing decades. Manifest destiny in action.

It was very windy here. Dad had to chase about 50 yards after our picnic tablecloth which was being carried away. It was hilarious. That being said, I'm sure that the early pioneers were grateful that they didn't have to trek over the Wind River Range just to the north of here. This year the high country was snowbound even in late June.

Fun fact: Wyoming is the only state in the Union that has land in all four major western watersheds (Columbia, Mississippi-Missouri, Colorado and Great Basin). We've been in all of them on this trip.