Bear Lake Idaho to Kaycee Wyoming

[Woodsman]

A friend of mine from Colorado sets up a run almost every fall and heads off in one direction or another looking to explore areas mentioned in Outlaw lore. I missed the 2012 run to Montana but I reserved my spot for the 2013 Wyoming run. In mid-October I loaded up the FJ and headed west to meetup with my friends from the Denver area.

My route west. I left about 5pm on a Friday and drove pretty much continuously except for a few rest area naps.


Saturday was a beautiful day and I made a stop to check out some wind turbines not far off of the interstate.


Wyoming received their first snowfall of the season just prior to my departure so knew I was driving into some poo. The front was moving east so it was windy as fudge all across Nebraska. I always seem to be heading into the wind. This little guy was holding on for the ride at a gas station in Nebraska.


Southeast Wyoming was darn cold for October and I snoozed a few hours in a rest area west of Cheyenne. I'm curled up and shivering with my fleece blanky in a vehicle that sucks to sleep in while all the truckers snoozed in comfort with diesels idling all night long. Snow was piled all around . . . and I was still wearing shorts. Everyone was looking at me like, "He must be a Hoosier." :rofl: I hit the road northwest towards Bear Lake from I-80 and about half way there I looked east and saw this.


I arrived at Bear Lake, Idaho as scheduled on Sunday morning and met up with everyone at their campsite. What a great lake !



On the way towards Jackson, Wyoming we spied a fine place for a group shot on the sandy beach of Bear Lake. The tide was out. :lol:


Ah, a taste of Wyoming. Can't remember the road name at the moment but on the way to Jackson, WY. Beautiful fall colors and nice temps to start the trip.

Along the same stretch, an action shot from the trip planner's camera.


An awesome stone marker.


Have you ever seen so many professional looking photographers set up to take a picture of a stone shaped like a beaver ?

I think this was Crow Creek Road in Idaho at the Beaver Divide sign (between Montpelier and Jackson)

Boat put-in along the Snake River


Sunday night's campsite along Fall Creek Road. This was open range so there were lots of cow pies to be dodged around camp. Good heavy frost that night but the following nights weren't quite as cold.

Another sign that it was a good night.


Passing aspen trees as we leave that camp area.

 

[Woodsman]

Granite Creek Road leading to the hot springs


A shot on Granite Creek Road borrowed from the trip organizer's camera


Some good info on the hot springs


Panoramic of the hot springs area


Looking up stream from the bridge leading to the hot springs


Monday night's camp site near the headwaters of the Green River - Bear Country !


A beautiful FJ60 which was sold soon after this trip. Sweet ride. Absolutely nothing wrong with it but changing life priorities made it expendable.


Green River Lake


Green River Lake heel in the water


On or around Mosquito Pass


Cruising along on Mosquito Pass and turning right towards Union Pass


Mosquito Pass


The two track down to Mosquito Lake was slippery and slimy but we were hungry and made it work for a lunch spot.


Ahhh, Union Pass wasn't bad except this bit at the top of the pass which was snow covered with muddy ruts under the snow.


Group shot at Brooks Lake




Tuesday night's camp site along Torrey Lakes. Rained this night so we were all left putting away wet tents.

 

[Woodsman]

Jackalope ride, anyone ?


The Outlaws spent a late night raising hell in the Outlaw Saloon in Dubios, WY.


We drank a bunch of this.


Perry modeling the new Outlaws T-shirts we discovered. Yes, we procured shirts for all.


Breaking down camp. The Craftsman axe leaning against it indicates that I was displaying my woodsman skills. For those buying $100 axes, remember, an expensive axe doesn't give you woodsy skills.


In the cool town of Landers, WY we picked up an escort for the day. After lunch and a great burger, Perry's friend K.C. (resident of Landers) volunteered to show us some cool areas


Lots of sloppy puddles on this day.


This trail brought us out on a levee alongside a beautiful lake


K.C.'s Land Cruiser looks naked but this is his everyday driver. He has a built T100 for getting out there.


Now that is a sign I like to see.

 

[Woodsman]

Back on dirt and heading who knows where.


The last few steps to the top of Blue Ridge Lookout. This was built by the Civilan Conservation Corps in 1938


A view from Blue Ridge Lookout.


The treacherous snow-covered steps leading up to the top of the lookout.


Oh yeah, the official sign.


Parked at the lookout.


Our campsite for Wednesday night just down the road from Miner's Delight. Kurt from Cruiser Outfitters joined us at this camp and ran the rest of the trip with us in his 100 series Land Cruiser.


One rig traveled light. The other, not so much.


A welcome sight when cruising the backcountry in any state, especially when we were on the trail for eight days straight


Miner's Delight


That's Perry looking at home in Miner's Delight.


Another cabin at Miner's Delight. I can picture the men and women of the past toiling endlessly to scratch a living from this back country burg


This Outlaw stepped out of the shadows just as clicked a pic.


Some interior shots.




Probably not the best place to setup camp.


Don't remember the name of the town but it reflects the sad reality of many small towns all over the country. Such a shame.


A pretty barren area but still beautiful with scattered aspens and cottonwoods in the valley and distant mountain vistas.


Here comes the rest of our crew, four fine Land Cruisers making their way across Wyoming oil/gas country.


Out on recon (looking for camp spots) and waiting for everyone to gather up before proceeding.

 

[Woodsman]

I really had my mind set on some Pop Ice but it appears that I got here too late. I am guessing this town died when the gas-leaking oil wells moved in en mass.


Another little ghost town with some interesting homes.


I boosted the color on this one to make the unique concrete fence show a little more. Some interesting reading about this town: http://www.wyohistory.org/essays/j-b-okie-sheep-king-central-wyoming


An nicely detailed little house with matching garage in the same town. I'd clean that place up in no time and move right in . . . if I wasn't concerned about dying from poisonous gas in my sleep.


More "wide open" to explore.


This fine holstein mooved aside for us. Thanks Bessy.


Rollin, rollin, rollin, keep them doggies rollin !


Finally out of the gas fields and into an area with some camp site potential.


We spent more time than we wanted trying to find a good spot for camping after driving through the gas fields. This little trail dead ended and as I turned around I met two long (quad cab, long bed) Ram 4x4s. They were draggin' bellies and hitches in some spots and were obviously there for the elk hunting.


Perry saw my FJ from up on the hill and took a short cut down to meet up. Looked like an old trail coming down the side of the hill but the trail disappeared as he continued. Good stuff.


Perry merging onto my trail.


Finally found a camping spot and Daniel and I continued up the hill along the trail to see how far it went. The uphill portion was covered with nice round rocks and became really off camber. Probably could've made it with lots of wheel spin but the cost of failure would've been rolling many times down the ravine.


The spot we found for camping Thursday night was a really great site . . . until the wind and rain started around midnight. Every few minutes a strong gust of wind would press the cold, wet side of my tent against my face. In between, you could hear the bugling of elk and a few were pretty close.


Following Perry back out to the main road. Surprised this wasn't a muddy mess like our camp area was from the rain.


A couple of fresh killed elk on the way to someone's freezer.


We covered sooo many miles of dirt road like this.


More dirt roads !


And more dirt roads !


Did I mention the dirt roads ?

 

[Woodsman]

Perry's little 4Runner turned truggy.


Yummy slop !


A scene I am far too familiar with. Kaycee, WY


Headed towards Hole In The Wall and the red rocks reveal themselves to everyone's surprise. Looks a lot like southern Utah.


Stopped for some poser shots just before entering the ranch land.


Hole In The Wall Ranch baby !!!


I think I could get used to living on the Hole-In-The-Wall ranch. I could brand my furniture with the branding iron and have a line called Outlaw Rustic Furniture.


Darn kids been coloring on the rock again. j/k This is some old art.


Ahhhh, settled into my camping spot for Friday and Saturday night just up the road from Outlaw Cave and Middle Fork Canyon is just a hundred feet across the road.


Really enjoyed meeting some new Cruiserheads on this trip and this is one of them whipping up some breakfast vittles.


Famous upfitter of Toyotas, Kurt Williams (Cruiser Outfitters), wouldn't think of allowing anyone else to cook the bacon.


Parked near the trail head to Outlaw Cave.


Middle Fork Canyon, carved out by the Middle Fork of the Powder River is quite an impressive surprise.


As we hiked down the trail (one mile each way to the cave) you can see how the portion near the water is a lush oasis.


Beautiful.


Dang that water was collllllddddd.


View from the entrance to Outlaw Cave . . . seeing what the outlaws could see. The were a couple of other caves, like the one in the background, which probably served some purpose as well.


Outlaw Cave

 

[Woodsman]

Bunch o' plinkers. I took the opportunity to get some pics in the great evening light since I didn't bring a plinker.


Bluff shot.


Looking across the road from my tent location towards the Middle Fork Canyon


Saying goodbye to the evening sun.

A great camp site.


Another shot of my spot


A short walk up the hill from our camp site brought me to the top of the hill and a great view emerged as I crested the summit.


Lots of pricks out here . . . er, I mean prickly plants.


Love these ranch roads.


Dodge / Ram heavy duty pickups seemed to be the most popular in Wyoming


Making our way back towards Kaycee for breakfast.


Had lunch here on the way towards Hole In The Wall Ranch and we knew it would be a great place for a final breakfast before heading home.


Shawn and Daniel standing in front of Shawn's Land Cruiser


Dave, his daughter, and Shawn prepping for some highway miles back to Denver


My initiation is complete and, as they say, "Once an Outlaw, always an Outlaw !"


I25 south towards Cheyenne, WY. Beginning of the long road home for the Woodsman.


That's all folks !!! Over 3,800 miles added to the odometer.

 

[shortbus4x4]

Wow nice trip. After driving through Wyoming on I80 you think its a pretty boring state until you see pictures like this.

 

[skrillah]

Wow! What a trip and awesome report! Thanks for sharing.

I'm located in Bloomington, I may have to make a day trip over to Batesville and check out your shop/FJ! Made a trip out to Moab last Spring, and already making return plans. Or at least out west somewhere. Any plans for your next trip!?

 

[JFarris]

Awesome write up and pictures. Thank you for sharing your trip, I enjoyed reading it!

 

[fowldarr]

Did you not sign the paperwork when you crossed into wyoming that you are not supposed to show photos like this? Now everyone will want to come. Great to see K.C.'s cruiser up in there, i love that thing.

 

[Byways]

Thanks for the inspiration! I am fortunate to have lived in Wyoming, and to live now not far away.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Great write-up James, was great getting to share some trail time with you

 

[roverrocks]

Definitely an awesome adventure with fantastic pictures!! Great stuff. Thanks for posting an exciting adventure!!

 

[Woodsman]

I added a link with some interesting reading about that town with the concrete fence. http://www.wyohistory.org/essays/j-b-okie-sheep-king-central-wyoming

Wow nice trip. After driving through Wyoming on I80 you think its a pretty boring state until you see pictures like this.

I usually take I70 through Kansas when going to Colorado/Utah from here but decided on a change of scenery.

Wow! What a trip and awesome report! Thanks for sharing.

I'm located in Bloomington, I may have to make a day trip over to Batesville and check out your shop/FJ! Made a trip out to Moab last Spring, and already making return plans. Or at least out west somewhere. Any plans for your next trip!?

Good to meet ya. Have you ever explored around the Tulip Trestle west of Bloomington ? I made it to Cruise Moab last May, Moab again in July along with the FJ Summit in Ouray, this trip to Wyoming in October and a trip to The Maze/Canyonlands in November. I'm not sure about Cruise Moab yet but since I am a Co-Director I will definitely be at the FJ Summit in July.

Awesome write up and pictures. Thank you for sharing your trip, I enjoyed reading it!

You're welcome. With the popularity of Facebook and the ease of posting pics there I have seen an obvious drop in the trip reports posted on many forums. I think it is important to share our trips with other like-minded individuals and continue to inspire each other to get out and explore.

Did you not sign the paperwork when you crossed into wyoming that you are not supposed to show photos like this? Now everyone will want to come. Great to see K.C.'s cruiser up in there, i love that thing.

hehe You're not the first to say that. That Cruiser isn't his normal trail rig but it can pull its weight without issue.

Thanks for the inspiration! I am fortunate to have lived in Wyoming, and to live now not far away.

Idaho is pretty cool too. My first trip out west in 1994 was a cross country roadtrip with my dad's cousin who lived in Potlatch, Idaho. We went through Yellowstone, Jackson Hole, hit the Lewiston Grade, explored the Palouse Range and drove along the Snake River for a long ways. Good stuff. Love that state.

Great write-up James, was great getting to share some trail time with you

Thanks Kurt and it was great seeing you out there too ya lucky Cruiserhead !

Definitely an awesome adventure with fantastic pictures!! Great stuff. Thanks for posting an exciting adventure!!

My pleasure. There will be more.