Big Sandy Trailhead - Wind Rivers WY, 9/2/05

So, when you turn off onto the dirt road, you leave all civilization behind. Looking down this road, hat's all BLM land, so you can do whatever you want on it. This road, interestingly enou ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 17:47:46 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
So, when you turn off onto the dirt road, you leave all civilization behind. Looking down this road, hat's all BLM land, so you can do whatever you want on it. This road, interestingly enou ...

This. That's a small section of the Wind River Mountains and Bridger Wilderness area. And, except for a very few small parcels of land along the very bottom of that stream you see between ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 17:50:06 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
This. That's a small section of the Wind River Mountains and Bridger Wilderness area. And, except for a very few small parcels of land along the very bottom of that stream you see between ...

This was pretty much the only sign on the road. I came from HY 28 and I'm headed towards Big Sandy Opening (it's a REALLY REALLY humongous set of large meadows).

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 17:45:46 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
This was pretty much the only sign on the road. I came from HY 28 and I'm headed towards Big Sandy Opening (it's a REALLY REALLY humongous set of large meadows).

Getting closer : ) Area in the middle is pretty much where I'm headed. Mostly all open range. So you had to watch out for cows, elk, deer, pronghorns, cowboys, etc., on the road.

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 17:43:21 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Getting closer : ) Area in the middle is pretty much where I'm headed. Mostly all open range. So you had to watch out for cows, elk, deer, pronghorns, cowboys, etc., on the road.

OK. Remember the sign that said "Big Sandy Opening?" This is it : ) A very large set of meadows/prairies up in the mountains. My truck is headed the wrong direction, but the camera is po ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 17:38:30 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
OK. Remember the sign that said "Big Sandy Opening?" This is it : ) A very large set of meadows/prairies up in the mountains. My truck is headed the wrong direction, but the camera is po ...

This big set of meadows/park/whatever is all National Forest. And, it was hunting season. So, every so often I'd see a hunting camp set up. Here's an old timey one (horses; probably hobbl ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 17:40:45 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
This big set of meadows/park/whatever is all National Forest. And, it was hunting season. So, every so often I'd see a hunting camp set up. Here's an old timey one (horses; probably hobbl ...

And here is the trailhead/campground. My campground is actually over in the trees at the far end of the meadow.

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 17:23:45 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
And here is the trailhead/campground. My campground is actually over in the trees at the far end of the meadow.

Here I've zoomed in a little so you can see all the cars parked at the actual trailhead. I think a little explanation is in order here. You might think that this looks very crowded. But, ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 17:26:08 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Here I've zoomed in a little so you can see all the cars parked at the actual trailhead. I think a little explanation is in order here. You might think that this looks very crowded. But, ...

Here is my campground site. Not very crowded. The camp sites on either side of me were empty.

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 17:21:11 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Here is my campground site. Not very crowded. The camp sites on either side of me were empty.

The first night I walked around after I had the camper set up and figured out where all the trails were, etc. This is looking up the trail towards Sandy Lake that I would take tomorrow. Su ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 18:48:22 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
The first night I walked around after I had the camper set up and figured out where all the trails were, etc. This is looking up the trail towards Sandy Lake that I would take tomorrow. Su ...

Even though it was getting late, some people were still heading up the trail. They probably drove all day to get here and just want to get a couple of miles up the trail before they camp fo ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 18:51:05 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Even though it was getting late, some people were still heading up the trail. They probably drove all day to get here and just want to get a couple of miles up the trail before they camp fo ...

Shaky shot of a deer. Still learning my camera. Did not have the correct settings. O well : )

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 18:53:42 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Shaky shot of a deer. Still learning my camera. Did not have the correct settings. O well : )

Got the right settings for the camera and my next shots turned out a lot better. It's actually a bit darker than what it looks like here. Few people out letting their horses chow down befo ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 18:56:55 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Got the right settings for the camera and my next shots turned out a lot better. It's actually a bit darker than what it looks like here. Few people out letting their horses chow down befo ...

Another "horse" shot. I'm camped in the trees right behind the horse on the other side of the stream.

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 18:59:04 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Another "horse" shot. I'm camped in the trees right behind the horse on the other side of the stream.

All right! I'm headed up the trail the next day. Kinda cloudy, but nice. Quite a pleasant trail. Lots of meadows. Slow gradual climb (gained around 1,000 feet over 6 miles or so).

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 19:01:36 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
All right! I'm headed up the trail the next day. Kinda cloudy, but nice. Quite a pleasant trail. Lots of meadows. Slow gradual climb (gained around 1,000 feet over 6 miles or so).

Another meadow.

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 19:04:14 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Another meadow.

Some of the meadows were pretty good sized. I'm headed right for the base of those mountains.

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 18:33:53 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Some of the meadows were pretty good sized. I'm headed right for the base of those mountains.

Getting closer.

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 18:36:21 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Getting closer.

Yaaaayyyyy. I made it. Big Sandy Lake. Quite a nice place. I'm a little tense because I'm not sure that the remote device to shoot the picture is going to work. It did. Hmmm. Did I me ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 17:58:49 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Yaaaayyyyy. I made it. Big Sandy Lake. Quite a nice place. I'm a little tense because I'm not sure that the remote device to shoot the picture is going to work. It did. Hmmm. Did I me ...

I've learned (to a limited degree) how to create panorama shots. This one is composed of 3 separate pictures of Sandy Lake.

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 17:53:50 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
I've learned (to a limited degree) how to create panorama shots. This one is composed of 3 separate pictures of Sandy Lake.

If you look waaaaaaayyyyy down at the other end of the lake (like this), you can see a packer and his stock. These guys are kinda like the truckers on the highway. They haul a lot of stuff ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 18:41:22 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
If you look waaaaaaayyyyy down at the other end of the lake (like this), you can see a packer and his stock. These guys are kinda like the truckers on the highway. They haul a lot of stuff ...

Big Sandy Trailhead, Bridger Wilderness WY, Sept 2, 2005. Here is a couple of people I met that lived in Pinedale in the summer and Key West in the winter. Tough life : ) I acted like I d ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 18:44:24 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Big Sandy Trailhead, Bridger Wilderness WY, Sept 2, 2005. Here is a couple of people I met that lived in Pinedale in the summer and Key West in the winter. Tough life : ) I acted like I d ...

The weather and the scenary were just spectacular.

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 17:56:03 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
The weather and the scenary were just spectacular.

Here is a final pano shot looking across the lake up towards some high country with yet more lakes (maybe next year). You'll note that the earlier pictures were taken during overcast condit ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 18:45:38 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Here is a final pano shot looking across the lake up towards some high country with yet more lakes (maybe next year). You'll note that the earlier pictures were taken during overcast condit ...

On the way back down, I ran across some fresh fruit : )

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 18:02:02 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
On the way back down, I ran across some fresh fruit : )

Yes, they were quite tasty.

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 18:04:09 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Yes, they were quite tasty.

I was able to take a slightly different trail on the way back from Big Sandy. Made the hike a little longer, but turned out to be even prettier than the other trail.

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 18:06:35 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
I was able to take a slightly different trail on the way back from Big Sandy. Made the hike a little longer, but turned out to be even prettier than the other trail.

There were several more lakes. I think this was V Lake.

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 18:11:39 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
There were several more lakes. I think this was V Lake.

Picture of the trail itself as it wound through the aspen and pine trees.

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 18:14:55 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Picture of the trail itself as it wound through the aspen and pine trees.

And here is someone I stopped to ask directions from. Not much info, but cute anyway.

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 18:38:42 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
And here is someone I stopped to ask directions from. Not much info, but cute anyway.

Found a pleasant little shady nook in the forest to rest for a few minutes.

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 18:09:19 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Found a pleasant little shady nook in the forest to rest for a few minutes.

Finally got back to camp in time to eat and walk around for my "sunset" pictures. First, the glow reflected off the mountains.

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 18:16:55 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Finally got back to camp in time to eat and walk around for my "sunset" pictures. First, the glow reflected off the mountains.

And then the sunset itself.

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 18:18:17 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
And then the sunset itself.

The next day started off with a surprise visit from a moose.

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 17:04:52 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
The next day started off with a surprise visit from a moose.

Here she is a little closer. These pictures were a little "grainy" due to the post processing I needed to do in order to be able to see anything. The sun had not hit the meadow yet, so my ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 17:09:24 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Here she is a little closer. These pictures were a little "grainy" due to the post processing I needed to do in order to be able to see anything. The sun had not hit the meadow yet, so my ...

Then, while I was taking the next shot, I noticed something in the deep grass behind the cow moose. A moose yearling.

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 17:12:53 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Then, while I was taking the next shot, I noticed something in the deep grass behind the cow moose. A moose yearling.

Here's a little closer shot. Again, these shots were pushing the envelope for my camera since it was early morning and they were still in the shadows of the trees. Another BW.

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 17:18:09 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Here's a little closer shot. Again, these shots were pushing the envelope for my camera since it was early morning and they were still in the shadows of the trees. Another BW.

So, since I was headed back to Fort Collins today, the trail would have to be shorter than yesterday's. Twin Lakes was supposed to be around a 6-7 mile loop, so I headed that way. Much of ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 18:31:03 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
So, since I was headed back to Fort Collins today, the trail would have to be shorter than yesterday's. Twin Lakes was supposed to be around a 6-7 mile loop, so I headed that way. Much of ...

And here is one of the Twin Lakes (the other is behind the trees in the background. Had a nice set of lily pads on it.

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 17:31:00 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
And here is one of the Twin Lakes (the other is behind the trees in the background. Had a nice set of lily pads on it.

Another shot across one end of the lake looking towards the mountains.

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 17:28:36 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Another shot across one end of the lake looking towards the mountains.

And a perfect spot for a lunch break. I've switched to drinking Arrowhead : )

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 17:33:24 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
And a perfect spot for a lunch break. I've switched to drinking Arrowhead : )

Actually saw some Fall colors on the trails. Pretty early, but starting to show. You can see a little of that color in this photo.

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 17:36:02 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Actually saw some Fall colors on the trails. Pretty early, but starting to show. You can see a little of that color in this photo.

Well, it had been an awesome trip, but time to head home (should have taken a couple more days of vacation). I took a different route on the way back to Fort Collins. I sometimes forget th ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 17:52:07 -0800

Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)
Well, it had been an awesome trip, but time to head home (should have taken a couple more days of vacation). I took a different route on the way back to Fort Collins. I sometimes forget th ...