Sunday, August 17
The Wind River Valley spreads out a lush, green welcome mat for me and the crew as we head toward the town of Dubois, Wyoming. I pick up a few groceries at Super Foods and then the adventure begins!
Finding a new camp may not seem like a big adventure to you.
For me the search is always exciting!
As I drive the main street of Dubois, I read street signs on the left. There aren’t many — Dubois isn’t very big — and soon I see the turn for Horse Creek Road.
Driving north out of town, I’m surprised by the dramatic change in the landscape from the verdant green of the valley to bare, but colorful, rock.
Gee, I wasn’t expecting this! I want a green camp . . .
A few more miles and my concern vanishes.
How do I know to follow Horse Creek Road?
When Spike, Bridget and I camped at the Pinnacles at Brooks Lake in 2012, we met a guy named Larry who was camping in the site next to us. Larry told me about Horse Creek Road. It goes north out of Dubois and takes you into Shoshone National Forest and the mountains of the Absaroka Range.
My plan is to follow Horse Creek Road all the way to the place where Frontier Creek joins Wiggins Fork, approximately 25 miles north of Dubois.
The first half of our journey, the road clings to the meanderings of Horse Creek.
Thick grass carpets the creek’s banks. The grass is so fresh and green it looks like all it needs is a little bit of salad dressing and croutons!
When I think of Wyoming, three pictures come to mind — mountains, horses, and people fishing. I stop and take this photo of a man and a woman fly-fishing Horse Creek.
Further up the road, I stop for another picturesque scene.
About eight miles short of our destination, the road narrows and climbs. Hairpin turns with steep drop-offs (guard rails? What are guard rails?) and, of course, we’re on the cliff side going up.
The views, whenever I dare to look to my right, are absolutely breathtaking!
Even if I had a camera with a viewfinder, I wouldn’t take photos along this road. For one thing, there’s no place to pull over. Well, there is but it’s a long way down.
Also, every blind curve in the road holds the potential of a weekender roaring back to Dubois with a horse trailer flying behind. I hug the cliff’s edge to let several vehicles pass, all the while holding my breath and hoping they don’t take my side mirror with them.
Hence I have no photos of the exquisite views along this part of our journey.
At last the ever-winding road descends.
This means we are approaching water!
The sign for Double Cabins Campground appears. Not interested. I want to boondock! Here’s someone with the right idea.
Imagine a natural amphitheatre with towering rock on three sides with evergreens below. A river lined with willows flows through an immense field of grass — green, tan, and gold.
I drive pass horse corrals and find the campsite of Joe and Debbie, a couple from Nebraska who camp host in this area every summer. I met them in 2012 when they were hosts at Brook Lake.
I pull up in front of their trailer and immediately Joe comes out the door.
We hug and Joe exclaims, “I didn’t expect to see YOU up here!”
Debbie, who is fighting a case of shingles, stays inside. (I know, I know… I need to get that shot.)
I ask Joe to show me a campsite by the river. He hops on his quad and leads me up the road. The first site is too shady and the cut bank too dangerous for Spike. The second site at the end of the road is great!
It isn’t long before we’ve settled in nicely.
The photo above was taken late in the day when shade was upon the Best Little Trailer. Most of the day our home is in sunshine. The air is fresh and a pleasant temperature, probably in the high 70s. It drops into the low 40s at night.
Joe warned me it could become quite chilly during the night.
Recently it dropped to 32 degrees before daybreak. I pull a comforter out of PTV storage and drape it over an evergreen branch to air it out before placing it on our bed. It keeps us warm all night and the three of us sleep well.
From our campsite, one walks a path through the willows to reach the river. However, a charming, little stream flows at the back of the campsite. I see a six-inch trout dart upstream.
Spike attempts a soak and sinks into the water up to his shoulders. He jumps out before I can snap a pic. That stream is very cold and it’s deeper than it looks!
Bridget and Spike love exploring their newest home.
In the next post . . .
The crew and I play at the river!
rvsue
THANKS, RVSUE SHOPPERS!
I appreciate every Amazon order you place from my blog.
