Petrified Forest hike

Saturday night I drove up to the trail head of the Petrified Forest and slept there. In the morning I woke up with a ranger knocking on my window. He was cool and talked for awhile. Then I got ready and started out on the 10 mile hike. There’s a log book that people sign into when they start there hike. The last log was dec 1, so the only tracks out there are mine and the creatures. The hike was much more intense then I was expecting. I forgot what winter hiking is like. The colors here seem to swirl together with a yellow, orange, brown look. The hike takes you through a few valleys then up onto a huge plateau area that overlooks the main river valley. I still can’t believe how many animals there are. I saw about 100 buffalo, 40 elk, and 15 mule deer. There was also 3 times I had to walk way off the trail just to get around buffalo herds. They are strange animals, once they see you they just stop and stare at you until you leave. One time I was hiking up to a point. Half way up I looked towards the top only to see about 4 of them up there, directly in my way. I sat down and waited about 10 minutes, when I looked around the corner they didn’t move an inch. I had to climb around the point to a different spot, which I thought would be past the buffalo. I was wrong. I started to climb over the crest and there he was. I was about 15 feet away from one. So I climbed down a ways and continued further down the point. When I made it up this time I was past them but I looked back and my friend must have called in the re-enforcements. There were 3 or 4 of them staring down at the last spot they saw me. The next part of the hike was walking along the overlook of the valley. On one side you have a very flat grass plateau. On the other is massive rolling hills with the river snaking along the bottom. Very cool to walk along.  After this section I started to realize I was running out of day light and needed to hurry things up. the rest of the hike was on that same plateau. At one part you dip down into a valley for about a half mile. By the time I got back to my car I was exhausted and pretty much out of water. So I drove back to the Americinn to shower up and refill on water. From there I drove to Billings, MT and slept at a holiday inn express.

This morning I was able to grab a continental breakfast, and some info from the lady manning the food. Then I headed into town to do some laundry, all of the cloths I wore hiking were pretty discussing. While I waited I stopped at Cabelas for some fishing details. The guy looked at me like I was an idiot. The Big Horn River, pretty much the number one trout fishing spot in the world, is about an hour and a half away. He gave me some really good advice and I will have to stop back in if I end up catching anything. So when my laundry was finished I drove straight to the spot he told me about. It took me awhile to actually find the right spot so I ended up with about an hour to fish. No luck yet but I am hopeful for tomorrow. I had a few on the line and several bites, I don’t think I’m setting the hook correctly? I came back to this small town, Hardin to use the internet but there’s nothing around for about 80 miles. So New Years Eve will consist of drive back down by the river and give it another shot.

some of the color of Teddy Nat. park

 weird rock formations

 petrified stumps

 all the animals stare at you. these are some elf from about 250 yards

 what some of the valleys look like

 the post in the middle is a trail marker. the 3 on the left were the ones looking for me that i had to skirt around

 the river valley over look

 this was the sun set near where i was fishing on the Big Horn

this got out of order but there is a 4X4 post right of center that is a trail marker i was supposed to hike to

Re-cap of winters, First day at Teddy

It’s about that time of year for me to jump ship and get out of Wisconsin for awhile. So here comes year number 3 of the Winter Epic.

Small summary of the two years prior; first year was from Milwaukee to rapid city, SD where I was able to see the badlands, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer state park and go on some beautiful drives. Then off to Thermopolis, WY where I checked out the disappearing river and some hot springs. Next was Jackson, Wyoming for some amazing snowmobiling, snowboarding, and snowshoeing through the Tetons. From there I shot north to Glacier National Park, sadly, not a lot open in December. Next stop was Seattle to see my good friend Brian. I spent a week there snowboarding, a great New Year’s party at Brian’s, checking out the city, and meeting part of my extended family. After a quick drive through Olympia National Park I stayed with one of the family members I was introduced to, Curtis. He is a snowboard instructor and was nice enough to give me an upgrade on the snowboard and a lesson. From there I drove down the coast, sadly at night, until Gold Coast, OR. Crater Lake was the next stop, which I only had a few minutes to check out before sun down. I followed that up with 2 days in the redwood forest. Another relative I had the honor of meeting was Robert near Mendocino, CA. I had a chance to spend one night visiting Curtis’s brother Chris in San Francisco. His Fiancée and one of her friends were nice enough to show me around the city the next day. Then it was off to Yosemite for a full day of hiking. I went jade hunting in Big Sur, with some success. Then meet up with my cousin Justin and his girlfriend Emily (now happily married, congrates) in LA. They showed me around town and took me to a few bars. Then, the most well known story, I snuck into the Golden Globe Awards for a full night of awesome. From there I spent the next 2 days lying on the beaches in Huntington and new port. After that stress, I was able to get into Sea World and the San Diego Zoo for free. While in town I went group deep sea fishing in the Mexican waters off San Diego. My brother Adam flew out to San Diego for work but came out a weekend early for some fun. Immediately after landing we rushed to the harbor for a speed boat tour around the bay, then walked around old town. Next stop on the way was Joshua Tree National Park. From there 2 days of canoeing on the Colorado River. A quick weekend in Tempe, AZ with my good friend Mike and his roommates, then off the Flagstaff, AZ. Meet up with some old friends from high school and went snowboarding for a day. From there straight to Breckinridge, CO, Adam+10 rented a house there for an amazing 4 days of snowboarding with 24 inches of the fresh stuff, along with the Packers kicking some sweet ass. Followed by some hiking in Boulder, CO and hanging out with my cousin Matt and his girlfriend Stevie (also now happily married). I spent a day in Rocky Mountain National Park. Then I changed course, one last day of snowboarding then backward to Moab, UT. I hiked through Arches National Park and drove around the outlooks in Canyon lands National Park. The next few days I spent in the bottom of the Grand Canyon. All this vacationing really wore me out so I spent 10 days back in Tempe, AZ with Mike. But it wasn’t all fun and games, mike and I hiked Camelback Mountain. Finally I had to start the trek back home, with a few stops along the way of course. Painted Desert, AZ was the first. Followed by some hiking in the San Juan Mountains near Durango, CO. After a beautiful drive north through the mountains I made it back to Boulder. I Hiked around Longs Peak, nowhere near the top. That concluded trip one; well, of course with one more night out in Chicago with Adam.

If your not to sick of reading yet ill sum up year 2. I left Milwaukee with a friend of mine, Rob. We started in Detroit with the International Auto Show. Next stop was buffalo, NY to try to original Buffalo wings. After that, a very cold stop at Niagara Falls. Off to Arcadia National Park for 2 days of hiking. Bought some fresh, live lobster and headed to Boston. Rob wasn’t too interested in what In the plan for the trip, so he hoped on the first plane home. I had a beer in the oldest tavern in America, tried oysters for the first time, and met some great people. Got a chance to go on a tour of the city and see a few bars. Went snowboarding at Cannon Mountain, NH. Explored some more American history at the Springfield Armory, CT. Then it was time for the Big Apple. I was able to fit in all the sights, Empire State Building, Madison Square Garden, Central Park, World Trade Center Memorial, Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Wall st., South Harbor. Next I picked up my friend Matt from the airport. We went to a party at Blue’s Clues house. Then Matt had some time off work so he came on the trip with me for 5 days. Our first stop was Atlantic City, one crazy night. Then we drove to Philadelphia to check out the famous Rocky stairs, and we had to get a cheese steak sandwich. Next was Washington, DC. We got a chance to see a ton of cool things, Washington Monument, wwII Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, reflecting pool, White House, occupy DC, historical cemetery, Ford’s Theater, Spy Museum, Obama motorcade, Air and Space Museum. We were able to hang out with my cousin Mandie, her husband Logan, and ever smiling new born, Addie. Next we had the greatest idea; we could really use another night in Atlantic City. I dropped Matt off back home and drove down to Richmond, VA to have a homemade southern meal with some relatives. Sara, my dad’s cousin’s daughter, introduced me to Tom, her son and Katie her daughter. Tom and I spent the weekend fishing and driving on the beach at Hatteras Island, NC. From there I spent a day hiking and driving through the Appellations. Then headed east to Louisville, KT to hang out with my good friend Vince. We went to a high school wrestling practice and a few bars. From there, southward to the Makers Mark distillery and Mammoth Cave. I walked around the corvette museum and the railroad museum. Had one crazy night out in Nashville. Saw the Georgia Aquarium, Centennial Park, at Atlanta Underground. Stayed on some random college guys couch for 4 days in Charleston, SC. I checked out a park and they took me to a few parties and bars. Next was New Orleans for Mardi gras. Crazy, Crazy time. Saw some amazing parades and had some great nights out on Bourbon St. Drove through TX and stayed with my friend Mike in Tempe again. Mike and I went snowboarding in Flagstaff. After some time there I drove to San Diego to intercept Adam. Again out there for work but came out a weekend early. We hiked Torrey Pines park for a day and were able to fit in a surf lesson. Then I went to 2 Birkam Yoga classes, Adams friend was an instructor. Went up to LA to visit with Justin and Emily. Hiked through the beautiful Zion National Park. Then off to CO. I went Cross-country skiing for the first time in Frisco, CO. Next I drove over to Denver to meet up with another friend Matt P. he showed me some great snowboarding spots and got a chance to hit a few bars(drinking establishments, not rails while boarding). Matt P had to work so I went to Breckinridge for a few nights. Matt P came out with a few friends from Milwaukee and boarded for one last day. I meet up with cousin Matt and we went fishing until dark. The next day I drove to Chicago just in time for Adams annual St. Patty’s day party. The keg gets tapped at 9am and usually need more beer by 12. My younger brother Danny came down for the celebration.

So that brings everyone up to speed, and trust me that really was the short version. There is so much more to every one of those stories

I would also like to congratulate my parents Ben and Patty on finally being able to build an addition onto their house. It’s well over due and well deserved.

Day one I left around 12:30 PM and drove until about 12:30 AM. This got me about 2 hours from my destination, Theodore Roosevelt National park.

I got up and went straight to the visitor center. They told me which roads were open and sadly which ones were closed. So I drove along the open ones and went on a short hike. There really are buffalo everywhere in this park. At just about every over look areas you will see at least one. I saw a group always off the road and snuck up onto a rock peak above them for some cool pictures. There is a small town near the park and most of the places are closed down for the season. But it’s just not a vacation without a hot tub. I found a pretty sweet one too, hot tub sauna, full bathroom with a shower, and no lock. I might even stop in after hiking tomorrow before another long drive.

 cool sun set after crappy weather the whole day

 Teddy Nat Park

 some buffalo I snuck up on

 whats up buffalo

cool over look of the valley