Bridger Wilderness
The mountain road that I’m camped on continues up to the Bridger Wilderness. I drove up the other day and was surprised to find about 50 cars parked at the trailhead. Some girls loading up backpacks told me it is a very popular trail system. These rugged mountains are home to grizzly bears so everyone is required to take bear canisters. The main trail through the mountains is part of the Continental Divide Scenic Trail, the third north/south long distance trail in the US. I would love to hike some on that trail.
Backpacker parking
Yesterday I visited the Mountain Man Museum here in Pinedale. It was quite interesting. There were many displays of rifles, traps, knives, and other trinkets used by the mountain men, but mostly it was stories of the beaver fur trade and the men who lived in the mountains trapping and surviving the harsh environment. They say that scores of men vanished to a mysterious death from the danger of the wilds. Hostile Blackfoot Indians that hated mountain men, bad tempered 600 pound bears, and brutal winters, all claimed untold trappers.
I’m doing laundry today and then will push on down that long, lonesome highway. I’m hoping it will get a little more lonesome now that kids are going back to school.
Do you think you will be able to hike again someday? Maybe even some shorter 2-3 day ones? Do you have your backpacking equipment with you?
Sounds like an interesting visit. Do you watch the show Mountain Men on TV? I still do, but it’s pretty hokey.
I wish I had someone to backpack with me… Les is good for day hikes, but that’s as far as he will go.
Get that knee fixed!
It has been feeling really good lately. I hope I can still do some more backpacking. The upper half of the AZT still waits for meZ!
I don’t think I have seen Mountain Men. May be one of those channels I don’t get.