Meandering in the West

[daveb]

Thanks for the great pics & report. We don't see as many trip reports like that these days. I'm looking forward to exploring similar areas in the future.

Keep em coming.

[marret]

Thanks.

Along FR 17 in the Bighorn NF/Mountains:

[marret]

Shell Canyon and Falls:

[marret]

On Hwy 14 overlooking the flatland to the east. Here I am turning around and going back into the mountains for the night. In a few days I will be in the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area for 2 weeks as a campground host. No internet so my posts may slow down.

[Twoxentrix]

Been following your journey - what a blast!

I'm real curious, what method are you using to choose the roads you're traveling?

[marret]

I’m meandering on roads that look interesting in a general direction I want to go. I’m using Gazetteers to help with road selection and choosing a mix of dirt/gravel and pavement. I’m also using Locus Map Pro and OSMAnd Pro, android apps.

One of my criteria for dirt/gravel is will it provide something worth seeing that I wouldn’t see on pavement or as a short cut to somewhere or a place to spend the night. I don’t want to travel gravel just because. I also like views when finding places to spend the night if possible.

I have changed direction completely based on conditions or a desire to see something. Lots of rain limited where I could go in MT. Asked a local guy about conditions the day after I almost got stuck although I was 100 miles away by then. I was trying to take a dirt way into the back of Big Sky. Same guy told me one had to have gate access.

I have a commitment at the Bighorn Canyon NRA as I mentioned so that has been my destination and I’ve been finding routes to get me there in the amount to time I have. Also, I don’t want to drive unnecessary distance and I don’t like backtracking so that does factor. I’ll backtrack some but limit it.

The Gazetteer is great for dirt/gravel mad FS roads. Some MT and WY secondary highways are actually dirt/gravel and not a place to be in rain. BTDT.

Other roads I have wanted to drive, like Beartooth Hwy that I did part of before. I collect roads to ride/drive on motorcycle forums.

Also, I normally prefer not to stay at campgrounds except every once in a while for showers, water, power for some reason like too hot and need A/C, etc. so I am trying to end up on BLM or National Forest land where you can disperse camp with a few rules.

Hope this answers your question.

In Bighorn NF with a fantastic view but can’t upload photos now. Heading to Prior Mountain wild horse range tomorrow if it works out.

[marret]

Sites like this also provide ideas for where to visit.

By Gazetteer I mean Delorme Atlas and Gazetteer.

[marret]

Yesterday in the Bighorn Mountains along Hwy 14A. Two Moose to start.

[marret]

Spent the night near Little Bald Mountain off FR 121. Photos don’t do the view justice.

[marret]

This morning I went on a hike. Followed a trail down hill. Very pleasant surprise and again don’t think the photos capture it well.