Category Archives: Adventure

Up Coyote Gulch: In Through the Crack in the Wall and Out the Scary “Sneaker Route”

Posted on October 14, 2015 by westerner54

I’m clinging to a sandstone fin, a hundred feet above Coyote Gulch.  Stuck.  Can’t go up, can’t go down, should be able to creep sideways, but that would involve looking down, and I don’t think that’s a good idea. Well. … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Backpacking, Hiking, Nature, Southwest hikes | Tagged , , , , | 29 Comments

Six Days in Grizzly Country: A Backpack in the Scapegoat Wilderness

Posted on August 6, 2015 by westerner54

If you’d told me twenty years ago that my 61 year old self would even think about spending six days backpacking in grizzly country, I’d have laughed you out of the room.    Wasn’t gonna happen.    I wouldn’t even consider … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Backpacking, Camping, Hiking, Montana, Nature, Outdoors | Tagged , , | 16 Comments

Bigfoot in the Park and Other Wonders of Glacier

Posted on July 11, 2015 by westerner54

Yep.  Bigfoot.  Just check out the Montana Road and Recreation Atlas.  I’m not making this up.   So get out there and look for him! After Bigfoot hunting, head to the west side of the park to the Polebridge Mercantile … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Hiking, Montana, Nature, Travel, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

Spring in Yellowstone? How Can You Tell?

Posted on April 8, 2015 by westerner54

Blowing snow, blowing wind….freezing my tush off.  Springtime in Yellowstone. A ghostly coyote wanders through the blowing snow.   I don’t imagine he’s too impressed with the weather, either. The trade off, of course, is an empty park.   And … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Hiking, Montana, Nature, Wildlife, Yellowstone | Tagged , , | 19 Comments

Tracking the Toughest Critter Out There

Posted on January 16, 2015 by westerner54

Grizzly bears are some bad ass critters, no two ways about it.  But pound for pound, the wolverine wins the One Tough Critter contest, hands down.     And it’s not just because they’ll take on animals many times their … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Hiking, Montana, Nature, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , | 16 Comments

Camping at the End of the Road: The Loner’s Guide to the Best Campsites

Posted on January 5, 2015 by westerner54

Some of our best friends are people.   We like them.   And sometimes we even like to go camping with them. But more often than not, we* prefer to camp alone, and we’re perfectly happy if we don’t see … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Camping, Montana, Nature, Travel, Yellowstone | Tagged , , , | 25 Comments

Solstice Wolves

Posted on December 20, 2014 by westerner54

I’m standing on a hilltop in Yellowstone on a cold and bright December morning.    The snow beneath me is covered with hundreds of wolf tracks.    They must have been through here early this morning – the tracks are clearly fresh, … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Montana, Nature, Outdoors, Wildlife, Yellowstone | Tagged , , | 38 Comments

Grand Gulch Below the Narrows: Where to find the Perfect Campsite

Posted on November 17, 2014 by westerner54

This looks like a pretty good fall campsite, don’t you think?   Lots of afternoon sun , reflected warmth from the canyon walls during the night, nice clear water in pot holes fifty feet away, and even a cute little … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Backpacking, Hiking, Nature, Southwest hikes, Wildlife | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Another Secret Ruin

Posted on November 6, 2014 by westerner54

It doesn’t get much better than spending days wandering the canyons and gulches of Cedar Mesa, looking for rock art and ruins.    Sometimes you know exactly what you’re looking for, since many folks have been there before, and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Hiking, Outdoors, Southwest hikes, Travel | Tagged , , | 14 Comments

Sometimes They Sneak Up on You…

Posted on October 5, 2014 by westerner54

It’s cold at 9,500 feet on a late September morning in the Gravelly Mountains – I’m glad for my down coat and warm coffee.    We’re sitting on a little ridge overlooking the pond we camped near last night, waiting … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Montana, Nature, Outdoors, Wildlife | Tagged , | 22 Comments