A Day on Bald Mountain

This was a Spectacular hike ... short in length, moderate difficulty and exceptional views --- all at nearly 12,000 Feet.

It is Not to the confused with a NIGHT on Bald Mountain heard here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCEDfZgDPS8

or seen here: Disney's Fantasia - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLCuL-K39eQ  (1941) It wasn't like that at all!

Bald Mountain is in the Uintas, not far from Park City .. about an hour drive actually, quite nice! We did this hike somewhat unexpectedly.... that is, Alicia said, "Let's do something" So we did.

Alicia starting out

Views of the foliage as the aspens turn to yellow

The girl is focused

Okay, so there was 3 days of rain in Park City, and we noticed that there was snow at elevation - maybe 9500'. Which suggested that at over 11,000 there could be snow -----  THERE WAS!
Here I am getting a dose.

Above treeline -- way above treeline

Remnants of snow

Alicia overlooking the adjacent range

Most alpine flowers are over at this elevation in Sept.... this color remains.

Along the trail .. way up

At the top

Mr Snowman -- actual height about 4 feet, took a LONG time to collect enough snow.

Actually Mr Snowman was only about 4 inches tall ... shows what perspective can do.
The trail at 12,000 feet ...

On the way down.... down and out

Moving On

We are moving from Bozeman to Park City Utah, as part of our "luxury phase" of the trip

In a way, Luxury means that we are not living in a tent!

So, we reconnected with Chris and Tobin and they invited us (or maybe we pressed them into hosting us!) to their home in Driggs (our June housesit). We hoped to stay an extra day and fish the Teton River again. No can do.... IT POURED  .. (and over the next 3 days it continued to pour! )

Many, many thanks to C&T. Great folks, great fun, great conversations.... and if you add in the animal menagerie... altogether a crazy great situation!  We love the dogs, but The Mooch was Mr Cool.

Thanks Guys -- see you next year?

So, onto Park City... Mike and Paula have graciously allowed us to stay in there place in Park City. We were also here last year and reported on the adventures of Millie the pig. Millie is now safely situated in a great place and has met up with Willie, a big ol' boy pig --- who knows what could happen.

Anyway, in front of a fire drinking adult beverages...does this sound normal?

Fires: Is there a difference?

We spent a lot of time sitting around a campfire drinking adult beverages.

Now we are in an AirBnb .. actually, a really nice AirBnb.

Sitting around a fire drinking adult beverages.

Is there a difference?  Granted ... no oriental rug!

She's still happy! What's the difference?

Fish Porn

Nice pictures of BIG fish

It was SO big and heavy that I was straining to hold it up!
A Rainbow

Another Rainbow ....
There were more, but I must limit this porn to only 2 photos

roadside -- back roads of Montana

A couple of different fields

So the BIG question is round bales or square bales!?

MASSIVE field of sunflowers.
Tons of them ... all wanting to face the sun

A day on the river with Eric

Throughout the past few years we have often splurged and hired a fishing guide. They are expensive - around $500 for the day. So our general plan is not to hire them too often. Otherwise we would go broke and live in Campgrounds for the entire summer!

Anyway, we met up with Eric Paulson in Livingston MT and set off with him for a day on the Yellowstone River.

Heading out -- the drift boat with Alicia very happy to be heading out.

Alicia getting personal instruction from Eric ...
Eric's saying "See the fish?"

"Do you see them?"

SUCCESS -- a bent rod  -- lesson complete!

A happy angler!  16" rainbow

Then another  -- brown this time

Later, Kevin lands the big one of the day .. a brown trout (about 18")

The Luxury part of the trip

We are now done with the camping portion of the trip (56 days) and are entering into the "luxury" portion ......  as described by Alicia.

I kind of think that we have had a lot of luxury, starting with our incredibly comfortable tent bed! and then moving into housesits in Driggs and Jackson.....
But the night time temps are in the low 30's so, moving indoors while at elevation is a bit of luxury

The first bit of our remaining stay will be at a AirBnB in Bozeman

For a full tour see --- https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/3143557?s=ENfy#host-profile
Not to shabby!