Weather or not

As we wandered between altitudes of 7,000ish to over 9,000, we find the mountain clime offering weather extremes to keep us wondering what's next.  

We for sure experienced "Throw another blanket on" nights, but the days are an entirely different thing.  Solar intensity is something to be reckoned with: one minute we're feeling scorched, but as soon as a wandering cloud obscures the sun, it's time to don a flannel shirt.

And then there are the storms that traverse the landscape, bringing wind gusts that have us clutching at belongings that are flying away, and lightning-laden clouds that cause us to run for cover.  The icing on the cake is snow - the kind that comes from a certain season when the cottonwood trees release "cotton" seeds enough to pile up in drifts that swirl through the air with every breeze.

It kept us guessing, but it didn't keep us from thoroughly enjoying our explorations in the Dubois area from the Wind River up to Union Pass.

Badlands . . .

We were surprised to find extensive badlands as the lowest level before climbing up into the mountains.  The picturesque formations stretch for many miles.  We enjoyed hiking through some of it.

Union Pass in the Wind Rivers . . .

A long winding dirt road delivered us to Union Pass, the place of historic traverses of the Wind River Range, utilized not as extensively after the South Pass route through the Rockies was discovered.

We were astounded at the vastness & width of the range while we were up there, and at how extensive and rolling was the area around Union Pass itself, despite the torturous climb.

 

 One of us was even inclined to play in the snow.

As the high country snow pack reluctantly gives way to warming temperatures, the melt soaks the ground surface and pools in multiple depressions, many of which were created by receding glaciers.  We enjoyed traipsing off to various of those kettles, or potholes as they are sometimes referred to; however, we refrained from lengthy out-of-truck excursions up there: all that standing water is the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.  I made the acquaintance of far too many as it was.

 

 

Three Waters Mountain is unique in that its water flows into three different continental watersheds: the Columbia River, which feeds the Pacific, the Colorado River, which feeds the Gulf of California, and the Mississippi River, which feeds the Gulf of Mexico.

Indians called the region "The land of many rivers", while early Anglo trappers used the word "Union", showing their understanding of the one head for many waters.

 

The Wind River Range is the highest mountain mass in Wyoming.  Here are various & sundry data bits about the the Wind Rivers as discerned by the señor: It contains an astonishing 180+/- glaciers and the largest single glacier in the Rocky Mountains.  The highest peak in Wyoming at 13,800+ feet is in the Wind Rivers, which has and 21 out of the 22 highest peaks in Wyoming.  The majority of the range is made up of three different wilderness areas.  

An old mill pond . . .

Once an extensive sawmill operation, the area has been transformed into a lovely public-use facility for fishing, picnicking & birding.  A couple of islands offer safe harbor to wildlife: the only one I saw was a muskrat busily swimming about its business.

At that spot, we identified a Townsend's solitaire, an ash-throated flycatcher, plus a very chattery belted kingfisher that was working both the pond and the river as the only additions to the trip list.

The wind helped the señor to become tangled in his new fly fishing line as he worked to "perfect" his casting technique.  If only he would have listened to my advice; after all, I had plenty to offer from my complete & utter lack of knowledge.

As always, I find much to interest me, like these unusual mushrooms.

So fly fishing remains in our future, but we did manage to catch three nice trout (and one so small as to be laughable) - two rainbows and one brook.  Wah - I was off on my own when I caught the 14-inch rainbow and thus have no photo of it.  I'm pretty sure it had grown to 15 inches by evening, at least in my mind.  It was a very nice fish, at any rate.