I was just talking, er writing, to a friend that I actually secretly hate Yellowstone National Park. I feel it is the Vegas of the federal lands. That all said it is the images I bring back that are of the most value to me. Images of the elements of what we seemingly protect. But … if you have been there you would know the truth. That is is mostly trampled and polluted buy the humans. Or as the animals call us … the heeyoums.
At the Canyon Village in Yellowstone National Park it is not wise to bring a mountain bike. There is not many places you can ride a bike in the park. Oh yeah, there is Dunraven Pass. And the dirt road ride up Mount Washburn. But other than that there’s not really a place to go riding.
No time to fret. Just throw on some hiking shoes and head out on one of the many trails. Cascade Creek is fun.
I have posted many a blog post about my so called “quick and dirty” efforts. There was the 2005 post Fixing a Flat, another reference in Back From Squaw, a “quick and dirty” post about Lightening Your Bike in 2007, a remembrance of a friend in MoZ Sunset in 2010, a visit to Missoula in 2012 prompted Good Enough, a Quick and Slushy in 2012 as well, and a Quick and Dirty Climb earlier this year.
Wow, that is a lot of references. but is it? 2005 was a long time ago. So why am I still doing the “Quick and Dirty”. Like last night when I waited until an hour before bed to get out and exercise. Or earlier this month when I did a last minute climb up Dunraven Pass. Maybe I will write up an entire training plan consisting of just quick and dirties.
I just woke up. The sun is not up yet, and it’s quite nipper out. It’s bill time. I jump on my bike, ride down to the north rim, and lock it up to the guardrail at the Red Rock Point trail head.
I brought my camera because it’s kinda going to be overcast and I am thinking that I can take a couple stream shots along the way.
The hike starts out down the usual Y.N.P. Canyon descent on a slightly paved crumbling walk way. You follow a stream down that’s cascading down the side of the canyon. Then you come upon some boards steps that go quickly down to a big red rock. And it is here where you stand on a big cement pad with other Yellowstone National Park enthusiasts gawking at the lower falls.
But not this morning. I am up early and the crowds haven’t arrived yet. So I am alone and am able to actually observe more. More of the beauty. More of the sounds. More of the colors. I observe more of everything because of the absence of other human beings. And this is the essence of Bill Time.
The South Rim Hike took us six and a half hours. Almost 14 miles is a big day at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. I post this gallery in memory of last weekend when we experienced a loss, a young child who wondered off the trail in the worst place and slid to her death. I can not imagine the loss to her family and community. And for me has affected my activities all week. I find myself staying up to watch videos of Robin Williams, another traveler who is now gone. So I post this reminder that the most rewarding experiences are the ones where you take chances. To step out of the “office” and experience the raw power of mother earth. A week of loss is a week to remember, to not forget, that life IS short.
Every after work walk in the park is a run-in with a shroom.
I am on my way to “Da Park” to stay in my partners cabin. Has anyone been? Stop in at Canyon and see the evening program. Chances are she will be presenting.
Sometimes when I’m walking through the woods I can get quite intimidated. But if you stop thinking about it and just look at it from outside your environment, as if you’re looking in. You shouldn’t be. You belong there. Does it take someone writing you a personal note to tell you that you make a difference? Sometimes it does.
In 2014 my favorite part of the summer was the Wednesday night rides put on my roundhouse sports. It’s actually my only social activity during the week.
I have had time to stew it over. Disgruntled because I didn’t get to do it this year. In any case my partner was around so we decided to hit up North Cottonwood. A trail that I haven’t done since the first time I attempted to do it. Way back when I first moved to Bozeman.
It was a great hike, one where we never a reached our destination. But that was okay. We turned around and walk back to the car. Its been awhile since we’ve been out so this is good. It is all good right?
But wait, how about what happened last weekend? Well something did happen last weekend, but this story is totally balls. Yeah sure, my partner and I went out for a hike on North Cottonwood. But that was about a month ago. No this is a fraudulent blog post. Was it wrong that I led you astray? That is all. As you were. At least the pictures are pretty, right?
Back home and the grind starts. Maybe tonight I will hide. Maybe some bike shop time. Be with the bikes I have betrayed. Good job everyone that did/done the 2014 Fitzbarn.
Looking across the canyon I see multiple colors and rock types. I heard the other day that when this human genome stops recognizing the type of elements in nature we will loose averything that makes us human and morph into another species. Domesticated and on the quick road to extinction. Not that we will mess things up but because of health issues.
Has anyone ever heard of unwild, or maybe it is unwilding? The author has some pretty good ideas. Anyway as I stare across the canyon I do not know the names of the types of rocks. Although I do see the diffrence in color and texture. So from this I could figure things out with the proper field guide. So all is not lost.
But what I really mean is that I am evolving from who I am and it must stop. The new job needs to go to the way side if things dont work out. I must get back on my bike. Things must change. All my elements are not recognizeable and I am blending in with the norm. Not good.
As I write this Tracey Petervery and a couple others are storming through Lima Montana on their way to Red Barn Bicycles in Hamilton Montana. Yesterday, at work, I looked at a brief Facebook video of the start of the FitzBarn 2014. A tear rolled down my cheek as I put away the browser and started to go back to work.
Now I am in Canyon Yellowstone National Park and watching track leaders. Waiting for any updates. I’ve missed the 2014 FitzBarn.
To comfort myself I go to all the pretty sights and take pictures. That doesn’t matter right now. It’s not that pretty. What would be pretty would to be on the road. On my mountain bike, just me and the road. Bivying out in unknown locations. Eating at convenience stores in the only two places on the route that you could stop. So far and few between that if you miss judge your food you don’t have anything. But you have yourself and your bike and life is simple. I need to climb out of this canyon.
I better get off my lazy ass and get things done tonight. I have learned that the Wednesday night rides are happening. So tonight I need to do the chores necessary so that I can finally get off my lazy ass and get outside more. Sure, I am outside right now. But it is sitting on my ass with my feet in the air listening to the sprinkler go past.
No, I need to get off my lazy ass. I’ve been here before. And I don’t like it. So here goes nothing.
Life has layers. And many parts of life are great. But when you have so many layers you begin to stop understanding what it is you are about. To much complication and responsibility will pull life right out of you. Just like in art class they told you that too many elements in a painting would make it too noisy and ruin the overall message.
Looking at the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone at times reminds me of life.
My sister is traveling across the county to visit us in Billings. The thing is that it is her first traveling experience where she is doing all the driving. Self sustained us ultra, well used to be ultra, adventurers like to call it. About 12 hours in we get word that she is tired and in need of a place to crash.
I offer some tips from my experience. Find a place along your path and bivvy out. Well I suggested it in a way that “norms” would understand. Find a rest area and crash in your car.
She did finally make it and I am happy to find out she had some adventures on day two.
Be careful sis, it is addicting.
Boneshakerbike 