Columbus' voyage to the "new world" was truly a life changing event. Our Civil War was a life changing event. The discovery of penicillin or going to the moon were life changing events. I've had a few life changing events in my life as do most of us. Not nearly as epic as the above examples, they are epic none the less.
On one of my earlier "trips" around the block, I lived a life changing event for me. It began in 1976, 4 AM on a warm July night in Dubois, Wyoming. The four of us saddled ours horses, loaded provisions and fishing gear into pannier's on our pack horse and set out across the Wind River Indian Reservation en route to the Wind River Mountain Range; a trip that would take most of a day. The Wind River Indian Reservation covers 2.2 million acres of beauty and desolation and is home to 2,500 Eastern Shoshone and 5,000 Northern Arapaho Indians.
Three of us were wore handguns on our hips, to protect ourselves against predators; two-legged or 4. We dashed across the reservation before first light because at the time, you couldn't cross the reservation without the proper permits, even if you lived within the reservation.
My mind danced with images of snow covered peaks, crystal clear water and unimaginably large trout as the horses plodded along, climbing ever upward towards our destination. After hours on horseback, a first for me, we finally stopped to rest the horses and my posterior.
Me, 1976. Armed and Dangerous!
Stay tuned for part 2 -Snow up to the horses bellies and 30 inch trout!
sorry but your 70's picture made me giggle
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you are writing about this trip. It is one of the fondest memories I have. I would not have traded this trip for anything I even charish the scars from the blue spruce.
ReplyDeleteI'm excited to hear more, you definitely pulled me in with your opening.
ReplyDeleteEpic is life changing; I had my epic moment last summer fishing the Roaring Fork River. Just five months later, I am a resident of CO.
-stephanie
Looking forward to the second installment.
ReplyDeleteThat 70's picture reminds me of something...oh yeah, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid!! Ha...And they were EPIC! (ok, I'm a Redford fan)
ReplyDeleteDustin, never tease a man with a gun...
ReplyDeleteWendi, I hope you will correct me if my memory starts to fail. After I pull the photos together, I'm going to send them to you. Ah yes, the blue spruce, I knew you'd remember.
Stephanie, I trust that you and Dustin will have many other epic events while you are here.
Jay, thanks! I'll have to ask Wendi, but I don't remember any memorable creature experiences.
Remind me not to look back now at my pictures from 1976! That was a long time ago, my friend. Those are some beautiful pictures of what to expect in the Wind Rivers high country. I will be waiting to see what turns up on part 2.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mel! I'm always really happy when you crawl out of bed to comment.
ReplyDeleteDamsel, I'm reminded of the character "News" from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid...certainly not Redford.
ReplyDeleteman.. the suspense, can't wait for the next bit.
ReplyDeleteEben, coming soon to a theater near you.
ReplyDeleteSanders, I can tell you that between a fishing trip to Canada (which I loved) and my trip to the Wind, I would go back as often as was able to get there. They are magnificent in every sense of the word...of course seeing fish as big a a telephone pole didn't hurt either.
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