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The Kitchen Table

Pics from last weeks trip to Wyoming

17 years ago

Almost every July my 4 sons and I make a weekly backpacking trip to the Cloud Peak Wilderness area in Wyoming. This year our daughter and one daugther-in-law went, also. Seven of us total. Bigbaby stayed behnd to remodel the kitchen; but, that's another thread!

We hiked about 34 miles, carrying packs that weighed anywhere from 27 to 38 pounds. Most of the time we were at elevations between 9,000 to 11,000 feet. One son climbed Cloud Peak, the highest in the range, at 13,125 feet. He's 20 and indestructible.

Here are a few pictures.

The first day we walked in the rain. Our only bad weather the whole week. The next morning I draped my rain poncho over a tree to dry. In Castaway Tom Hanks had Wilson. This is Coleman.

{{!gwi}}

Lake Solitude.

The waterfalls flowing into Solitude.

The high valley we hike into doesn't have a trail so the going gets rough in places.

Taking a breather.

This high valley has 11 lakes in it with numerous waterfalls between them.

Yes, that's really me.

The highest lakes were ice covered yet, a first for us, and are above the tree line.

But the alpine flowers persist.

One of my favorite flowers, a shooting star.

The kids at Florence Pass.

A Rock Chuck eyeballing our trail mix while we stop for lunch.

Cloud Peak.

Me attempting to be...

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Comments (30)

bigack
17 years ago
Wonderful pics, Ron, sure wish I could be there, although I can't walk very well, lol. Such clear and crisp scenes, you can almost feel the icy air at the high spots.
lydia1959
17 years ago
Beautiful scenery!!! Wish I had the stamina to do something like that. Love the last shot too... very creative!

Thanks for sharing.
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vannie
17 years ago
What a way to start the day--looking at that gorgeous scenery. It will be 100 here today, so good to see some coolness~
grammahony
17 years ago
Oh wow. I love all the pretty flowers blooming. Great pictures of the waterfalls too.
Leslie
maryanntx
17 years ago
Great photos and what an adventure!
LOL @ Coleman.
petaloid
17 years ago
What a beautiful place to go exploring. Thanks for sharing the photos!
czech_chick
17 years ago
Thanks for posting your beautiful pictures!

I know you and your family had a great time together and I'm glad you all got home safe and sound!

I love your picture of Lake Solitude.

Carol
socks
17 years ago
What wonderful pictures. You really saw some special country.

Is the blue flower the forget-me-not?

What animals did you see?
gramzeeinmd
17 years ago
Great pictures! Thanks for sharing.
So, glad that your trip went well and everyone is home and safe.
Awesome for your son climbing Cloud Peak. Way to go!
As for Bigbaby, we tried our best to keep en eye on her but she kinda got carried away.
Glad to see you back.
Again, thanks for sharing the pics.
Deb
gadgets
17 years ago
Thanks for giving me a peek at the wonderful views you guys saw in person. I think it's great that you and your sons continue to do this.

Shirley
donna37
17 years ago
Love the pictures, gorgeous scenery. Hard to imagine those beautiful flowers blooming up that high. You take marvelous pictures on your annual treks and we get to see things that we would never be able to see without them.
Thanks again for posting them.
margad
17 years ago
What gorgeous pictures. Thank you so much for posting them.
JoanMN
17 years ago
Wow, Ron, you have a rugged family! What beautiful country and what gorgeous pics! The lake and waterfalls are magnificent.
Your family looks just beautiful.
JoanMN
stephanie_in_ga
17 years ago
Thank YOU for sharing! Looking was my pleasure. The scenery is breathtaking and your pictures do it a great justice. What great memories for a family to make together.

And I like your creativity!
mcmann
17 years ago
What a wonderful family tradition. Those lakes and mountains are spectacular I can easily see why you go back. And Coleman makes a lovely addition to the hiking group. Thank you so much for posting those photos.

And when will we see Big Baby's photos of her vacation in the kitchen?
jennmonkey
17 years ago
Gorgeous photos! I've done some camping this year, but no backpacking yet, and you are motivating me to get a trip planned!
bee0hio
17 years ago
Fantastic pictures! Looks like a fun family event.
glenda_al
17 years ago
Sounds like a fantastic advanture. Love your pictures. Thanks
hayjud_mn
17 years ago
I can see why you would want to do this every year! What a breathtaking place! Your pictures are wonderful.

Thank you so much for sharing them with us, it's the closest this to do it myself that I will ever get.
alisande
17 years ago
Those are GREAT, Ron!! You all must have had to dress in layers for those fluctuating temperatures. What a beautiful place to experience.

Now . . . when do we hear all about the kitchen?
vicki_lv
17 years ago
That is a beautiful area and I can see why you go there. I would love to see all of that in person. Thank you for sharing the pictures. They are great!!!!
LorifromUtah
17 years ago
Wonderful pictures!
Wonderful country!
Thanks for sharing.

You did not happen to go home through Evanston, Wyoming via Star Valley to Cokeville, did you?

If so, you drove through my town!

Ack!
An opportunity to meet and visit...MISSED!

Glad you had a good time.

Lori
evatx
17 years ago
What beautiful pictures and what a great trip! DH & I have been up there but didn't hike.
nodakgal
17 years ago
Fantastic pictures Ron! My hat is off to the photographer!
minnie_tx
17 years ago
What a wonderful memory you made!!And the photos were great I can't believe it is over and done with already seems like you were just taking off!!
Dee1
17 years ago
Thanks for sharing your trip. The pictures are amazing and made me feel like I was right there. I especially liked the alpine flower pictures. They are so pretty and very colorful.Thanks again.
Dee in Michigan
linda_in_iowa
17 years ago
I loved your pictures. I sure miss the mountains.
rthummer
17 years ago
Thanks for posting pictures of a place I have never seen before. Looks like a really nice family you have there.

Darleen
ronf_gw
Original Author
17 years ago
Thank you all for the wonderful compliments.
Lori, no, we weren't near you. From Minnesota we come into Wyoming on I-90 through Gillette to Buffalo and then up into the mts. near Tensleep Canyon. Maybe another time.

Ron
gingertn
17 years ago
Wow! I've never been to Wyoming but would love to go. Glad you guys had a great trip!

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