Tuesday, July 28, 2020

Wyoming Boondocking - Near Six Mile Campground: Routt National Forest

 July 27, Monday

 A long first day for this camping trip!  I'd planned on boondocking within the North Park Valley which has Walden, CO as its county seat (Jackson County).  More info on this area here: LINK

Got to the planned campsite at the North Sand Hills Recreation Area.  The main “road “ was very sandy which should have been a clue.

I spotted a spot for a likely campsite and while driving around it got stuck I. Some loose deep sand!

Panic!

The scenario of an expensive tow out of this sandy spot ran immediately through my head as I tried moving the URRV back and forth to try and get forward momentum.  No joy.

I stopped trying, unloaded Scarlett from the trailer to lessen the load on Uma the URRV. 

I also cleared the sand away from the front of the rear dually tires.  I got back in and hallelujah she started moving and gaining speed.

Soon I was back on the main trail whiting thought sandy before but now saw it nice and firm!

Walked back the Scarlett, engaged 2WD, and slip and slid out of that trap of a campsite!

Checked out further on and the good spots were taken already so I ride Scarlett back to the waiting URRV and loaded her back on the trailer.

Oh, also noticed I’d lost the right side tail/brake light assembly on the trailer somewhere between there and home!  Dammit.

Anyways, I drove the five miles back to Colorado Highway 125 and checked out the nearby Cowdrey SWA.  Small area for rigs and it was already too crowded for me!  Also, really big flies clustered on the windshield as I sat there.  Nope, not for me.

So I got back on Colorado Highway 125 now heading north and soon crossed the state border Into Wyoming.  My new destination the Six Mile Campground run by the US Forest Service.  

I found the campground with no problems and even a nice pull through spot.  Paid the overnight fee of $5 and then decided to unload Yagi and do some exploring before setting up camp.

It’s good that I did!  While meandering a trail south of the campsite I found a better one with no one nearby!

I rode back to Uma, loaded up Yagi and got everything ready to move.  Drove out of the campground, my neighbor must have wondered what happened!

Got to the new site, a bit higher altitude than the campground and no one here but me! 



Only minus?  Best signal is Extended 3G, and that's
with weBoost!

The sunset wasn't bad:





Tuesday July 28

Did some riding in the morning, found some nice rock formations.

Late morning afternoon I had returned to camp, it started raining so I took a nap.

Things cleared up nicely in mid-afternoon so I went down to the trailhead for the Platte River Wilderness.


Heaven to fly fishermen

Decided to ride back to this mornings rock formations....the riding started out under nice blue skies and I got to the location after some nice meandering riding.
                                             
                           

The storms around here move fast apparently because all of a sudden I was surprised with rapidly darkening skies!



It started raining as I hastily rode back to camp, then it started hailing smaller than pea size ice particles!  Any exposed skin stung in pain when hit by this hail.  I guess I should be thankful it wasn’t bigger stuff!

Yagi got me back to the URRV just fine, soaked to the skin as I didn’t have my rain gear.  Oh well.


Some more rain forecast for tomorrow as well but then the rest of the week should be sunny and highs in the low 80s!

6 comments:

RichardM said...

Beautiful area though getting stuck could put a sour taste on it. But fortunately not this time. Time for than expedition RV...

redlegsrides said...

I’m waiting to see what Lori and Chris come up with!

SonjaM said...

Wow, chased by storm clouds, marvelous pic, Dom.

Stuck in the mud and not being able to get our by yourself is an old trauma of mine, hence nowadays our four-wheelers are AWD (yep, the van, too).

redlegsrides said...

Thanks SonjaM....seems like another life lesson to be learned the hard way for me. Next time, I must do a foot recon first.

Artie & Leinen's Grand Adventure said...

I love the dark cloud pictures. I also really like pictures with water. I would have loved to sit there reading a book for a few hours. Such adventures you are having. I'm so glad you got unstuck. We're going to a beach cove this afternoon. Stay safe!

redlegsrides said...

Thanks Bridget...I think you would have enjoyed sitting by the Platte River as you mention. Not many bugs and a nice breeze.