Last Day in Big Horn Mountains

Tuesday we had stopped at the Big Horn National Forest Ranger station in Buffalo and inquired about some relatively easy but scenic hikes we could do up in the mountains.  We were given a couple of options and also an historic place to go to - Tyrell Ranger Station.  We wrote down instructions and decided that yesterday would be the best day, heat wise.

One thing we have seen and puzzled about, but then found out.  Wyoming drivers are one of the worst in the country, and as we travel along in this state we have seen a weird looking sign posted every now and then.  In 2003 the state decided that no more personal memorials are allowed along the side of the road when there has been a fatality.  Too distracting to motorists. Instead, this sign is put up as a reminder and memorial to all as they pass by.  In Montana it is a bright white small cross.  Not sure how this goes over to the non-Christian folks, but it is what it is.

Roadsign to show a fatality - 2 here

Still smoke in the mountains as we entered from the east side on Route 16, Cloud Peak Scenic Byway.  I have come to really enjoy these mountains, they are spectacular and stunning.  We did not see any sign of past or recent fires - although we were corrected about the rust blight we saw, not so.  Last year someone shot off fireworks and caught the trees on fire, but luckily, it was extinguished before the fire got out of hand.  The ranger said they are not sure if the trees will fully recover.

Up and down, around we go

And over Pole Creek

Could not get lost - orange signage on trees

Just beautiful

Off we drove to FR 31 road, also known as Pole Creek Road.  Beautiful high mountain scenery.  Lots of pine, the smell is incredible. Lush undergrowth.  Every now and then we would see an abandoned campsite, or one occupied with  RV tucked into the forest.  Did not see any wildlife for the first couple of miles.  The road was a hard pack dirt/gravel - very level, not dusty.  Twisted and turned, up and down, over Pole Creek, Caribou Creek, in and out of meadows.  Hard to believe we were in 8600 feet elevation.  Cool, damp, the smell of forest.  I was in heaven.

RV tucked in

2 week max per stay

And then!  MOOSE!!!!!!     Somehow I caught the movement of a huge animal up in the pines - and was able to get a lot of pictures.  We were not sure if it was a moose or a caribou, but researching when we got back - MOOSE!!!  I AM SO HAPPY!!!

Big ugly MOOSE!

Mule deer, regular deer, marmot, squirrels, and of course the open range cows grazing.  Some of those cows are enormous.  Continued along, wondered where in the heck that historical ranger station was - never saw it.  Bummer. When we got back I looked it up on the internet - totally different road than FR31, oh well.

Mom and baby deer

Mule deer just resting by road

Marmot hiding in rocks

Helloooo!

Drove on back towards Buffalo and stopped about 5500 elevation about about 7 miles from Buffalo, to Moiser Gulch picnic area where the ranger said that the Clear Creek trail was and we followed it along for some distance along the creek.  Pretty scenery, walked about a mile until the sun got to us and turned around and headed back to the car.  Lovely day in the mountains.  Got a yuck, yuck when we were heading back - seems that people who have dogs around here let the dogs travel outside of their truck in the bed.  This particular one had a backpack on, just prancing back and forth inside the bed of the truck.

Dog with backpack on - racing back and forth

Clear Creek

Stunning

Road moved up into mountains - turned around here

Yep, I could live here

We pack up and leave tomorrow, Saturday, for Casper, Wyoming.  Since we are getting close to the holiday weekend, we will stay there until the 8th of September.  We wanted to see some things there and when we started out this spring, our original plan was to head to Laramie, Cheyenne and Casper before turning north.  We reversed our plans and are now heading south doing Casper then Cheyenne before heading to Colorado.

Downtown Buffalo and Occidental Hotel

Wanted to visit the hotel again, was here 4 years ago with friends Phil and Sandra.  Did not take pictures then but did today.  This hotel has been a mainstay of Buffalo since the 1870's.  We looked at many pictures that lined the walls and saw where many notable people had visited - Owen Wisler (based his book and shootouts he observed while he was here), Buffalo Bill Cody, Ernest Hemingway, a number of presidents, Calamity Jane, many movie stars, Butch Cassiday and the Sundance Kid, just to name a few.  We were allowed to meander on the main floor, there were a couple of rooms that if not occupied, could have gone in, but people had rented the rooms for the night.  All rooms have a theme - from cowboys, to madam, presidential flavor, the Virginian, etc.

Lobby - furnishings from the 1870's 

Cute little tricycle

Original tin ceilings - beautiful

One of best westerns I have ever read

Original private dining room for guest

Looks the same as it did back when

Peeked into the bar/saloon - all original since it opened.  The only exception was the top of the bar - with the use the had to put a new top on it.  Still was quite impressive.

The saloon

The Virginian Restaurant - closed, but snuck a peak

After the Hotel, walked around town and took some pictures of the murals.  Clear Creek runs right though town, under Main Street.  There is a walking tour you can do but with the temperature hovering at 95 today, did not feel like it.  We did stop at the US Forestry Office and talked to folks about trails that are easy up in the mountains, hopefully we will do one if not two tomorrow.

Clear Creek running right under Main Street

Interesting murals

Clear Creek and pathway

Lots of green space and murals

Tie Hack Dam and Reservoir

After turning back to Highway 16 (the scenic road) yesterday, we headed back east to try to find the Tie Hack Dam and Reservoir.  Supposed to be very scenic, nice lake for fishing or boating, camping, picnicking.  Had trouble finding the cutoff for it and ended back in Buffalo.  Stopped at a store to pick up some things, asked for direction and went back to find Tie Hack. As we drove back up into the mountain you could see the pine rust fungus eating the trees on one side.  Could not get a good picture but imagine a pine tree that is rust colored, almost looks burnt, and the needles that have fallen around it on the ground coat the ground in a reddish color.  Very weird looking.

Spectacular!  Very scenic, restful.  Lots of folks enjoying the day.  Hiked a little around the lake, came back the other way and walked over the dam, then headed back home.  When we started out a couple hours earlier the mountains did not show much smoke from the wildfires but as the day wore on - smoke was starting to obstruct our long distance views.

First glimpse of lake from parking lot

People with their toys having fun

A look back towards the dam

And, what is with the name?  Here's what Wikipedia says:  A specialty form of logging involving the felling of trees for the production of railroad ties was known as tie hacking. These lumberjacks, called tie hacks, used saws to fell trees and cut to length, and a broadaxe to flatten two or all four sides of the log to create railroad ties. Later, portable saw mills were used to cut and shape ties. Tie hacking was an important form of logging in Wyoming and northern Colorado and the remains of tie hacking camps can be found on National Forest land.  So there.  Can see why this name - the amount of trees is amazing.  We did not see any evidence of forest fires, new or old.

Our path we followed until we had to climb pretty steep

Two girls playing out on the water on their kayaks

A big batch of thistles - no where else

As we were walking along the path, 2 teenage girls came gliding by on their kayaks.  Then a group of 4 more came by.  In the distance was a father with 3 young children on a small row boat, fishing and giggling.  People all along the banks fishing, even standing on top of the dam fishing.  When we got on top of the dam and looked below, we saw a father and small girl fishing by the down stream of the dam.  And people hiking along trails below the dam.  The lake is very deep, has trout and bass in it, not sure if it is stocked each spring by the fisheries, was created to monitor the Clear Creek as it meanders through the mountains and down into Buffalo.  Back in 1908 the town was flooded by Clear Creek and that's when the dam was built.

More kayakers coming along

Fun - almost made me go get a kayak and play too

Notice the smoke getting thicker in the distance mountain?

Oh so pretty and restful!

Standing on top of dam - spillway

Straight down spillway - see head of father and little girl to left fishing?