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Westward Ho 2: Colorado, Wyoming and Idaho

I said goodbye to Utah and headed east to Durango where I met more friends of friends for dinner and again got great info on area hikes. I even hiked a 14 mi in and out on the Colorado Trail.
Huge cairn on the CT


Hike on Vallecito Cr. Trail
After leaving Durango I headed north spending a night in Montrose and having what was one of the best pizzas ever at Colorado Boy Pizzeria and Brewery
My plan had been to drive to Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP the following morning but the temperatures were going up rapidly and rain was forecast. This also caused me to bypass Dinosaur NM at Vernal. I drove across the state line at Flaming Gorge in the rain and into Wyoming.

I spent a night at Rock Springs and the next morning made my way to Pinedale and stopped in to visit the ranger station to get info on dispersed camping. I was directed to an area in the Bridger-Teton NF in the shadow of the Wind River Range and saw my first moose, three actually that day. I drove all the way to the end of the 20 something mile road along the Green River to Green River Lake checking out campsites along the way then hiking around the lake, and heading back to pick a spot near the river. There was a small stream running into the river at my site and I thought the vegetation in it looked overabundant, and touching the water found it warm, even with snow still on the ground. It was obviously a warm spring. I knew I'd be in for a treat the next morning and sure enough this is what I awoke to.
It wasn't until that morning that I took a walk across the road and found this sign.
I headed next to Grand Teton NP, just up the road. Unfortunately rain was coming again and I only got to hike a little before deciding to make a detour into Idaho and hope for better weather.
The Majestic Tetons
I spent a couple of days at Camas NWR and did some birding.
Western grebe

Yellow-headed blackbird

Common yellowthroat

Owl with owlets


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