Monday, July 27, 2009

Fish or hike? Both or none of the above?


Coffeen Park Trailhead is the entrance to a wild world, literally. It's a gateway to the Cloud Peak Wilderness Area. Spear-O-Wigwam Ranch will take people on horses all the way to Highland Park and beyond. Truly hardy individuals backpack in. It's a place you can challenge the elements and get lost in.

We did a group four wheeler ride up to Coffeen and then split up. The more intrepid of us headed for Rinehart Lake located merely at 9057' (2760m). Ken, Robin and Emma live in Arizona at a much lower altitude but they were willing to take the plunge, so to speak.


There used to be a bridge across the creek back in the day when Gary worked for the Forest Service and built it, but that was a LONG time ago! We had to take off our shoes and wade across an extremely cold creek.


Sydney needed help getting across too.


We all made it across and had our shoes back on when Ken realized they left their fishing poles on the other side! (If you enlarge the second picture, you can see them lying there.) So, he just ran across in his boots and picked them up.


I'm not a fisher. I feel sorry for the fish. I do like to hike and take pictures. I love these woods and the magical green undercover that grows in them. In the heat you can smell the pine.




Rinehart Lake





Amber and Emma take their fishing quite seriously. It looks like Ken is supervising but I think he's catching his breath and admiring the view.


Not so high up or so far down the trail, the kids went fishing down here. I left Rinehart and walked back on my own, then went up to see what these guys were doing. Having fun I think.


That's another day of vacation in the Big Horns. For more possible vacation spots, check out My World Tuesday.

21 comments:

Sylvia K said...

What a fun day! Great post and your photos are marvelous! Love all the green! What a lovely place! I'm not a fishing person either and for the same reasons, but I do like being out in places like this.

Enjoy your week!
Sylvia

Jane Hards Photography said...

Sit is what I would do for as long as I could and just snap away. So restful.

erin said...

oh what a wonderful trip...the weather looks like it was perfect for everything.
what an amazing place to photograph so many things.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Oh Loran, what a gorgeous hike.. I'm not a fisher person--but I love to hike back in the woods. That lake looks wonderful.

Thanks for sharing.
Hugs,
Betsy

Gaelyn said...

What a delightful place. Had to laugh when the dog was carried and the fishing poles left behind. I don't fish either, but would love to hike there.

Rajesh said...

Very beautiful.

Unknown said...

What stunning scenery you got to enjoy and great weather too by the looks of it.

Marja said...

oh what a beautiful place to be. Reminds me of scouting we did a lot of river crossings when tramping with the scouts They loved it

Regina said...

Beautiful!

Reader Wil said...

Thank you for the wonderful tour! Great to be out in the wildernis! You had a beautiful and sunny day too! Have a great week.

aspiritofsimplicity said...

What a beautiful series. I love hiking and you have chosen a such a nice spot for it. I love the ones of the guys on the bank.

Luiz Ramos said...

Lovely vacations, fishing and hiking time. A happy family!!
Luiz Ramos

penny said...

Both! My husband would be happy fishing and I would be happy hiking.
Your photos of this wonderful are amazing. It looks like you all enjoyed yourselves and the awesome views.

storyteller at Sacred Ruminations said...

What a MARVELOUS adventure in the wilderness. I enjoyed tagging along on your trip virtually and appreciate you sharing your world in this way. Makes ME want to head for the mountains ;--)
Hugs and blessings,

Jo said...

Oh Loran, what a stunning hike in the forest. I love that the dog was carried and the fishing rods left behind. Sounds like our family! Thanks for sharing your world. I have only just seen beautiful scenes like these in travel books. Now I see it first hand. Bless you. (((Hugs))) Jo

Rita said...

What a nice adventure!! Isn't nature grand. Each day we spend in nautre is a gift (at least to me it is)
Beautiful photos
Rita

Anonymous said...

All of the above! Looks like beautiful country!

Unknown said...

Thats a gorgeous lake. Looks like you all had a good time. I had to laugh about leaving the fishihng poles on the other side of the bank. That's something I would probably do.

SandyCarlson said...

A gorgeous adventure.

Janie said...

looks like a beautiful place to fish and enjoy the family.

Barb said...

Nothing quite like hiking to a secluded spot! I had to laugh about the shoes - that water is usually freezing. Sounds like a great day.