After Yellowstone, it was on to the Grand Tetons, which is still one of my favorite places in the country, in fact I’m going there again this summer. You’ll have to forgive me for the quality of the scans of these 36 year old photos.
This is part two of my report on my 1979 motorcycle trip across the West. When we left off last time I had flown down from Alaska, bought a motorcycle, and was taking a trip to see the National Parks of the West. It’s amazing to me how much I’m still just like that 24 year-old version of myself. The mountains still compel me to visit them and the magnificence of the National Parks call me, leaving me no choice but to return to them year-after-year. Right now I’m working very hard to get ready for this summers trip which is almost the exact same route except I’m doing it in reverse–I’m starting from Flagstaff and going north. Another major difference is I’ll be moving much slower and spending much more time in fewer places. That’s a luxury I didn’t have in 1979 with winter coming on fast. But its also a sign of maturity that comes with age because I’m more at peace and settled now than I was back then. I’ve finally learned to slow down and smell the roses!
Old Faithful is probably the most famous part of Yellowstone.
Another thing Yellowstone is famous for is its buffaloes. Back then we had very little respect for wildlife; look how close that dummy is getting to that buffalo! I’s a wonder he wasn’t killed.
When we left off last post I was at Yellowstone NP. From there I dropped down through the Grand Tetons NP and kept heading south to Rocky Mountain NP then on down through Colorado to Highway 550 where I rode through stunning fall colors. The drive down 550 (commonly called the “Million Dollar Highway”) from Ridgeway, CO through Silvterton and Ouray, CO is still one of my favorite drives in the country. When I look at these pictures I took 35 years ago, It’s like I’m transported through time and get to re-live those experiences just like it was yesterday.
From the Tetons I climbed up into Rocky Mountain National Park.
A pretty close approximation of my motorcycle trip in 1979.
From Colorado I drove south to the Grand Canyon NP and Flagstaff, AZ. At Flagstaff I ordered a new back tire for the bike and had to wait a week for it to come in. In those days big Japanese bikes weren’t all that common so many shops didn’t carry tires for them. It’s pretty amazing the similarity in my life today and back then, I still spend a lot of time hanging around Flagstaff and Highway 550 in Colorado still has a magnetic pull on me.
I love Highway 550 the “million Dollar Highway” and I’ve driven it many times in the last 5 years. I still think this was one of the nicest fall colors I’ve ever seen.
Near Aspen, CO.
No trip to the Lower 48 would be complete without a stop into Las Vegas so I planned to spend a few nights there, but I’ve never been a gambler or drinker so I was only there for one day. I was a Christian back then so one of my goals for the trip was to visit a Christian Commune in Eureka, CA (they were pretty common in the 70s). So I headed over there next. On the drive from Las Vegas to Eureka, I stopped into Lassen Volcanic National Park.
Lassen Volcanic NP.
After checking out the commune for about a week I decided that it wasn’t for me. Having people take that much control over my life didn’t appeal to me. I’ve always had an on-again-off-again relationship with Christianity. I wanted it to work and threw myself into it with my whole heart but it promised to change me and it never happened. I loved the social elements and did everything I was told to make it a mystical, profound experience that worked in real life; but it never did. Much later in life I finally gave up on it entirely and searched for an alternative that would work. I’m so glad to say I finally found exactly what I was looking for; and for that I’m extremely grateful.
Nothing on the trip had called out to me enough that I felt like I needed to settle down there so I decided to go home to Anchorage. My family and friends were there, and I had a job waiting for me, so going home was the easiest decision. By then it was October 2 and winter was coming in fast so I decided to just ride straight back to Anchorage going as fast and as far each day as I could. I took I-5 north to Seattle, entered Canada and drove the Alaska Highway. I put in some really long days in my rush to get home.
But that is a story for another post. Tune in next time for the story of my ride up the the Alcan.
One of many wild mountain roads I climbed over the trip. Climbing the switchbacks is hard on your vehicle, and going down works your brakes hard, but it’s more than worth it to me!
Thanks for the many travel ideas here. I’ll try to keep Highway 550 in mind. I like to find out where the road goes by following it. That sounds like a great one to see.
Calvin, it’s spectacular! Probably the single prettiest road in the country.
Bob
That’s some climb!
Ahead of your time, into extreme sports, needed a go-pro!
JoAnne, I wish I had a Go Pro back then.
Bob
My cousin is the head of the road dept. for Ouray County and cut his teeth in his early 20’s as a snowplow operator on Red Mtn Pass on 550. I can’t imagine it, and even though I’ve been over those passes more times than I can count, they still give me a heady feeling. I always want to kiss the ground when I get back down.
Seems to me you were born with the wandering gene, which means you can’t help it. LOL I’m the same way. Even when I know it will be hard and painful (getting older), I can’t wait to get back on the road. What a super road trip – reminds me a bit of this guy, who did a week in Canada (up to Bella Coola) from Seattle on a motorbike:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tneg6Y7pWAA
Thanks for the link Desert Rat. Today’s adventure motorcycles (mainly BMW and KTM, but even the lowly Kawasaki 650 is an amazing machine)) are so much better than the old days that they call to me with a siren song. But I know those days are over for me. My adventure rig today would be a Dodge Cummins 4×4 pickup with small camper. It’ll go anywhere, be fuel efficient, be very comfortable, and Cody can go.
I’ll be into that rig at the latest when I turn 62 and start drawing SS.
Bob
I’m pretty sure that’s the way I’m heading towards. A pickup with a small popup camper.
thank you for the video, Desert Rat, it’s a recap of my Chilcotin trip from a year and a half ago, except I didn’t do the 4×4 roads. That’s the trip where I decided that I needed to sell the Fit and exchange great gas mileage for the ability to comfortably drive dirt roads. BC has some beautiful country.
Bob, I’ll put the 550 on my to do list! And you should come visit the Chilcotin!
I’ll plan on it Ming! I just checked out some images on Google, it’s beautiful!
Bob
Hey, Bob!
Nice Blog and thankyou for some really good ideas.
I am in greece these days ( on vacation ) and can’t wait to get on the road again..
keep up the good work..
You’re welcome Dan. I envy you being in Greece!
Bob
I was wondering, when visiting the National Parks, how you deal with the “No Dogs” rules I keep seeing and hearing about? I would love to visit the Parks, but not enough to leave my dog behind, so I’m hoping you know ways around that issue.
Hi T, of course on that trip I didn’t have a dog, but now I always do. You can bring your dogs into the park in your vehicle, that is not a problem. And most Parks forbid dogs on the trails or backcountry but almost always have have at least one designated trail where your dogs can walk. So the dog can go into the park, and there are places you can walk him, but he can’t go on most trails. Being a snowbird I’m at the parks when the weather is best, so I don’t have to worry about extreme heat or cold. Because of that I just leave them in the van when I do take longer hikes. My knees have become a problem so I rarely take long hard hikes anymore but I did leave Homer in the truck one time when I did Angle’s Landing in Zion, it was about 6 hours but it was late November and I was able to park under trees at the Visitor Center. So He was fine, it was not an issue at all. This summer I’m planning on doing Delicate Arch at Arches NP, but I’m doing it at night for Astro photography, I’ll just leave Cody in the van and he will be fine.
The bottom line is I’m limited to fairly near to the road photography, but at most of the NPs that’s not a problem.
Bob
Thanks so much for the info. Sorry your knees are bothering you, but maybe you’ll capture some amazing photos that others wouldn’t even notice because they’re so busy racing to the top.
T, there are some places where you have to backpack to get the great shots, but that’s unusual and there are plenty of fantastic spots within an easy walk of the road.
thanks Bob, that helps clarify what I’ll do with the dog when I visit national parks. Bad knees are a bummer. Mine went wonky at 24. Sound like you are adapting just fine.
Ming, all you can do is roll with the punches and make the best you can out of this life. Gotta learn to dance in the rain!
Bob
Hey Bob, I was just wondering:
What about rattlesnakes, scorpions, gila monsters, and other venomous creatures and the leapin lizards, cockroaches, gnats, mosquitoes, ticks, black flies and deer flies, etc., that are more of a nuisance? How do you keep them out in the wild where you want them, and not in the home-on-wheels/camper where you don’t want them? What measures do you take? On the motorcycle trip of this post, I guess you must have had a tent with a bug screen I suppose to keep most of the critters out. I was just curious about this, because when I used to own a home, I had to worry about those things, and I would think just because your home moves from place to place, one would still have that concern / issue? So how does one effectively deal with that issue?
regards,
Mountain Dan
Mountain Dan, it really hasn’t been much of an issue for me. I have screens for the windows of the van and you can always wear DEET although I hate the stuff. I’ve also treated my clothes with permithrin before, the bugs won’t land on them. I’ve run into a few rattlensnakes but the risk from them is exaggerated. Yes, the tent had a netting to keep the bugs out. I took that tent on a 6 week trip into the Arctic and bugs weren’t an issue.
It hasn’t been an issue for me.
Bob
Beautiful photos Bob, thanks for sharing them. I believe it was John Muir, founder of the Sierra club who lived most of his life in the mountains. Reading about his adventures is really inspiring.
John Muir is a real hero of mine. I’d be glad to be half the man he was.
Bob