1st day on the mountain (Lovell, Greybull: campgrounds, living in, horses)

[eiafjam]

Quite a bit of snow still on the mountain. It is melting though. Went up 14 to Burgess thinking I could fish the north fork. Yaa right. All streams in the mountains are running high and dingy. Decided to travel to Lovell over 14A. Some places still have 15-20 feet of snow, but mostly in the 3-6 ft range. Went to the canyon area. Water is very muddy. Ate lunch in Lovell at the Branding Iron. Pretty decent. Traveled to Greybull and up to Shell. Wow!!!! On up to Forest Service 10. Again WOW!!!! Lots of water in the mountains this year. All roads into the forest still closed due to 3-10 feet of snow still on the roads. I had heard some campgrounds were open on the mountain but found no access to said campgrounds. Even Owen CG and Prune CG still not open. All in all a good day though. Had the Mrs. and my parents with me. The parents had not been to BigHorn canyon in years and the Mrs. had never been there. Did not see any horses in the canyon area. Good bonding time with the parents though. Lots of laughing and such. Saw a couple of moose and some deer but not as much wildlife as one would think. It is shaping up to be a really good year for flowers which should make an appearance in a couple of weeks or so if the temps stay up. It is spring in the Rockies.

[branDcalf]

Sounds like a good day even if you couldn't fish yet.

Even though I know that there is lots of snow still up there, every spring when it hits 80 on the flats, my eyes and thoughts turn to going up and trying!

[ScottStielow]

Thanks eiafjam for the trip report for your first day in the Big Horn mountains. Sound like this summer should be good for fishing later on after the run off. Would like to see the flowers this spring and take some pictures. For sure soon.

[jody_wy]

[ScottStielow]

Thanks Jody for my spring flowers picture.
Gonna have to watch for the hay fever.

[ElkHunter]

Even though I haven't been up on top, yet this year, I could just about tell you what the snowpack is doing. haha

I spent all Memorial Day weekend filling sand bags and stacking them, trying to keep Tongue River in line. Started out with 5 yards of sand. Yesterday the City brought us over another 10 yard load. Right now we are waiting for more sand because we bagged all 10 yards yesterday. We're just about there. Yesterday is the highest I have seen it in the 6 years I have lived here. It is the highest the neighbor has seen in their 22 years of living in that house.

It would probably be easier if I hadn't busted my foot and I didn't have this stupid brace on my leg.


Everybody talks about the VA and scheduling problems. I busted this foot (every joint in my right foot) 22 weeks ago. They still have not set it. They simply put it in a temporary brace and put me on the "First available bed" list, so they can fuse it back together. 22 weeks and no phone call yet.

[Cambium]

Originally Posted by eiafjam

Quite a bit of snow still on the mountain. It is melting though. Went up 14 to Burgess thinking I could fish the north fork. Yaa right. All streams in the mountains are running high and dingy. Decided to travel to Lovell over 14A. Some places still have 15-20 feet of snow, but mostly in the 3-6 ft range. .

Awesome. Did you post any pics from there?

[eiafjam]

Originally Posted by Cambium

Awesome. Did you post any pics from there?

In my old age I forgot to get the camera as I left the house. The Mrs. really raked me over the coals for this one.

[NDak15]

Originally Posted by eiafjam

Quite a bit of snow still on the mountain. It is melting though. Went up 14 to Burgess thinking I could fish the north fork. Yaa right. All streams in the mountains are running high and dingy. Decided to travel to Lovell over 14A. Some places still have 15-20 feet of snow, but mostly in the 3-6 ft range. Went to the canyon area. Water is very muddy. Ate lunch in Lovell at the Branding Iron. Pretty decent. Traveled to Greybull and up to Shell. Wow!!!! On up to Forest Service 10. Again WOW!!!! Lots of water in the mountains this year. All roads into the forest still closed due to 3-10 feet of snow still on the roads. I had heard some campgrounds were open on the mountain but found no access to said campgrounds. Even Owen CG and Prune CG still not open. All in all a good day though. Had the Mrs. and my parents with me. The parents had not been to BigHorn canyon in years and the Mrs. had never been there. Did not see any horses in the canyon area. Good bonding time with the parents though. Lots of laughing and such. Saw a couple of moose and some deer but not as much wildlife as one would think. It is shaping up to be a really good year for flowers which should make an appearance in a couple of weeks or so if the temps stay up. It is spring in the Rockies.

Sounds like your day was seized, even if you didn't get to fish.

[ElkHunter]

It won't be long before you can fish. All we have to do is get this Tongue River put back in it's banks and the fishing should pick right up.