NO SPEED TRAPS where we travel

[Ray Eklund]

No speed traps where we travel in much of the Western USA,

Cattle patrol many of the roads.

Deer patrol many of the State Highways.

Elk patrol areas where speeders look for 'glowing eyes' in the dark.

No Radar. No Traffic. No... Crime. No... nothing but great Boondocking and no speed limit signs.

[Saluda372]

Nice !!

[Ray Eklund]

Complain, complain and still July and August high season reservations to National Parks?

I understand. We in the Rocky Mountains have a distinct advantage... lots of open space. Yet... even this open space is slowly getting attention from the National Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and State Recreation Sites to restrict some camping pullouts.

Much of this Open Space has no access or would even interest Cattle. Even 'wide open' has its limitations. Two Ruts... are an Airstreams highway...

Even wide open spaces have their limitations. Often these areas are leased by Cattle and Sheep Ranchers for Summer Grazing. Some campers are afraid of a herd of several hundred mean Angus Cattle bringing their flies and... Cow Patties to Town. Population, you and your company. Maybe two?

May and June. Mid August to September are less popular as school may be in session. Days may be cool at night but warm with low humidity during the daylight hours. It can Snow in July at elevation and melted by 10 AM with bright blue skies and radiant heat in thin air...

Not everyone likes open spaces. A group gathering is preferred, but many who go SoloStreaming in remote areas hear a lot of complaining about 'things to do'.

That is WHY you may want to try SoloStreaming. We do it because is not easy, but takes effort and hard to discover these hidden gems. When you do, mark it on your Atlas, location, elevation and take some photographs as a reminder.

The Idaho side of the Grand Tetons is just as striking as in Wyoming. Or driving from Pinedale, Wyoming going West to drive and see the Grand Teton, way in the distance as you get closer.

It takes only... experience and getting comfortable depending on yourselves where wildlife outnumber humanity.

How do you start? Next year. What States do you want to explore? Follow the DeLorme Atlas maps at home in areas Off the Grid... The Internet gives up known locations to begin your adventure, already.

The Atlas may indicate two remote campgrounds. There may be fifteen... scattered for miles along the same road.

All of these OTG Boondocking locations were found by... going and exploring. You want to fish... find the rivers. You want to climb a mountain... go to the mountains. You want to lay back and take it easy? Find it.

Some times... good company is just perfect.

IF you want to Fly Fish... Do not start the Permit that day, or the next. Give it a few days, find that perfect location... and have the five days or more to really get 12 hours a day to fish. Annual licenses may cost $100... today. Figure it all out... and be smart... like a Trout.

(Greys River, Alpine,Wyoming... there you go. Lots of campsites along the river in the trees and fish in cold water about three feet deep, with good holes to catch... friers. Not whoppers, but give a good fight.)

[ITSNO60]

We have a lot of speed traps but mostly un-manned

[JRF0st3r]

Beautiful and inspiring post Ray!
Thanks!
Jim

[bcheever]

Love this post, you are living the dream! Happy holidays Ray.

[Ray Eklund]

Originally Posted by JRF0st3r

Beautiful and inspiring post Ray!
Thanks!
Jim

******
We could spend an entire YEAR exploring our favorite OTG Boondocking sites in Wyoming... and find more, if we wanted.

Wyoming alone. Passing on Jackson and the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone Park.

This location is an example with some photographs from July 18, 2008. Took neighbors who had a 25 foot Arctic Fox, towed with a 2000 Toyota pickup!... and had NEVER Boondocked... ever. They survived. Sort of... until the last photo... and they had their Wyoming Howdy Doo crossing.

The fishing was GREAT. Nobody comes to Nowhere... tourist fly fishermen want company... we do not need any. No crossed lines, ever, for us.

Tent camped in the mid 1970's... and trailer camped in 2006 23 foot Safari and still come with the 27 foot. Yaaa Hoooo.

We took a group of 15 Airstreams to this location in 2016. It rained. It snowed. It sleeted. It got cold at 9,000' elevation+... August 2016. Often it is in the mid 70's during the day, upper 40's low 50's by morning.

When camped in Wyoming... the Seasons can change in 24 hours. Yep... lived their long enough to understand that. Tourists... do not.

The first morning a crowd was outside our trailer... wanting... to leave... NOW. A vigilante hanging... obviously was the other option... for Nancy and I. I said sure... meet us in town at the Park... we secured the trailer, loaded the two Blue Heelers and headed out.

This is what July / August is like... after the sun comes out. Hiking, fishing, exploring, detach the 4x4 and take side roads, two rivers... sometimes full from snowmelt, sometimes creeks when not.

...AND people think there are only TWO places in Wyoming to explore. This 'National Park' is FREE for all ages. No Senior Park Pass required... just courage and wanting to explore and breath fresh air.

Here: No lines of people. No parking problems. No people parked in the middle of the road to watch a deer or a bear. Here... they come to see you. Fry some bacon... meet a Bear or two.

It is your job to find it. I am tossing the fly... you are the trout. Hint: The horse packers take people to Yellowstone Park from here. The trail we were hiking is the way 'towards' Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons... if you have a couple weeks.

[superChop]

Ray - beautiful fotos! I can only imagine what those roads look like if it ever rains! As a 2WD guy, not sure if I would try those roads.

East coast - driving a max of 65MPH, I often get a return wave from any speed trap monitors/police/deputies/DPS. Having traveled all over the West with a tent trailer, I never saw the canopies over two lane roads that I have found in the east. One example is around the COE camp East of Birmingham, AL.

Plus recent years in the West views have been obscured views and caused my wife’s allergies to go crazy. Lack of rain and snow have created a tinderbox over much of the West. I am writing from Denver on a 60 degree day and reading about the many partially opened ski slopes on W side of Eisenhower tunnel. Seems like another summer of no campfires at any camping spot out here.

Why not give up the risk of fires and join a Caravan like Show me the Ozarks for green scenery and fantastic music?

[Ray Eklund]

THIS is one great use for a solid Beaver Dam walking stick. Carve your name onto the handle so not to confuse with MINE.

Walk UPSTREAM and the stick is your third foot... unless you like to swim in water probably in the low 40's in temperature. We carry sandals and put our hiking boots around our neck or backpack.

If you 'go for a swim'... you will dry out by the time you get to camp.

When I run out of photo space on the Forums... the tours will be over. I am getting close and then can... shut up and be on my merry way.

[Ray Eklund]

Why not give up the risk of fires and join a Caravan like Show me the Ozarks for green scenery and fantastic music?[/QUOTE]

Lived in the Kansas City area until 1997. Been to the Ozarks. Chiggers are a weapon used by the locals.

Dug Quartz Crystals in Arkansas. Panned for Diamonds. Fought off Chiggers... the most fearsome no see um on the Planet.

Rented inner tubes at Dube's on the Arkansas border. Hunted arrowheads in plowed fields for more than a Decade. Spelunked in the Winters... did not like mud, wet and dark. Stood in Guano... up to the top of my shoes. Done it.

Been there, done it... seen it.

Once out in the Rocky Mountains... I do not play a fiddle... I whistle.

2WD... is not problem in Wyoming. It is the GETTING OUT of Wyoming you may need 4WD. These roads require 4WD when wet. When Dry... bicycle in and out. The people in the photo... they bicycled while we picked up fossil wood in the river bed and fished.

People do not understand that 2WD is not a problem... until the dirt road becomes WET or it SNOWS in July. The majority of Wyoming residents... have 4WD. Because you need it 12 months out of the year. If there were 13 months.... then 13 months out of the year.

For the cost of being pulled out of a mud hole... the 4x4 cost is covered. If you can find your bumper, as it is now missing.

These Fires... most were in California. Later in Idaho and Montana... started in places that Nature would not... I bet next year, no fires. Lets see. We were there. We heard the talk. Locals are not isolated and ignorant. We lived in NW Montana. More fires last year than my entire life of living in NW Montana. Even Wyoming had... unusual fires. Lived there a long time. Hmmmm.

Small towns will park a non running Police Car at the Town Limits with a dummy dressed like a patrolman behind the steering wheel. You see it as you come into town. Works... I slowed down and was going under the speed limit.

We have never needed a campfire. Popular with Newbie former tent campers. Last campfire we had was around 1970. We were with a group. Never did that again. Their tents have black holes and their down filled jackets... Really...

[Ray Eklund]

A good place that is not well known and I will let you in on it.

Granite Hot Springs & Swimming Pool. The Camping area is now getting overgrown and pot holed. Along the River on the south side, are two sites in the trees. No reservations here. If the two River Sites are taken... find a spot overlooking the river.

Residents (Jackson, Alpine) go the swimming pool. You can jump in dirty, sweaty... and leave... not much better. This is a 'not so hot, but warm hot spring'. There are some spots at the water fall with STEAM coming out. You can jump in there, as well. Stay in long enough you will look Younger, appear cleaner... One time we were there... the pool was closed. Tourist Season it is open, maybe late June to early August. Hotter water in the Winter? Sure... and the Tooth Fairy is real, too.

It was crowded two years ago. You will not find many campers. You will see only us camped there in July 2008. Wet Blue Heelers do not make for good company inside the trailer... so not parking near the River.

This will get you into the area. Most never heard of this place. You may like it. You may not. If you do not like the Hot Springs, then, go North where there is plenty of RV Campsites along the Snake River. Lots of camping and turn towards Idaho outside of Alpine. Fewer people in the pool is good...

There you go. Four days, maybe five just south of Jackson... and no crowd. Nobody will notice you. This is getting closer to the... Real Wyoming. Wear a western hat. Not one with antlers... hunting seasons in Wyoming are popular.