Sage Land Behind Us, Mountains Ahead

Published September 22, 2019

200 miles of sagebrush, pronghorn antelope and frost numbed fingers are behind us. The mules and I have completed the leg from Casper, Wyoming to Pinedale.

Thawing out: this is the scene 4 days ago inside my tent. It’s 5:15 am and 25 degrees outside. The mules and I are at just under 8,000 feet at the base of Little Prospect Mountain 60 miles east of Atlantic City, Wyoming. That’s not a hat on my head. It’s a dish rag my wife Julia gave me. I’m telling you, I was chilly. Two hours later…

…things looked a lot different at 30 degrees.

Through the Land of Sage and Antelopes

This past week, the mules and I crossed 100 miles of sage rolling out against a back drop of snow covered peaks. We followed the Lander Cut Off route for much of the way but also rode many miles on the Oregon Trail. Yes, it’s possible to ride considerable distances on the Oregon, California and Lander Trails.

But what struck me most is the dryness of the land. This is the part of America you don’t enter with your mules without plenty of water for yourself and a plan to find enough for your mules as you go. I set off with 4 gallons – 2 gallons on Brick and 2 gallons on Cracker. Water is heavy. Those 4 gallons added 32 pounds to our gear. To reduce friction on Cracker’s back, I mostly walked him.

Here’s how the land looks from above.

The dry land we’re passing through. The red marker at 10 o’clock is Pinedale, Wyoming, where we’re currently camped. We left for her from Casper, at about 2 o’clock, 2 weeks ago. (Google Maps)

Days, walking across the open land, we leaned in to the ever present head wind. It tore at my eyes and nostrils and ears and made every hole in my head ache. The mules got the same treatment. Most days, aside for the occasional passing pickup, our only companions were ants and antelopes.

Two pronghorn antelopes watch our passing.

When the wind wasn’t blowing, it was raining. Nothing feels as chilly as a 35-degree rain. Blech.

A soggy way to start the day. Normally, I wouldn’t leave camp in such rainy weather. But in the middle of the Great Wide Open, with the days getting shorter and so many miles ahead of us, I saddled up and set forth.

Top hat, saddle leather and freezing rain

Cracker, tail to the nasty weather, is not amused.

Not thick enough to skate on but thick enough to make you feel winter’s coming soon.

The good news is that every day wasn’t rainy.

Here, an impromptou picnic on Jess and Mike Ruby’s tractor trailer. That’s not me eating the sandwich. That’s Sven Eckhard. He’s traveling on his bike from Alaska to Argentina.

Sven’s rig and my rig. Like so many folks I met along the way, Sven merits a whole post dedicated to his journey.

The past few weeks, “where will I find water for Brick and Cracker to drink?” has become The Question. This land was no exception. The good news was that much of the route I took followed 2 rivers – the Sweetwater, and the Sandy. The mules never went 24 hours without drinking.

Beautiful but dry: we’ve crossed almost 200 miles of land like this lately.

Water is scarce in these parts. Here, a padlocked gate that prevents access to the Sandy River at Buckskin Crossing, east of Boulder, Wyoming. Not cool when your mules are thirsty. Luckily, we could scoop up a bucket of water from the bridge just downstream.

One upside to all this cold, wet weather is it gives the mules more places to drink. Here, a muddy puddle which they found tasted delicious after a night of browsing on cheat grass.

Friendly faces: Betty and Susie and their husbands George and John put Cracker, Brick and me up after our trek through the sage covered expanses. Grain, a bed and a wood stove. What a luxury!

Tonight’s lodging: Cracker samples the grass at the Pinedale Roping Arena.

On to Alpine

From Pinedale, the mules and I head toward Alpine. The next 85 miles see us climbing from the tiny community of Daniel up to McDougal Gap. From there, we follow the Grey Rivers down hill toward Alpine.

The biggest issue going in to these mountains is weather. While the South and East Coast may be baking in a late September heat wave, there’s already snow on the mountains out here. My route takes me in to the white stuff. The good news is that this early in the year, it’s unlikely we encounter heavy snow. Still, it’s wise to check the forecast before heading in to these hills.

The latest forecast looks as promising as one can expect at this time of year up hear. 4 days of fair skies followed by 4 days of rain and snow. I hope, by then, to be on the other side of the hill.

Thanks

No post from these parts is complete without a list of thank yous. It’s simple. I can’t get through these remote parts of Wyoming without the help of folks I meet along the way. From gasoline to hay to health certificates, new friends have stepped up and provided me with what I needed. There’s simply no way I can carry all that’s required on a trip like this on my mules. I’m constantly in awe of folks’ generosity…and make a point to pass it on.

Thanks also to:

Susie and John Blaha: mule lodgings, salt, chili and the health certificates needed to get the mules in to Idaho. I promise I won’t almost pass out next time I help pull porcupines guys!
George and Betty: the bed in a camper, pork rinds, use of the washing machine and coffee, coffee, coffee
Mike and Tess: the honkin’ sandwich, energy drink and proscuitto
Mike and the Pinedale Rodeo Arena: a place to overnight the mules in Pinedale