08/21 - 08/24 - Lake Yellowstone, Wyoming

Hunkydory · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 1:57 pm Post subject:

Just got off the cell phone will my son who is tent camped at Bridge Bay Campground. He said they had two different grizzly bears in very close to there tent yesterday on F loop. Said the animal viewing has been great but the wind, rain and snow is wearing on them with today and the next two forecast the same or worse are debating on whether to head out today or not. The high for tomorrow is forecast to be 35 degrees.

Jim & Yellowstone John---you will be smiling this weekend as the sky's are supposed to clear with tempurtures up in the 60's.

Jay

Yellowstone · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 3:32 pm Post subject:

Jay We didn't consult our local soothsayer about Yellowstone's weather this coming weekend. Just plain dumb luck.Yellowstone as you know is a fickle "beast." But that is part of its charm. Right now in White Suffering Springs it is raining, sleeting, hailing, snowing, and blowing gusts up to 50 mph. Sloppy weather forecast for the next three days. We are only at 5,200 feet here and the Lake is around 7,900. I feel for your son at Bridge Bay campground, but then he has got to be made of the right stuff. Good that you mentioned bringing some fire wood. I'll raid the old wood pile, too, and bring some along to add to your pile. When we lived in Oregon we burned oak, maple, cherry, apple, and madrone. I left four cords behind. Just too heavy to haul 800 miles . Darn it. John

Hunkydory · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 4:17 pm Post subject:

John--Have similar conditions here at 6200 feet except the winds not that bad. This storm is covering a large area and back east their sweltering in heat and humidity.

Ya, wasn't concerned about my son, but his wife, mother-in-law and young step-daughter may be well above their comfort zone. Jayson, that's my youngest son has been well tested many times. We once spent several days atop the Salt River Range in Wyoming in similar conditions without a tent.

Sounds good you bringing wood too. Love a campfire and hate having to be to conservative with the wood.

Jay

JamesTXSD · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 5:28 pm Post subject:

Fickle? Well, that implies constantly changing, right? We woke up to more snow again this morning. Rolling Eyes

OK, it was different - this time it was slushy... wet and heavy, the kind of snow you liked to make snowballs out of when you were a kid... if you wanted to take someone right off their feet! Twisted Evil

But, today was different. A day off, after being on the last 8 in a row. I made a lot of runs with the Lake Queen over the past week, most of them in IFR conditions. Joan and I drove over to the Lake Lodge today... the slush was melting... might have been the cold wind sublimating the icy stuff! We have the next two days off, and Mother Nature doesn't sound too nice during that timeframe. Still, the park is pretty; dramatic scenes all around with the snow and clouds.

We saw a bit of sunshine while out early this afternoon... it really highlighted the whitecaps on the lake! Shocked

Yesterday when the other captain came in mid-day for his time on, he said, "I felt bad for you with all the weather you had to deal with the past few days."

"So, you would rather it was on your shift?" I asked.

"Um, no, I didn't feel that bad."

Mr. Green

That's how I felt today, looking out at the whitecaps. Wink

Tent camping wouldn't be my idea of fun here in Yellowstone this past week.

Best wishes,
Jim

El and Bill · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 6:45 pm Post subject:

flrockytop · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 6:52 pm Post subject:

SeaSpray · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 8:42 pm Post subject:

Hi Ell and Bill,

Thanks for the good suggestions. This will be a trail run for us to see how well we manage a longer trip like this. If we can still buy gas and I can manage the money I hope to get to the east coast in the next few years.

My initial thought was to go to Bryce and Zion between Flaming Gorge and Powell. That probably would not work if we want to stay with others planning this. I don't know anything about Kodacrome or Capital Reef yet and had not considered them. We had decided that we would not drive through the 1.1 mi tunnel.

This give us more to think about. Not pulling the boat would give us about %40 savings in fuel but we would need to camp with our truck for a few days.

If we make slip reservations for Lake Yellowstone for the 20th to the end of Aug. I think we should be okay to take it as it comes for the rest of the trip. Any idea of when the group might head to Flaming Gorge and then to Lake Powell?

Steve

El and Bill · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 12:16 am Post subject:

We're thinking of pulling out the 1st of September and head down to Teton Lake, maybe stay in that area overnight, and then down to Flaming Gorge. Hang around there three or four days (depends on weather, and what folks want to do) and then down to Powell, 'camping en route.'

jkidd · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 12:37 am Post subject:

For me looks like 21st thru the 24th Yellowstone. 30th thru the 1st Flaming Gorge. The 18th thru the 22nd at Lake Powell. Sorry the rest of the time I have to work. Flaming Gorge has a light parade and fireworks on saturday the 30th.

flrockytop · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 5:18 am Post subject:

Yellowstone

Folks, Edna and I spent five delightful days at Bridge Bay Marina returning Wed. evening. The weather and fishing were very good. Edna caught several cutthroat trout - her first - weighing close to 2 lbs each.We lost many due to barbless hooks but that was OK. It is catch and release anyway. We met Capt. Jim and Joan of the Wild Blue. They were busy, however on their jobs, but we will catch up with them this coming August. Jim and another fellow share captain duties of the Lake tour boat. We drove to Jackson (100 miles due south) on Monday passing through Grand Teton National Park - Edna's first visit - and checked out the marina and launch facilities on Jackson Lake. For C-Dogs touring Jackson Lake, these are your options: Leeks Marina - 307-543-2546 www.signalmountainlodge.com - small launch site and all boats swing on a buoy - cost $30 p/day but that includes water taxi service. Andy Swallow, the engaging young manager told me that most of the time the buoys are all taken - two C-Dorys were swinging, one called the Shiboney
from Wilson, Wyo. and the other (no name) a 22'. There is a nice restaurant and clean restrooms close to the launch site. Further down the lake is the Colter Bay Marina which had both slips and buoys. Some shore power. It appeared to be close to full. Cost is $25 day. Call (307)
543-2811 for more info. Futher down the lake is Signal Marina (307)543 2831 ext. 250. I didn't visit the site. There is no question that Jackson Lake has the most spectacular mountain background with the towering
Tetons, the highest being the Grand Teton at 13,770 feet. The lake is really the impoundment of the Snake River and the water looks good. My sense is that reservations for both Yellowstone and Grand Teton need to be secured soon. Hope this information is useful for those of you joining us Aug. 21-24. Yellowstone John

JamesTXSD · Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 8:05 am Post subject:

Hi John and Edna,

I was a pleasure to meet you. Sorry we weren't able to get away and spend time with you, but we hope that will be different when you return. Mother Nature cooperated with you during your visit - blue skies and reasonable temps... and no snow! Hopefully, the C-Brats who are coming in August will be living right and will be treated to the same nice weather.

With all the snowpack, Jackson Lake should be good. We have spent time on that lake, too, and the scenery is gorgeous. I think the idea of a tour of lakes starting here and working south is great!

We look forward to seeing you again.

Best wishes,
Jim & Joan

Yellowstone · Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 11:51 am Post subject: Yellowstone gathering

Good morning Jim and Joan - I did leave a note on the TomCat about the gathering - perhaps he/she already knows. A fellow boater at the Marina told me that in August the marina has what he called a Christmas parade of boats on the lake. The date he mentioned fell into the window of our gathering. Would you research that for us? I believe my inverter would handle a string of lights. Kind of fun to celebrate Christmas early! Stay off the shoals. See you in August. Take care. John & Edna