Green River Lakes

What a View!

After 800 miles in the back of the truck, I am glad to be home. I am ready to resume my fence patrol duties. While I got to see new and interesting country, bouncing around in the back of the truck wore me out. Our last day was probably the toughest on me. Utah Jack found a 30 mile shortcut across the Uinta Mountains that took four hours to negotiate. If we had a video of that 30 mile ride, Timberline Range Camps could use it as a marketing tool. Without the video, no one would believe we pulled a 16' sheep camp over those roads.

I collected so much material and Dangerous took so many pictures I am not sure where to start and what to share with you. Rather than boring you with a travelogue, I thought I would pick out a few highlights to share. To start, I thought you might like to see some pictures Dangerous took at Green River Lakes. These pictures record our seven mile hike around the lakes. After you see them, I think you will understand why we made the trip.

A River Starts

Those familiar with the West know that the headwaters of the Green River originate in Wyoming's Wind River Range. Numerous mountain streams drain into two beautiful lakes located 50 miles north of Pinedale, Wyoming. The two lakes are easily accessible with a seven mile hiking trail circling them. Anyone with a pair of hiking shoes and a few hours to spend can experience beautiful views of Square Top Mountain in the background. Some twenty-five years ago, these views brought Dangerous, Utah, and their sons to the Winds to backpack and fish. Green River Lakes continues to be one of the most popular and highly used entrances into the Bridger Wilderness. Dangerous wished for a few minutes that he had Dottie and Little Guy with us as we watched a pack string exit the wilderness during our hike.

Upper Green River Lake

Wind River Pack String

It's hard to imagine that the beautiful trout stream that you can throw a rock across becomes the high desert river that eventually dumps into the Colorado River in Canyon Lands National Park. The raging torrent that John Wesley Powell followed to the Colorado comes to life as a shallow, mountain stream that fly fishermen regularly wade and float. In 1869, Powell lost a boat at Disaster Falls on the Green. Not far from its headwaters the Green was a barrier to pioneers traveling west. They got in line at Lombard Ferry and paid $3.00 for each wagon and $0.25 per head of stock ferried across. If the line was long rates soared to $16 for a team and wagon. The travelers willingly paid the going rate as they pursued free land and religious freedom. In fact, Dangerous' great-great grandfather crossed the Green at Lombard Ferry in 1848 on his way to Utah.

The Green Comes to Life

Lombard Ferry

In my next blog, I plan to introduce a new member of the High Plateau bunch. What are a sheep dog and a sheep camp without a sheep? Lamb Chop joined our merry group when Dangerous bought our sheep camp. Lamb Chop will become my first guest blogger. I plan to extend an invitation to others who ride, hike, or read my blog to offer a fresh perspective or share their experiences traveling the West or riding the High Plateau. I hope I can encourage some of you to write and entry or two. Let me know if you are interested. If I don't hear from you, I will contact you directly!

Lamb Chop, Dangerous, and Me