Poper
Member
Last year I wrote of the loss of my father and the disbursement of his remains by my brother and me. http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=321741&highlight=poper
This year's adventure began with some quite ominous signs. Non-resident licenses fees increased significantly to $312 plus a $14 wildlife preservation stamp, or $326 total. Then the price of fuel left Earth's atmosphere which would have nearly quadrupled the cost of the trip from south central Arizona to northeast Wyoming, or a round trip (according to my trip odometer) of 2,854 miles. Additionally, the firm I worked for laid off everyone except the Owner late June. I haven't found a real job since and have been surviving on small projects crumbs that a real firm cannot perform at a profit. I don't make much of a profit, but it's eating money. Whether I would make the trip or not was very much in doubt up until 3 days before departure.
I serviced and loaded my truck Tuesday, 11/4 after voting and performing some last minute client service duties. Departure was 8:00 PM the same day.
The weather forecast for the trip and hunting days was nearly ideal: Seasonal temperatures with the possibility of 2-3 inches of snow in the area of my destination! Wonderful! I love hunting in the snow!
The first 18 hours were pretty uneventful. Then I ran into high winds in northern Colorado and throughout eastern Wyoming. West-northwesterly 30 to 40 mph with gusts to 55 mph! Yowsa! Rock 'n Roll! I stop frequently for fuel in rural areas because I have learned to get it while you can, 'cause if'n you don't, you probably will wish you had. Fuel stops can be far and few between. This wind made me doubly cautious regarding my fuel situation. Winds this severe hadn't been forecast and that can mean trouble could be on the way. And boy, was it ever!
About 80 miles from my ultimate destination, it began to snow. Within a few miles, light slush was present on the road surface. Then the slush began to freeze and a snow was accumulating as the sun was setting.
The further I drove, the worse conditions became. Visibility decreased and snow began to drift on the roads. Snow "pillows" became common from 4" to 12" deep. Then I missed my turn because I was paying more attention to the car in front of me than I was to my exact location. Before I knew it, I had driven 22 miles out pf my way in the wrong direction. I could get there from here, but it would be an additional 50 or so miles out of my way if I didn't turn around. Also, while visibility degenerated into occasional white-out conditions, I was getting into some steep mountain roads and climbing, too.
I turned around. I found my missed turn and noted conditions were worse than before.
Taking the correct road, I noted driving conditions were continuing to deteriorate, if that was possible. Snow was accumulating and I was driving with my left wheels on the centerline, when I could see it, and was trying to split the road edge reflectors when I couldn't. The radio stations I could hear were very little help. However, road closures weren't being called out yet, much to my surprise. After what I thought was hours of white knuckle, zero visibility (and worse) driving, I came to the final hard surface road turn that dropped into the valley where Devil's Tower stands. This road is very steep and very winding. And very, very scary in these conditions! As I approached Devil's Tower Junction, the snow began to let up. My turn onto the dirt road that led to the Cabin site was unpaved an has been known to be slick mud in these conditions. True to form, slow and steady was the order for the 8 miles of this road. The last two miles were climbing slowly and the snow began again with the altitude. Then came the 1/4 mile of driveway clogged with snow and no gravel base underneath. Thankfully, my cousin's 4x4 had left tracks not long before that I could make good use of. WHEW! Time to unload and relax! This was Wednesday night, 8:30 PM. 24.5 hours straight through!
Thursday: Near blizzard conditions all day long. Nobody left the Cabin. It was ok. I really needed the rest!
TO BE CONTINUED...
This year's adventure began with some quite ominous signs. Non-resident licenses fees increased significantly to $312 plus a $14 wildlife preservation stamp, or $326 total. Then the price of fuel left Earth's atmosphere which would have nearly quadrupled the cost of the trip from south central Arizona to northeast Wyoming, or a round trip (according to my trip odometer) of 2,854 miles. Additionally, the firm I worked for laid off everyone except the Owner late June. I haven't found a real job since and have been surviving on small projects crumbs that a real firm cannot perform at a profit. I don't make much of a profit, but it's eating money. Whether I would make the trip or not was very much in doubt up until 3 days before departure.
I serviced and loaded my truck Tuesday, 11/4 after voting and performing some last minute client service duties. Departure was 8:00 PM the same day.
The weather forecast for the trip and hunting days was nearly ideal: Seasonal temperatures with the possibility of 2-3 inches of snow in the area of my destination! Wonderful! I love hunting in the snow!
The first 18 hours were pretty uneventful. Then I ran into high winds in northern Colorado and throughout eastern Wyoming. West-northwesterly 30 to 40 mph with gusts to 55 mph! Yowsa! Rock 'n Roll! I stop frequently for fuel in rural areas because I have learned to get it while you can, 'cause if'n you don't, you probably will wish you had. Fuel stops can be far and few between. This wind made me doubly cautious regarding my fuel situation. Winds this severe hadn't been forecast and that can mean trouble could be on the way. And boy, was it ever!
About 80 miles from my ultimate destination, it began to snow. Within a few miles, light slush was present on the road surface. Then the slush began to freeze and a snow was accumulating as the sun was setting.
The further I drove, the worse conditions became. Visibility decreased and snow began to drift on the roads. Snow "pillows" became common from 4" to 12" deep. Then I missed my turn because I was paying more attention to the car in front of me than I was to my exact location. Before I knew it, I had driven 22 miles out pf my way in the wrong direction. I could get there from here, but it would be an additional 50 or so miles out of my way if I didn't turn around. Also, while visibility degenerated into occasional white-out conditions, I was getting into some steep mountain roads and climbing, too.
I turned around. I found my missed turn and noted conditions were worse than before.
Taking the correct road, I noted driving conditions were continuing to deteriorate, if that was possible. Snow was accumulating and I was driving with my left wheels on the centerline, when I could see it, and was trying to split the road edge reflectors when I couldn't. The radio stations I could hear were very little help. However, road closures weren't being called out yet, much to my surprise. After what I thought was hours of white knuckle, zero visibility (and worse) driving, I came to the final hard surface road turn that dropped into the valley where Devil's Tower stands. This road is very steep and very winding. And very, very scary in these conditions! As I approached Devil's Tower Junction, the snow began to let up. My turn onto the dirt road that led to the Cabin site was unpaved an has been known to be slick mud in these conditions. True to form, slow and steady was the order for the 8 miles of this road. The last two miles were climbing slowly and the snow began again with the altitude. Then came the 1/4 mile of driveway clogged with snow and no gravel base underneath. Thankfully, my cousin's 4x4 had left tracks not long before that I could make good use of. WHEW! Time to unload and relax! This was Wednesday night, 8:30 PM. 24.5 hours straight through!
Thursday: Near blizzard conditions all day long. Nobody left the Cabin. It was ok. I really needed the rest!
TO BE CONTINUED...
