Author Archive

Beartooth Scenic Byway

Written by Jennifer on . Posted in adventure, blog, Travel

I remember driving this a few years back. I stumbled onto this picture and brief article today(www.fs.usda.gov) that reminded me I need to do this again. The cloud line was not nearly this high when I went, but it was still absolutely breath-taking.

The Custer Gallatin National Forest is filled with special places, too numerous to list all.  Here are a couple featured areas. 

Launching out of Red Lodge, MT on the Beartooth Ranger District this breathtaking 68-mile drive winds from dark dense forest up to the top of windswept tundra dotted with lakes.  Claimed as one of “America’s Most Beautiful Highways,” you will never forget this drive from Red Lodge, MT through the northeast corner of Yellowstone National Park and accessing Cooke City, MT.

Closed Seasonally during Winter – two lane road.

beartooth

Earthquake Lake Visitor Center

Written by Jennifer on . Posted in blog, Events, Historical

The Earthquake Lake Visitor Center is open! This provides a panoramic view of the mountain that fell during an earthquake in 1959 and the resulting lake that was formed. Located in West Yellowstone, which is surrounded by some of the country’s top trout streams and some of the best float and deep water trout fishing on nearby Hebgen and Earthquake Lakes. This is a wonderful place to stop before headed out on the river to fish or simply enjoy the views with the family. Be sure to remember your camera!

Hebgen Lake 1959

Hebgen Lake 1959

The Facts: “Near midnight on an August night in 1959 a 7.5 magnitude earthquake, near the Madison River triggered a massive landslide forever changing the landscape.  Twenty-eight people lost their lives.  In 1967, the Forest Service’s Earthquake Lake Visitor Center opened its doors for the first season of operation.  Today, the center provides interpretive services for more than 50,000 visitors annually.  The natural attractions and the easily- seen effects of the strongest earthquake in the Rocky mountains has made this area one of the outstanding scenic and geological study areas in the west.”

Adventure Bound River Expeditions

Written by Jennifer on . Posted in adventure, blog, Travel

A few posts back, I talked about our great camping spot in Moab. What I didn’t mention was the awesome chance meeting we had with our neighbor. This gentleman and his wife were camping at Gold Bar campground for a reason; Adventure Bound River Expeditions. They live in Grand Junction, CO. Which is less than a 2 hour drive from Moab. They were familiar with this particular area because the gentleman had spent the last several years dropping off rafters right down the road. He couldn’t have come over and introduced himself at a better time because we had just been wondering out loud to one another where all the rafters that had been passing by were headed? I said ” I wonder if those rafts travel all the way to the confluence?” The answer: They sure do!

Adventure Bound takes people all over the Green and the Colorado rivers! You get to pick how long of a trip you want, where you want to start and end, and they literally do the rest! Some of the starting points and destinations include Flaming Gorge, Steamboat Springs, Capitol Reef National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Colorado National Monument, and  lake Powell! Talk about a dream come true. The day I got home, I booked a trip for this time next year. Its going to be torture waiting that long, but sometimes the anticipation is half the fun!

Be sure to check these guys out! www.adventureboundusa.com

raftmoab

With over 50 years of exceptional professionally-guided river rafting trips in Colorado and Utah, Adventure Bound has the experience to offer the best rafting vacations in the west. Since our start in 1963, Adventure Bound has specialized in multi-day rafting trips in the beautiful remote wilderness areas of America. Our all-inclusive trips will give you something you won’t find in other vacations; The total escape from the hectic world, completely free of distractions.

Backpacking the Grand Tetons

Written by Jennifer on . Posted in adventure, blog, Travel

The Teton Crest Trail runs through the alpine zone west of the summits, with amazing views of the soaring peaks that make up the Teton Range! 

Teewinot: 12,325-foot

 Middle Teton: 12,804-foot

Mt. Owen: 12,928-foot

Grand Teton: , and 13,700-foot 

You don’t really get a grasp for the glory of the peaks while just driving US191 through the Grand Teton National Park (although the drive IS amazing). So if you are looking for something more challenging and a way to really disconnect from the general flow of traffic, try this one on for size

The trail totals in 32.6 miles (via Cascade Canyon Trail) and is definitely not for the faint of heart. To find the trailhead from Jackson, go north 12 miles; turn left on Teton Park Rd. In 8.5 miles, turn left on Jenny Lake Rd. In 2.5 miles, turn left on String Lake Rd. Park in .3 mile.

As always with backpacking, plan ahead! Bring plenty of food and water and be sure to have your permits which you can get at:  www.nps.gov

Teton-Crest-Trail-map

Spring Means Babies

Written by Jennifer on . Posted in adventure, blog, Events, Travel

As those of you who follow this blog know, the 191 crew has been out the last 2 months traveling the beautiful scenic highway via car, back-packing, river, hiking, biking, camping, and any other ways you can think of to enjoy this amazing stretch of the west. Now that we are back to civilization and are able to compile our data, we are ready to show you all that we have discovered!

With Spring always comes a sense of new beginnings; wild flowers in bloom, fresh green on the mountain sides, and holy babies! We were greeted by baby bison, small fawns, baby cattle of all kinds, and the best of them all? Baby grizzly’s! The grizzly sow with three cubs making appearances between Gibbon Falls and Beryl Spring, on Yellowstone’s west side! It is funny at that age and size, they seem almost cuddle-able. Of course this is not the case, but they sure were fun to look at.

*If you happen to get a glance at these cute cubs, be sure yo contact the DNR if they are not already present. babygrizzlys

Zipline Moab!

Written by Jennifer on . Posted in adventure, blog, Travel

One activity that definitely got added to my bucket list while in Moab was the zip-line that went in not too long ago! I have heard nothing but great things about Ravens Rim Zip-line Adventure. The crew and I had this on our list for this trip, but simply ran out of time. I’d love some feedback from anyone who has coasted on this wild ride. We saw them sail overhead while on the bike path and the sounds coming from all of the thrilled customers sounded like sheer joy and exhilaration! Below is a description form their website of what the tour offers and a map. To book with them, visit : www.ravensrim.com

The course begins with Sneak Peak; a short 280-ft zip line with views dominated by to the La Sal Mountain Range of southeastern Utah, rising 12,721 ft above sea level.

 Cross over a natural bridge, home to a newly forming arch and onto B-Line, a 360-ft line which spans two red rock fins.

 Ready for more?!?zipline.moab

 The 110-ft long suspension bridge is our own engineering marvel!  Steadily walk the narrow planks as you peer through perforated treads below your feet.  Back to terra firma!  The foot path weaves through some of nature’s finest wonders; potholes! Some measuring more than 50-ft deep, they are a geological marvel! Also known as Tenaya’s, these are naturally occurring depressions in the sandstone that are home to organisms that have survived millions of years.

 Leaving pothole ridge,Tenaya Take-Off lands on another sandstone ridge, 450-ft from your departure.

 And now for Holy Zip, 1280-ft long, high above the desert basin.

 Ready for some wind beneath the wings? Fly across Cliff Jumper. Just 420-ft but with plenty of speed.

 And now the grand finale.  Home Run will fly you over 1,300-ft of desert terrain. Wave to the bikers below as you cruise over the world-renowned Slickrock Bike Trail.

National Park Service Celebrating 100 Years!

Written by Jennifer on . Posted in adventure, blog, Events, Historical

2016 marks the National Park Service’s Centennial Celebration with special summer events planned in Yellowstone and the neighboring gateway communities. Come join the festivities in West Yellowstone on July 4 as we celebrate with the “100 Years of Transportation into Yellowstone” parade, free music in the park, and a fireworks show. 
Yellowstone will not be the only one participating in this note worthy event, For more information or to see if the Nation Park you are going to be visiting next is a part of this, visit : www.nps.gov/subjects/centennial
fireworks

Camping in Moab

Written by Jennifer on . Posted in adventure, blog

Last week myself and some of the 191 crew were camping in Moab while having some adventure in between Canyonlands Nation Park and Arches. The place we had to call our home base was nothing short of spectacular! We were right on the Colorado River in a semi-rustic campground directly across from the hiking trail to Corona Arch! Gold Bar campground is located 9.6 miles down Potash Rd of US191. The entire drive on Potash is scenic not only for its views of the Colorado, but also Petroglyphs (Indian writing) and the abundance of rack climbers challenging themselves on the cliff walls. Gold Bar campground only has a few sites (less than 10) so if you can’t find a spot there, it is one of several campgrounds on Potash road. Camping is 15$ a night and worth every penny. imagejpeg_0

Adventure time!

Written by Jennifer on . Posted in adventure, blog, Travel

The 191 crew is happy to announce that we will be out exploring parts of 191 for hiking, fishing, rock climbing, river adventures, camping and so much more for the next 3 weeks! This might make posting a little difficult being that part of what makes these spots so grand is being completely disconnected with the outside world (no service), or rather very connected to the outside, depending on how you look at it. Please stay tuned for great information upon our return.

The Secret Is Out

Written by Jennifer on . Posted in adventure, blog, Historical, Travel

The Other day I typed in US 191 on my Google search just to see what other information is out there regarding this beautiful stretch of US Highway. I was actually slightly surprised seeing that CNN Money had released the following article almost a year ago. When I started this website in 2012, there was nothing that came up in my google search about US191 besides the standard wikipedia definition. I think it is crazy awesome that a big company like CNN is giving it the recognition that it deserves.

Fell free to read about what they had to say about US191 on here, but also click the link to see what other American  road trips made the list!

http://money.cnn.com/gallery/pf/2014/07/16/road-trips/

Canyon De Chelly National Monument, Arizona

A photo I took of Canyon De Chelly four years ago

6 Great American Road Trips

U.S. 191: Utah to Arizona

  • Trip length: 197 miles from Moab, UT, to Chinle, AZ

The scenery along Route 191 is spectacular any time of year. This red-rock country is a geological fairyland of arches, slot canyons, natural bridges and balancing rocks.

The road bisects the Colorado Plateau, which boasts one of the highest concentrations of national parks, monuments and recreational areas in the country. Just off 191 are Arches and Canyonlands National Parks; a short drive away are natural bridges, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and Glen Canyon.

Outside Chinle, Ariz., lies Canyon de Chelly (pronounced “shay”) National Monument. This Navajo land features old cliff dwellings and Spider Rock, a thin sandstone spire that soars 750 feet from the canyon bed.

The scenic trails in Utah’s national parks lure many hikers. Be sure to wear some red to attract hummingbirds. There’s also whitewater rafting, kayaking, rock climbing and mountain biking.