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1 September ~2008

After 15 days away, and 12 nights sleeping in a tent, I was glad to get back to my
home.  I knew it would be like this, but it was still hard to not have anyone to meet me, to find home nearly as quiet as my time alone in the Beartooths.

I learned long ago that tough times are best handled with strength, to live lean, and realize there is a goodness beyond my understanding.





One night up there deer kept coming into my camp - 3 times in the middle of the night, about an hour apart.  Not close enough to trigger my tripline attached to alarms, but close enough to wake up the dogs in the tent with me.  It was getting old, because I wanted to get some sleep.

After I got out and scanned with my headlamp, I sent Ben and Maggie out to chase the deer off.  But they kept coming back.

On the last time I put my light on a deer about 50 feet from camp, and was surprised when it wasnt looking at me, but out into the woods.  I wondered if they kept coming into camp for protection from something a lot more dangerous than my two dogs.

I was worn out by the end of the backpack trip.  It took twice as long to come down as it did to go up.  Some of it could be my age - I am not getting younger - and I think Ben and Maggie felt the same way (tired and age-weary).  But I also saw young people struggling with the trail.  The lower section is extremely rocky.





The second week I spent in Yellowstone, taking short hikes and trying to have a relaxing as well as an adventurous vacation.  

I like the comradery of the wildlife watchers in Yellowstone.  It is easy to start up conversations and make friends as we are observing Grizzlies and Wolves and Coyotes and Eagles and Bison.

 One evening we were watching a Grizzly work over a Bison carcass in the Hayden Valley, that had been attracting carnivores for four days, when a lone grey Wolf came walking up along the bank of the river.  It saw the Grizzly and stopped about 500 yards from the carcass, waiting for the Grizzly to finish we figured.



After a long while the Grizzly left, moving uphill to the southeast.  Almost immediately the Wolf started in, apparently to take its turn on the Bison kill.

The Wolf took a path that interesected with the trail of the Grizzly though.  As we watched they came face to face - a 500 pound Grizzly and a 100 pound Gray Wolf.  The Wolf moved around until its back was in the direction of the carcass, and bared its teeth, threatening the Grizzly.

The Grizzly stopped, but didn't look straight at the Wolf.  The Wolf crouched down on the ground, still baring its teeth and probably growling, although it was too far off for us to hear.

The Wolf's message seemed very clear - This is my ground now, and no matter what your size, I am tougher.  Keep on going and don't come back.

The Grizzly, with a full stomach, was in no mood for a tussle.  It took several slow steps ahead, and then kept on climbing the hill, without looking back at the Wolf.   The Wolf went over and began tearing meat off the Bison carcass.

You had to be there to understand the courage and grit of that Wolf, walking straight in on that Grizzly and laying down the law, as if it is something it did every day.

It is no wonder Native Americans respected the Wolf so much.  One of the highest compliments was to be said you had the courage and heart of a Wolf.

My trip ending up in Jackson on a Thursday, like it does every year.  By then I had my fill of solitude life, and I sure was in the mood for a good time at the Cowboy Bar.  The hard back and soft breasts of the ladies I danced with never felt so good, and I damn sure squeezed them tight.                                                

 
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Listen to Undone in Sorrow by Crooked Still
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Listen to Hard Times by Ryan Bingham
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