10 replies to this topic

[hiker]

photo taken Nov. 15th near Mott, North Dakota by a pheasant hunter - http://instagr.am/p/UW2an/

Mark - just think of the flies that could be tied with that feather material :0 http://highcountryfl...ant-tail-nymph/

the pheasant tail nymph is always in my #1 fly box

Mark - you might get a kick from reading the access description for the hiking route into the meadow fishing in upper Crystal Creek near Jackson, WY ... I have walked in both routes and I still enjoy knowing how these guys describe the trail access to the upper meadows...last time I fished this spot, I noticed when walking upstream to my favorite stretch near dusk time of day that a fresh deer kill had taken place by a cougar, so I immediately left and hiked back out

http://highcountryfl...-crystal-creek/

excerpt -

"The trail, which leads into a steep, narrow canyon soon becomes washed out on very steep slopes with gravel acting as ball bearings. Furthermore, the soil composition consists largely of clay. This trail is treacherous and should be avoided. You may have made it up this trail a long time ago, but such is no longer the case."

Edited by hiker, 16 November 2011 - 02:43 AM.

[hiker]

Mark -

here is what the water looks like in the upper meadow of Crystal Creek, against the hillside in this stretch -

http://screencast.com/t/TTFZKRvd

http://screencast.com/t/fTNoFkB8X1b

a catch within this stretch of water near this hillside -

http://screencast.com/t/xPLjKAiSui

the hillside water starts in the far left edge of this photo -

http://screencast.com/t/ZiTGZpOf3

here is a full view of that hillside section -

http://screencast.com/t/2DRNRHzQsojI

panorama view upstream above the hillside section -

http://screencast.com/t/yhWZfZeAwg9Z

the more improved trail access to the lower section of the upper meadow -

http://screencast.com/t/8ENTEmbXLEbO

the trail head for starting out on either the improved trail or the abandoned trail starts at the small parking spot just behind
this first set of trees -

http://screencast.com/t/LVIkFiHl

you can see the hitching post for horses -

http://screencast.com/t/VpzlxY5w1oCj

this is the beginning section of the abandoned trail -

http://screencast.com/t/0vcVyzvGb6vv

final section of the abandoned trail route as the fisherman drops down toward upper Crystal Creek after traversing the lower portion of the elevated bench
just below the cliffs -

http://screencast.com/t/CwsJa37fCV

http://screencast.com/t/AQ9GbUeHgds0

the majority of the route followed to the upper Crystal Creek using the abandoned trail follows the upper edge of the creek canyon that is formed as the elevation drop from this cliff band intersects the vertical drop into the creek canyon - this route portion is beyond the visibility of this photo -

http://screencast.com/t/RPzMErfCWk9N

hope you enjoy these photos of a unique spot frequented by elk, pronghorn, grizzly bear, wolves, and cougar ... and a fisherman here and there

- hiker http://screencast.com/t/8gGbWKouH7

Edited by hiker, 16 November 2011 - 04:53 AM.

[hiker]

when time permits this winter, I will upload the digital video to Youtube that shows the hike on the "ball bearing" trail route to the Crystal Creek upper meadow the wind was blowing 30 mph on the bench portion of the route, so the video is interesting since the rough terrain and wind combine to make the wildness of the location unmistakable I intend to post a Youtube link here once it is uploaded..may be a while before I get to that, tho' I have the approx. 3-minute clip now in my hard drive

Edited by hiker, 16 November 2011 - 10:12 AM.

[hiker]

here are four Youtube videos I just now created from the clips I have in my hard drive from this hiking/fishing trip to
the upper Crystal Creek meadows on the day of September 24, 2010

Crystal Creek as it exits the canyon -



Crystal Creek canyon rim trail toward the upper meadows -



Crystal Creek canyon rim trail toward the upper meadows, video clip #2 -

http://youtu.be/ZraySBKwhMI

Crystal Creek upper meadows -

http://youtu.be/Ahyi56gfJ0U

* the final drive of un-maintained road to the trail head is like driving on a road only passable by horses in most cases :0
then a fisherman has to determine how to hike into the upper meadows, so there are some barriers to access this location

Edited by hiker, 16 November 2011 - 12:45 PM.

[Rogerdodger]

I love that first one with the water.
Reminds me of my hiking days in the Boy Scouts in the Kiamichi Mountains within the Ouachata Mountain Range in SE Oklahoma.
We used to hike 50 miles @ 10 a day during the Christmas break.
I learned to sleep with my damp boots in the sleeping bag to prevent them from freezing rock hard during the night.
I'm too old for that now, but I still remember the wonderful smell of fresh air and the sound of the breeze thru 100 feet tall pines.

Edited by Rogerdodger, 16 November 2011 - 08:12 PM.

[OEXCHAOS]

That is some really nice water and country. I took a look at that stream and said, "Look at all that cover!" Very nice. Thanks for posting. M

[Geomean]

We traveled out West and to Alaska for 6 weeks and then on to China for a month before going to Spain and Portugal during our Sabbatical.

Here's a picture I took from the Piercing Cloud Pavilion outlook when we were hiking on Yellow Mountain. Clearly one of the most iconic Chinese landscapes.

Enjoy.

Edited by Geomean, 17 November 2011 - 10:51 AM.

[hiker]

thank you to RD, Mark and Geomean for your comments and sharing.

here is one more video for the Crystal Creek area ...this one shows views of the approach to the vicinity of the trail head -



I placed a music soundtrack with this video because the static in the YouTube upload did not sound good

to Mark: if you decide to have a Traders-Talk conference in the future ... there is at least one facility in Jackson, WY where
accommodations are adequate - with rentals of condo's in a cabin style and in rental homes which are high-end vacation homes.

the nice feature of this specific facility is two world-class restaurants are located at the top of this mountain for a choice of breakfast, lunch and dinner
dining without driving down the mountain to Jackson Hole proper.

Spring Creek Ranch also has guided scenic trips and fishing trips, so participants in an event sponsored by TT would be able to package
the entire experience easily into a personal retreat -

http://www.springcreekranch.com/

http://www.amanresor...ani/resort.aspx

- hiker

p.s. Geomean and RD - I love those images you shared. thank you!

Edited by hiker, 17 November 2011 - 02:43 PM.

[Rogerdodger]

Just awesome. Some may call it spiritual or inspirational, but there is definitely a visceral response that I get from such vistas. (And a bit of envy that I'm not there seeing it with you.)

[hiker]

hi again, RD. you made my day saying that! yes, vistas are wonderful.

buffalo walking in the early a.m. of Sept. 24, 2010 while I drive toward the hiking location for the Crystal Creek area -



below is the first clip of the buffalo I recorded that day

I had been driving along watching the baby buffalo born that spring, and they were running and playing...finally, I could not resist and pulled
over and took my camera out of my day pack containing my fishing fly boxes and lunch

so, you can see both the newborn yearlings and the parents running in this short clip -



here is one more video I took that day ... while at the Crystal Creek trail head and finalizing my fishing gear for the hike
into the upper meadows, I enjoyed the athletic healthy horses these elk hunters were preparing for their adventure...these
guys told me they had counted five grizzly bear in the upper elevations the week prior -

http://youtu.be/wLKnAgPKHZU

OK, this really is the final video from that day ... I love the colors! this location is approx. 5 miles from the Crystal Creek trail head (3 miles to the unmaintained Crystal Creek road, turn left just before the gate to the Red Rocks dude ranch and then drive 2 more miles on the unmaintained road)

http://youtu.be/gWTGmL5CLm4

:0

Edited by hiker, 18 November 2011 - 01:10 PM.