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March 14
Tough getting up at 5am. Almost went back to bed, but discipline
kicked in. The clouds didn't light up in Norbeck Pass, so I parked
in the Fossil pullout and headed down the Castle Trail towards Saddle
Pass. Found an interesting flat area with small rocks scattered
everywhere on the hard pan (I learned later they were all washed
down from the Black Hills millions of years ago).
Some of the rocks were tiny toadstools themselves, balancing precariously
on a minute amount of sediment underneath that had yet to be washed
away. No slopping through mud at this point, since it had all frozen
overnight. I explored off the trail, investigating various fingers
of a deep canyon system. Had to retreat back to the 'hand' each
time I wanted to explore another finger. The snow continues to hide
holes - I dropped into one up to my thigh, bruising my knee. The
canyon was beautiful, with a mud stream weaving its way sinuously
out the bottom towards the prairie. Saw a cool 'mudfall,' or 'mudcicle,'
where a muddy stream dropping over a ledge had frozen overnight.
Also found some geodes. Clouds moved in, and I headed back. Flat
light until 4pm, when I headed out to shoot the big mushroom at
the base of Norbeck Pass. The sunset was clear, although no clouds
to light up.
March 15
Up at 5am, and out to Pinnacles Overlook. Waited for a sunrise that
never materialized. Scouted locations on the way back. I want to
shoot the yellow mounds, but they still have snow on them. At 10am,
met Ranger Mark, Greg, and Casey, and we went up Saddle Pass to
meet up with Bruce and Lee, who were searching for a dead bighorn
(radio collar alarms go off when the collar doesn't move for a period
of time - suggests the animal has died). They found the dead bighorn,
and we hauled it out to the road. It'll be taken to Laramie for
an autopsy.
...cold and overcast the entire day, despite
forecast for 50 degrees and sunny. Stayed inside all afternoon.
March 16
I was supposed to go up in a plane with a biologist, but the flight
was canceled. Beautiful, sunny, windy day (about 50 degrees). Walking
would be sloppy, so I drove out to Robert's Prairie Dog Town. Shot
half a roll, although they're skittish, chirping their alarms around
the colony. Continued on to Sage Creek Campground, spotting 3 bison
along the way (too far for pics). Walked along the river in some
slop, but couldn't cross over because of snow melt. Drove back slowly,
taking pics along the way. Stopped at Pinnacles for sunset, but
as usual, clouds swallowed the sun before it reached the horizon.
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