August 31, 2009

My Heroes Have Always Been...

You've got it, Willie. Cowboys. (You know the old Willie Nelson tune, don't you?)
Lo and behold, last weekend we found ourselves out in the Paradise Park high country of the Uintas, riding with a couple of cowboys. Okay, they were really a pharmacist and a horse trainer, but they had cowboy hats. And chaps. And fine, fit horses. They looked the part. Above, Steve and the almost-cowboys are chilling around Fish Lake. (Original name, isn't it? Every drainage in the Uintas seems to have a Fish Lake.)
To get there, we crossed Dry Fork:
Not dry here, though. In its lower reaches, the water drops into sinks and travels below ground. Thus, the name Dry Fork.
The stream would be easily fordable on horseback in August, but it might be a "biting dog," as they say, in spring runoff. The Forest Service kindly built a bridge to make crossing easy any time of year.
Here, the "cowboys" explore the shore of Twin Lakes:
We saw a number of beautiful lakes and ponds, and rode through scenic open meadows.One of our friends' horses decided to put on a bucking display while going through a bog. Fortunately, the rider kept his seat, and all was well.
Here's Steve in Lightning Park. The place is aptly named, to judge by the tree on which the sign is nailed. The tree is dead and looks as if it were the victim of heaven-sent electricity.
Our last stop was in Blanchett Park, through which a docile Dry Fork meanders.
Over 2 days, we covered close to 25 miles. One of the guys is an expert at Dutch Oven cooking - if he'd been the cook on one of the 1880's cattle drives, the cowboys would have refused to go home. We neglected to take a photo of the feast, probably because we were too busy stuffing ourselves.
We ate like royalty. Too much more of that, and I'd have to be hoisted onto Mischief with a crane!
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28 comments:

  1. Gorgeous pictures Janie of your 25 mile ride. I love seeing all of those lakes and of course, Dry???? Creek... ha

    Glad you had some cowboys with you ---and am even MORE glad that one of them cooked you a meal of a lifetime it sounds. YUM!!!!!

    Thanks for sharing.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  2. great scenery, good friends, good food--two whole days, whoo-hoo! Did Daisy stay home?

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  3. What a great trip! Looks like that spot may have been struck by lightening more than once.

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  4. What a wonderful couple of days! 25 miles - wow! The photos are great as usual!

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  5. Fantastic, Janie! What a terrific trip! Love all your shots! Does look as though you had fun! Did Daisy go? Missed seeing her this week!

    Have a great week!

    Sylvia

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  6. Great pictures!.
    Look like I see a Cowboys Movie here.

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  7. What an incredibly beautiful place to ride. And good food too? Sounds like heaven!

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  8. You ride in a beautiful landscape. Not only do you see all the beauty of nature, you also see real-life cowboys (LOL).

    Enjoy your ride this week.

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  9. I know that feeling and I don't even do any horse riding to burn it off! ;)

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  10. That meadow would be worth the hike (or ride). You have fish lake, the Sierras have a "Summit Lake" at the top of each pass, and lots of "Twin Lakes" as well.

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  11. Looks like a great way to spend 2 days...in nature.
    I love that willie song!

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  12. Just the feeling of freedom I get viewing these. We have many wild horse here and I just love watching them run.

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  13. I was thinking as I was reading how scary it would be if a horse decided to buck on the bridge...and then you say he bucked in the bogs! Whew! Looks like a wonderful camping trip. Did Daisy stay home? Wondering how she does with horses that don't "belong to her".

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  14. Wow, another great ride! I can't help but wonder who the pharmacist cowboy is?

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  15. love that first cowboy shot...and thanks for the great tour...

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  16. Another enjoyable journey through the high country, Janie. You do take wonderful photos of these beautiful mountain trails. Nice butt shot of Daisy too:)
    Thanks for sharing, have a great week...

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  17. Cowboys and cowgirl! Loved all the pictures from your 25 miles. Love the water, the bridge, lightning park, all of it! Thanks for taking us along!

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  18. Another lovely ride. Convient bridge. And how nice to meet a "cowboy" that can cook. Is he married? LOL

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  19. A great combination of a beautiful ride!

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  20. Just you and three cowboys! Nice company and nice ride. There is nothing quite like being out in them thar hills on horseback.

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  21. What beautiful places you have there, We are heading to Utah around the 17th of sept. I am so ready for a vacation. Tell me what i need to see besides the usual stuff. That we already have seen.... ?Going to be in Utah for at least 3 weeks.

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  22. I am jealous of your beautiful mountains! Well, no, but I miss the mountains in the Netherlands, even if I love my country! Thanks for the beautiful tour!

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  23. Love the mountains! Nice world.

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  24. Things certainly have a late summer look. Each season has its own beauty and you have great photos to display it.

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  25. As always, beautiful pics. Some of them remind me of the movie westerns. I just can't imagine waking up to such beauty each day (as Lucy barks, "Hey, what about me???") Excellent post, Janie.

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  26. I was glad to hear that one of the cowboys was such a good cook. I imagine that the meal tasted even better since he was eaten around a campfire. What a great 2-day ride. Thanks for the great pictures.

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  27. wonderful scenery and such large swaths of open land.Sure looks beautiful.

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  28. Beautiful scenery and what sounds to be a fabulous ride.

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