Author Topic: Plan SB's Elite Vision Quest Through Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho  (Read 109789 times)

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Offline mocat

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Re: Plan SB's Elite Vision Quest Through Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho
« Reply #725 on: September 10, 2017, 09:40:39 AM »
I have decided that I want to VQ to Yellowstone next summer. I am beginning to do research/ planning for the trip now. Any pro tips/ reccomendos are appreciated. I intend to camp outside the park and head in quite early every morning. This thread is my inspiration.

5 nights camping at Madison campground.

saw 4 grizzlies from ~1 mile away in Hayden valley, using a scope. they appeared to be tussling over a carcass. was amaze.

one morning we woke up at 4 am and drove to Slough Creek in the Lamar valley and observed 8 wolves for like 2 hours, also ~1 mile away using a scope. there were a bunch of pups just screwing around, and then an adult showed up with some food (couldn't tell what it was) and then all the pups went apeshit and started howling, and the adult led them at full sprint up the side of a hill where (apparently, according to the wolf watching nerds who were there) the adult would regurgitate some food for the pups. it was incredible to watch.

i also jumped off a cliff in Firehole Canyon. i mean i say cliff but it was probably like 30 feet. it appeared to be approximately 7 million feet high when i was up there tho. i have a pretty hilarious gopro video of the jump. i unconsciously made a Hulk/schwarzenegger sound in midair. i even bitched out at first but then decided to do it since several small children did it right in front of me no problem. it was real VQ type stuff

also i have an enormous pro tip for any would-be yellowstone VQ'rs: wake up early and get out there early. come back to your campground for lunch, and then go out again for sunset. the crowds are huge but they are also a bunch of idiots and they do everything in the middle of the day, so you can avoid them by using the enormous pro tip listed above. another great benefit is that you get more wildlife action at dawn & dusk, and also your photos look better.

Yellowstone is approximately infinity square miles, so you will need a real vehicle to drive everywhere. in 5 nights we filled up the tank twice just from driving around inside the park  :sdeek:

congratulations on your decision to go to yellowstone. follow pro tips listed above. it is impossible to overemphasize how enormous the park is. when you want to go somewhere it is like a half day time commitment. Madison is fairly centrally located between a bunch of cool stuff.

Offline Spracne

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Re: Plan SB's Elite Vision Quest Through Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho
« Reply #726 on: September 10, 2017, 10:06:22 AM »
Zip lining in MHK tomorrow. It will be an adventure of sorts. 7 zips and one free fall!
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Offline mocat

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Re: Plan SB's Elite Vision Quest Through Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho
« Reply #727 on: September 10, 2017, 10:15:44 AM »
I intend to camp outside the park and head in quite early every morning.

Why not stay in the park? I'd reserve a spot at Madison.


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no good reason. i believe that i read the suggestion to stay in a campsite outside of the park somewhere when i started kicking around this idea. that is the second time i have seen madison mentioned in this thread. what are the pros to staying there?

it will save you time every day. and imo going outside the park would sort of break up the constant high you experience inside the park. not seeing a liquor store or a mcdonalds or a billboard (etc) for an entire week straight is good for the soul. i would def stay at Madison.

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Re: Plan SB's Elite Vision Quest Through Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho
« Reply #728 on: September 10, 2017, 10:28:12 AM »
I intend to camp outside the park and head in quite early every morning.

Why not stay in the park? I'd reserve a spot at Madison.


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no good reason. i believe that i read the suggestion to stay in a campsite outside of the park somewhere when i started kicking around this idea. that is the second time i have seen madison mentioned in this thread. what are the pros to staying there?

it will save you time every day. and imo going outside the park would sort of break up the constant high you experience inside the park. not seeing a liquor store or a mcdonalds or a billboard (etc) for an entire week straight is good for the soul. i would def stay at Madison.

this is what i was looking for!

Offline wELLsculptedbrows

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Re: Plan SB's Elite Vision Quest Through Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho
« Reply #729 on: September 10, 2017, 08:20:40 PM »
Yeah, that is all really good stuff. Definitely be out and about during magic hour. Last trip we drove from Cody to Mammoth one afternoon/evening and saw like five or six grizzlies along the way, it almost got mundane ... which is ridiculous.

Take all the one-way off shoots off the grand loop. If Blacktail Plateau Drive is open, definitely take it. Same with Gardiner Road.

This website is also one of the best resources on day hikes and backpacking. http://www.trailguidesyellowstone.com/yellowstone_hikes/yellowstone_day_hikes.php

Be bear aware. They rent bear spray now, I don't know all of the details on that, but you should definitely have some if you're hiking ... which you should be.



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Offline tdaver

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Plan SB's Elite Vision Quest Through Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho
« Reply #730 on: September 17, 2017, 09:16:44 PM »
I should start a moose thread.  Found a bull, 3 or 4 cows, and a calf this afternoon.  They were right on the trail in the aspens behind this lake



Had my kids with me so didn't get too close or stay long.  Here's a video. Can't see a lot, but turn the volume to max and listen close for some calls and snorting.  The bull is in the middle.  Two others on the left.

[youtube]https://youtu.be/Z5xYuzetIDc[/youtube]

View on the way back out.


Offline puniraptor

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Re: Plan SB's Elite Vision Quest Through Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho
« Reply #731 on: September 17, 2017, 09:31:16 PM »
an important Yellowstone pro tip is to not fall in to boiling hot springs and die like all the foreign tourists

Offline cDubya

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Re: Plan SB's Elite Vision Quest Through Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho
« Reply #732 on: October 10, 2017, 09:14:25 AM »
Feel free to move this to a more appropriate thread as I couldnt remember if there is one, but the gf and some friends and I tackled the Kanawha Trace Trail this past weekend, or attempted to...

31 miles of Appalachian trails basically through our backyard. Planned on splitting it up to ~10 miles a day. Found out the first 10 is the most difficult, and the gf's knee couldn't take any more after Friday. Hiked out to one of the backroads Saturday morning and her mom picked us up. It's gorgeous trails and country, but with an extra 30lbs on your back and this stupid heat wave we are having just proved too much. We will attempt again asap. :sad:

Offline cDubya

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Re: Plan SB's Elite Vision Quest Through Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho
« Reply #733 on: October 10, 2017, 09:18:34 AM »
Stats...

Offline IPA4Me

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Re: Plan SB's Elite Vision Quest Through Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho
« Reply #734 on: October 10, 2017, 01:58:31 PM »
Looks like fun!

Offline tdaver

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Re: Plan SB's Elite Vision Quest Through Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho
« Reply #735 on: October 10, 2017, 10:56:27 PM »
How bout some pics, cdub

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Re: Plan SB's Elite Vision Quest Through Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho
« Reply #736 on: October 11, 2017, 11:50:04 AM »
How bout some pics, cdub
Not many pics taken at all, sadly. Spent most of the time in deep woods and trying to keep our balance. Did stumble upon a pretty neat old barn, though... Next time, more pics for sure.

Offline tdaver

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Re: Plan SB's Elite Vision Quest Through Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho
« Reply #737 on: October 11, 2017, 08:00:43 PM »
 :thumbsup:

Offline tdaver

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Re: Plan SB's Elite Vision Quest Through Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho
« Reply #738 on: October 17, 2017, 10:26:17 PM »
Haven't shared in awhile.  Here's a few from the last couple weeks.   Colors are about done but were amazing while they lasted.  Cross post with October thread.










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Offline mocat

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Re: Plan SB's Elite Vision Quest Through Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho
« Reply #739 on: October 17, 2017, 10:49:39 PM »
Oh my great photos

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Re: Plan SB's Elite Vision Quest Through Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho
« Reply #740 on: October 21, 2017, 06:12:15 AM »
Beautiful

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Re: Plan SB's Elite Vision Quest Through Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho
« Reply #741 on: October 22, 2017, 01:54:05 PM »
Wow... And I was about to post some New River Gorge pics. Those put mine to shame, though!

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Re: Plan SB's Elite Vision Quest Through Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho
« Reply #742 on: October 22, 2017, 01:56:18 PM »
very nice tdaver
Hyperbolic partisan duplicitous hypocrite

Offline tdaver

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Plan SB's Elite Vision Quest Through Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho
« Reply #743 on: November 17, 2017, 11:53:15 PM »
I've been applying to a permit lottery for a particular hike almost every month for a couple years now.  Kinda sucks, but someday if I actually get one I will enjoy not being mobbed by other hikers.

Had the place to ourselves.  Was amazing.







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« Last Edit: November 18, 2017, 08:14:58 AM by tdaver »

Offline tdaver

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Re: Plan SB's Elite Vision Quest Through Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho
« Reply #744 on: November 18, 2017, 12:00:20 AM »
Also stopped by Buckskin Gulch while in the area






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Offline 8manpick

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Re: Plan SB's Elite Vision Quest Through Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho
« Reply #745 on: November 18, 2017, 12:24:50 AM »
Holy crap... Where?
:adios:

Offline slackcat

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Re: Plan SB's Elite Vision Quest Through Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho
« Reply #746 on: November 18, 2017, 08:16:02 AM »
Haven't shared in awhile.  Here's a few from the last couple weeks.   Colors are about done but were amazing while they lasted.  Cross post with October thread.










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 :love:

Offline tdaver

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Re: Plan SB's Elite Vision Quest Through Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho
« Reply #747 on: November 18, 2017, 08:32:09 AM »
Holy crap... Where?

The Wave - Coyote Buttes - Vermillion Cliffs National Momument

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Re: Plan SB's Elite Vision Quest Through Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho
« Reply #748 on: November 18, 2017, 09:13:05 AM »
Whoa. That’s looks seriously amazing :thumbs:

Offline IPA4Me

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Re: Plan SB's Elite Vision Quest Through Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho
« Reply #749 on: November 18, 2017, 10:54:19 AM »
Great pics. Place looks amazing.