First- my excuse for the short distance is that my plan was to start the day by going about 15 miles south to Moose Junction, a point along Jackson Lake, to see the Tetons in their entirety. However, when I woke up this morning, I found them completely covered in cloud. That was not the only surprise that awaited me this morning. I awoke to a quarter inch of snow on the ground and half the inside of my tent covered in water. While the water did not render my warm riding clothes useless, it soaked my wool socks (essential when riding in twenty and thirty degree weather) and drenched my camera. After sitting for half an hour in dispair, I packed up and headed north to a resort lodge. I found the enormous lobby and, ignoring the prying glances of the staff, spread out my socks and electronics in front of the fire for a few hours. While I did not lose my camera, I am quite sure I lost all my photographs since Colorado, which is far far far more tragic. Without a memory card I also have lost the ability to take pictures (except with my phone) through Yellowstone.
As I continued towards the gates of Yellowstone, planning to camp just outside, drenching snow started to tumble from the sky. Luckily, a workman in a truck picked me and took me ten miles to Flag Ranch as the road was gravel and mud due to construction. Expecting temperatures about twenty degrees and two more inches of snow, I paid for an exuberantly priced, minimally serviced cabin for the night. (Second night during trip without cell service, so late post.)
I am watching heavy snow come down outside, hoping that the limited sunshine predicted tomorrow comes to fruition. Yellowstone Park only opened a week ago due to unseasonable weather. The good news is that the place is not flooded with tourists until after memorial day. The bad news is the unseasonable weather and the fact that many restaurants, camp sites, and other services do not open until this weekend. I suppose I will have to come back- and next time I will definitely be in a car.
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