Brand new Godzilla at home
I bought Godzilla just before we went on this trip, at the end of September. He is a 2001 Dodge Ram 2500 (3/4 ton) 4x4 with Quad Cab, 8 foot bed, 5.9L Cummins 24 valve Turbo Diesel engine, 6 speed manual transmission, Camper and Trailer Towing packages, and CD stereo.
At Tom's parents place ready for Wyoming
I first drove to my parents house, near the Mojave desert town of Barstow, and then my dad and I towed his Toyota 4x4 "Tonka" behind Godzilla to Wyoming. This is my parents place in the background.
Big Wooly and his friends
Among the many types of animals we did find, were a herd of buffaloes, who as you can tell, are never in any type of hurry to go anywhere. We had to wait for them to finally cross the highway so we could get to our hunting area.
Slow buffaloes
Big Wooly in your face
I think this one wanted to climb in the cab of Tonka with us!
Our happy home
This was our happy humble home for 35 very cold days and nights. As you can see, we lived in my dad's tent, and yes, it did have a wood stove for heat.
How do you do laundry in the field?
About half way through the trip, we took advantage of a clear day to air out our sleeping bags. Godzilla made a fine clothesline.
Frosty Godzilla
Then it decided to get snowy and cold on us. For the last 2 1/2 weeks of the hunt the average low was just at zero and the average high was about 20. It never even got warm enough to reach freezing!
Frosty camp
Last morning
This was actually the morning of our pack up and go home day.My dad is in the blaze orange jacket walking towards the tent.
Emma Matilda Lake
This is one of the lakes in our hunt area, Emma Matilda Lake.
Emma Matilda Lake again
Jackson Lake
This is Jackson Lake in the distance.
Grand Tetons
The ever present Grand Tetons. We were already at 7000 elevation at camp, so they don't really look as tall as they really are.
Grand Tetons
Grand Tetons
Grand Tetons
Grand Tetons
Grand Tetons
Finally! On the way home
Finally! Godzilla and Tonka hooked up and on the way to warmer places!
Old Railroad jail at museum in Cedar City, Utah
This is an old railroad jail cell at a museum in Cedar City, Utah. My dad wanted to show me this, as he grew up working on the railroad in Barstow, and every railroad stop and section house had one of these in the "old days".
Hmmm... come to think of it, this is just about the size of my cubicle at work :-)