May 28, 2009 [4]
Ahead to the south is Arrow Mountain and to the right is Bomber Canyon so named from a WW2 Bomber that flew up the canyon and could not climb out finally crashing into a waterfall in the canyon.[Bomber Falls] That canyon is a phenomenally beautiful canyon and is akin to entering a completely different world with overhanging waterfalls dropping off the edges of extremely narrow canyon walls of dizzying granite heights. Bomber Creek is itself a fast moving stream and full of waterfalls and thunderous cascading waters. Further into the canyon the way is blocked by a massive rock slide that one must climb up and over to access several lakes. Then it becomes mountain climbing finally to an arm of Ross Lake on Torrey Creek. One can climb up and out of the Canyon over No Mans Pass and that will get you into the Downs Fork and the glacial fields which are the largest in the continental United States along with the highest point in Wyoming, Gannett Peak at 13, 815'. Between Arrow Mountain and Bomber Canyon you can see the horse trail zigzagging up the face of the Golf Course. [easiest seen by clicking on the picture with you mouse]So named because of the seemingly nice green look of the open hillside. Believe me it is no place to play golf. That is the main trail used by horsemen to access the glacier country of the Fitzpatrick Wilderness Area.

May 28, 2009 [5]
We come to the edge of the ridge that drops off into Torrey Creek winding its way snake like down the valley towards the three glacial lakes. It is easy to see and visualize the effects of glatiation in this valley. Classic U shape valley and the ridge running off Arrow Mountain is a lateral moraine twisting its way to the east then north and finally west as though a huge bulldozer had plowed through leaving its giant wake on the side. Boulder are strewn all the way to Dubois where the ice left them upon melting. The road below serves several ranches including Ring Lake Ranch, an Ecumenical Retreat Center and Trail Lake seen here near the center of the picture run by the University of Wyoming as a nature education Center. It was used for many years by the National Audubon Society and known as Audubon of the West. The road finally ends at the Glacier Trailhead that offers tremendous hiking and trail riding opportunities and is the access into the Glacier country.

May 28, 2009 [6]
An old Whitebark Pine lends itself as the perfect prop as I get a picture of the galciers at the head of Torrey Creek. I have made many trips up into that country and once to the top. Some seemingly nightmares with horrible weather conditions and other days of weather pretty much like this morning. All these memories I will forever carry along with the beauty indelibly etched into my mind. Ross Lake sits at the head of the valley just below the snow line seen here. A long narrow lake ringed by towering faces of granite and overhanging waterfalls it sits amongst a string of rugged lakes interspersed with the raging runs of Torrey Creek. Much of this area of Torrey Creek can only be accessed by climbing gear.

May 28, 2009 [7]

Our spring has been so cool that there are very few wildflowers out yet. These clumps of Phlox are an exemption and really expected as they are about the first wildflowers in the spring. With all the moisture we are having though it should be a great year for wildflowers.

May 28,2009[8]
The sheep we had seen coming up onto the ridge were all Rams of various ages. A batchelor herd who stays pretty much to themselves away from the girls and young at this time of the year. Further out on the ridge we do come onto this herd of Ewes and last year lambs. They have watched us as we progressed across the ridge and are now all lying down. Notice how they are all lying and facing different directions, They are also well out in the open. A predator tactic.

May 28, 2009[9]
I didn't realize Les had taken a picture of me. He simply entitled it "The old Goat"

May 28, 2009[10]
We finally call it a morning and start the long creep back down in low range 4-wheel drive all the while enjoying the view to the north across the Absaroka mountains, the Dubois Badlands, and the glacial lakes-Torrey and Duck Lakes below. As always it is a blessing to be out in Gods great world and experiencing the morning adventures.