Rifle, Colorado, Library
Recall that on 3 July I drove from Stevensville, MT, where I had been visiting a classmate & her husband, to Seeley Lake, where most of the campgrounds were already full. Tried Plan B: drive a USFS road until you find a level spot to park -- which I did on top of a ridge.
While a few vehicles did drive by, including a small USFS pickup, there was little traffic -- mainly because the road is narrow -- too narrow for anything bigger than a truck camper like mine; in fact, I worried about meeting someone while driving back to Seeley Lake since the vehicle traveling downhill is supposed to back up, something that often causes me difficulty.
As you can see starting with the above photo, I walked around the mixed lodgepole pine/Douglas fir forest looking for wildflowers to photograph.
Unfortunately I can't identify most of the flowers since they aren't in my Sierra Nevada natural history book by Usinger and Storer.
While the 3-petal flower above is similar to the trillium, which I saw for the first time in Mt. Ranier Natl Park, it also reminds me of the Mariposa Lily, which is common in the upper Sierra Nevada foothills in Calif.
The flower to the right reminds me of the Foxgloves at a cousin's spread north of Ft Bragg, Calif.
The upper end of Seeley Lake from near where I parked my rig on the ridgetop.
Sunflowers come in all shapes and sizes.
Some sort of rose -- or relative? And note the buds for some type of berry in the foreground.
Some type of berry based upon its spines.
Since several vehicles drove by later on the 4th, I decided to drive up the road, hoping it would take me back to MT83. No such luck as it climbed higher and higher, but I did get some views of nearby mountains including this one.
Another view, though from a somewhat lower elevation, of the same mountains.
One final look at the same mountaintops.
Back on MT83 and headed for Kalispel; this is Swan Lake.
Hoping for a massive wipe-out, I finally gave up and photographed one of several water skiers.
Panning right....
Looking toward the upper end of the lake it's clear that Swan Lake is a long one.
A sign which bills Swan Lake as the longest [in the U.S.?] without a dam; it is 10 miles long and 1 mile wide.
Links:
- Wikipedia article on Swan Lake
- Seeley Lake Museum & Visitors Center website
- Wikipedia article on Kalispel, MT
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Su 4 Aug Actual Route: RV World CG - McDs - Tom Neuman Truck & RV - Rawlins, WY bd
M 5 Aug Actual Route: RV World CG - McDs - Tom Neuman Truck & RV - Rawlins bd
T 6 Aug Actual Route: Rawlins bd - Rawlins Lib - Tom Neuman Truck & RV - Rawlins bd
W 7 Aug Actual Route: Rawlins bd - Rawlins Lib - Baggs Sr Ctr - CO13 bd
Th 8 Aug Actual Route: CO13 bd - Craig, CO, Lib - Dollar Tree - Craig Walmart
F 9 Aug Actual Route: Craig W/M - Craig Lib - Craig P.O. - Craig W/M
Sa 10 Aug Actual Route: Craig W/M - Craig Lib - McDs - Meeker, CO - Rifle Colo Rest Area - Walmart
Su 11 Aug Actual Route: Walmart - Rifle Lib - Walmart
M 12 Aug Actual Route: Walmart - Parachute Br Lib - Grand Jcn Walmart
T 13 Aug Actual Route: Walmart - VA Med Ctr - Grand Jcn Lowe's - Colo Natl Monument CG
W 14 Aug Route: Colo Natl Mon CG - Grand Jcn - Delta Lib - Montrose Walmart
Th 15 Aug Route: Montrose Walmart - Black Canyon of the Gunnison Natl Pk
Finding Campgrounds:
- RV Campgrounds from TrailerLifeDirectory.com
- Family Camping Directories from Woodalls.com
- Free campsites website
- Info on finding BLM Campgrounds
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