Trip report start

[BatDude]

Hmm,

Seems our late summer trip, Central Mich> U.P. >Minn.>S.D. etc.
has been too busy to actually post a trip report. Heading to Devil's Tower today after 3 nights at Custer KOA at Mt. Rushmore/Custer State Park.

This KOA is small and inexpensive vs. the Mt. Rushmore Resort KOA with hundreds of sites.

After DT we pull on to Yellowstone-Tetons then likely back here to Custer S.D. or Hotsprings S.D. as the fires may now be out by Wind Cave NP.

We spent several nights in the Bad Lands, first night at the NP campground boon docking...

When we came back from our first day of wildlife viewing etc. we found a 13' Scamp at one of the few sites with electric. We could only stay one-night in the N.P. as no space available and all reserved so we moved to the KOA in Interior S.D. one more night.

[Wayne Collins]

By chance, we are just now watching the Movie SHANE which was filmed in Teton National Park and Jackson Hole, WY. Have a good trip.

[BatDude]

Hi All,


We moved on from Devil's Tower (planned on 2 nights) as once you walked around the base and looked up that was all there was to do. So a single night sufficed.

Well, some folks were climbing the sides, but we are not into heights, especially dangling by a rope hundreds of feet up.

We did spend the next 2 nights in Buffalo, WY. En-route to Yellowstone.
Wonderful walking trails. Fun little town. Apparently, the author of the Longmire mystery books lives/lived there. Now a Netflicks series.

It was a long 5.5 hour pull estimated from Buffalo to the park via Cody where we stopped and topped up the Flex tank. When we reached the East park entrance +/- 15:30 we were informed by the NPS people that the road was closed due to snow!!! They were unsure of when it might reopen… Maybe several hours or not until the next day.

They were Ahem, very helpful and suggested that the south entrance was currently open. A quick look a the map and the suggested detour would be 8+ hours of driving to reach that the gate still an hour south of the campground. So minimum 2 days for us. Also the west entrance was open. That alternative route was to head back to Cody then north to I-90 drive across to Idaho and drop south to enter the West entrance. YIKES. Huge miles to travel and we were reserved at Madison Campground and prepaid in the park.

We chose to queue up with some other BIG rigs and wait to see if the road would open in the near future. I got out to our TV and struck up a conversation with a fellow with a humongous 5th wheel. Guess his BIG FORD truck could handle it. He told me he had been waiting 3 hours already and was not stopping in the park and just needed to transit to Idaho.

While chatting he noted that they are no longer turning arriving cars back and were slowly moving through. So we fired up the Flex and joined the line. Only about a 35 minute wait and we were off to Yellowstone.
The first big pass was Sylvan at 9,663’ and the visibility was about 10-15 feet due to the snow. Very slow going and once down the other side there was only one other pass a bit lower to cross.

We made it to the NPS campground (pix to be posted a next report) and set up the Scamp for Boondocking. Very generous generator hours 8 AM- 8 PM. We hauled water in 1 gallon jugs and quickly shuttled back and forth and filled the 12 gal fresh water tank and were good to go. It was close to dark when we arrived so no sightseeing on arrival day. Oh we did see a large black bear alongside the road as we were entering the main part of the park before we reached the campground.
As they say a picture is worth 1K of words, so will post why we departed only after 3 days 2 nights. Hint ...low temps predicted to be between 12F and 19F!!!! Scamps are not that well insulated LOL.


More later,
Bat Dude

[BatDude]

We did escape Yellowstone towards the south before the roads were closed again yesterday. A stop at Old Faithful to view the eruption then top Flex tank with fuel and continued on our way.

The only Full-service site with hookup was Colter Bay Village RV Park.
We were able to get 3 nights as there were a number of cancellations. Others could not reach the site with road closures on passes.

A bit pricey at +/- $55/ night with Golden Age pass discount. No showers in the campground. However, concessionaire offers showers from 8 AM-8 PM for $4.95 per use! There is a reason we have one in our Scamp so used it last night.

I had to disconnect the fresh water supply and stash the hose overnight as it was predicted to freeze.

I need to re-adjust our fridge as at the normal setting it is freezing our veggies! Fortunately, my insulin did not freeze as that would have been catastrophic.

A view of the road as was were heading south out of Yellowstone yesterday.


Then again why were WE whining about Scamp insulation when there were folks like this person who had been camping in the park? OK, he was also heading south and likely wanted to clear the pass before the road was closed as well.




Now we are off to drive parts of the Tetons NP to look for Moose, bear, Elk etc. Looks like the light snow overnight did not stick here and may warm into the 40sF.

And now we hear on streaming NPR that it is in the mid-70s and going to possibly hit 90F back home in Michigan. What a time to be gone.

Alas no bear or moose in our backyard so we are happy to be here.

[Paul O.]

Thanks for posting, Bat Dude. We know well the joys and thrills of shoulder season Scamping. Small, or no crowds is the best part.