We are back from our 6 day 5 night backpacking expedition in the Wind River Mountains near Lander, Wyoming.. My comment(s)?
Wow.
NOLS Start
The landscape was breathtaking, the people that we hiked with were wonderful in more ways than we can count. The Llamas? A great asset, and a kink in hiking plans… you can’t go anywhere your Llama can’t go… but those beasts are able to go in some pretty crazy places.
Ice field to get over the pass
After climbing up an ice field that was significantly steep. about 60% grade or better.
This was L7… Llama Advanced Training 7… and on the right side of Boodroe? Nothing but air.
Then there was just serene beauty
more of the Wind Rivers.
and hot women with Llama’s
And rain moving in .
and Bob giving a class!
And the attentive class… the map and navigation was NOT to be missed.
Stephen and Shari listening to Bob.
Loading Llamas and Frank busting up. Anne and Stephen trying to get the Llama loaded.
Just another beautiful view
Bob, dammit, I said THAT way…
another informative class.
Chris checking out the lay of the land
Gotta feed the help.
Chris and Teton going up the ice field.
Boodroe, back in the saddle.
Chris just relaxing after a small hike
and us, laughing at the challenge….
Boodroe? Don’t step back…. it’s a LONG way down
The pay off
Stephen keeping the altitude sickness at bay..
What a classroom
Frank getting ready to boogie wit da Llama!
what a GRAND time to have
Cooking time in the kitchen
Instructors, Bob, Shari, Chris in their kitchen
Stephen, ready for ANYTHING
Shari finally loses it….
A neighbor.
Da river… one of many many rivers and ponds and lakes.
Bob is ready to go
Chris, Frank, Boodroe.. ready to hit the trail again
Still smiling… gotta love this gal
The fagawe tribe, cause they dunno where the fugawe!
What? Who? Where?
Bob waiting patiently
Stephen and Frank, dueling politics…
More class work.. who said hiking was easy?
More scenery
Giddyap little dogie.. uh… Llamie. uh Oh HELL whatever, get moving!
Can we breathe now? Seriously sucking wind
Rain moving in
Bath time!
4 days into it and STILL looking good
More classes
Bob enjoying the scenery
And this is how you do the hokey pokey
The mighty fish slayer returns
Troy and Bob swapping fish stories
Yummy fish!
Heading back
on the way back
we have a HIGHWAY to hike down now.
Gotta remember this
Stephen writing in solitude
on the road again
This was an executive leadership program to help reconnect what is missing from our lives and disconnect from our lives.. To remember the beauty that surrounds us, and what we must return to from time to time to remember that there is more to life than just “things”… To live simply, to risk safety, to reconnect with a world that most of the world seems to have forgotten.
Let us hope the lessons and adventures we experienced on this trip be remembered as we return to our lives and that somehow we can share this experience with our friends and colleagues.. Perhaps we can inspire them to reach out to a way of life that echos in the human genome.
Erick and Lynda Carpenter
what can be said, except
W.O.W
Erik and Lynda – thanks for the enormous amount of positive energy you brought into this extraordinary experience. And for posting these pictures so soon, while it is all so fresh. I look forward to watching again (and again!) Lynda’s slide show when she is ready to present it. Stay in touch on your road trip of a lifetime… Bob