First Jedediah Smith Trail 1822 — 1824

Day 25: September 9th, 2009 Rock Springs — Green River

Map Rock Springs to Green River

Actually I planned to leave earlier. But it is already half past seven when I get out of bed. First I take a quick shower. Then I check my engine oil and finally check out. This time I will have another breakfast at IHOP. I order the Pancake Combo with the pancakes who have nuts in them. They really taste great and do not stick together like the regular milk pancakes.

Around ten I pay and drive over to Walmart. First I want to buy some DV tapes. But they only have Sony tapes. Then I walk over to the CD area — what a big mistake. They have a lot of good $5 CDs. Also the one from the Eagles I see for the first time for $9! And they even have indeed the John Fogerty Revival CD, which is almost impossible to get elsewhere. There I am even willing to pay one time $14.88. All this really keeps me up and it is not before eleven when I eventually hit the road.

CR69/Gookin-White Mountain Rd, Clearview Acres, WY

CR69/Gookin-White Mountain Rd, WY

Moon, CR69/Gookin-White Mountain Rd, WY

First I must drive up the steep hill behind the city. There is also a warning sign that only 4WD vehicles are allowed to drive there.

CR69/Gookin-White Mountain Rd, WY

At the beginning I smile about this. But then it is getting really steep with more than 10 degrees incline on gravel and sand. In this case I am happy to throw in 4WD.

CR53/White Mountain Rd, WY

After you have reached the top there are wonderful views — and I even miss that on the left side of the road are the wild horses which I wanted to video tape and take pictures. But I don’t want to turn around now and continue my video taping of the valley.

When walking back I wonder, why my truck is so wet at the front. When I take a closer look I realize that it is transmission oil! I open the hood and it seems that it is leaking at the hose clamps! This is great. So I get out my set of socket wrenches and retighten them all. Only the front ones must be skipped because I am not able to reach them without unmounting the front grill. To do so I am lacking the time. Hopefully, these are not the worse ones.

I continue driving for a short distance until I am able to park my truck level. Then I check the transmission oil. This is already a bit below minimum. Therefore I must add some oil. But I have everything with me including a funnel. It takes almost half of the bottle before the level is correct.

CR53/White Mountain Rd, WY

CR14/Fourteen Mile Rd, WY

Then I continue my drive with nice views of the valley. Way too fast I reach Highway 191, where the hectic and risky passing is back again. Therefore I miss the exit to my planned backroad along Big Sandy River.

Highway 28, WY

Now I turn onto Highway 28 instead.

Backroad, WY

Finally I find an exit where I am able to drive closer to the river on this side. But already after a very short distance I arrive at a closed gate. But this one looks like you are allowed to drive on. The sign reads “Please Close Gate” and not “No Trespassing”. So I get my working gloves. This I already know from my previous travels. Otherwise you can easily pick up a splinter on these spiles.

Backroad, Big Sandy River, WY

Now I continue further in direction of Big Sandy River until I finally reach a small bridge. But this one is closed. It seems like it is already too decrepit. But next to it is a small trail directly through the river. I take a look at the soil and it seems like it should be possible to drive through there.

Backroad, Big Sandy River, WY

Backroad, WY

Pronghorn, Backroad, WY

Backroad, WY

So I put in 4LO and give it a try. Indeed, I am able to drive through without any issues. Then I continue on the other side. But the river also has another branch which must be crossed. And there the soil looks extremely muddy. And the water is most likely knee deep at the deepest spot. There I am really afraid of getting stuck. And on the other side is also no tree with which I could try to winch me out.

Sage Grouse, Backroad, WY

Green River-South Pass Stage Rd, WY

Backroad, WY

Backroad, Big Sandy River, WY

Therefore I look for an alternative route and on this one is a ductwork under the road where the river runs through. There it will be way easier to cross.

Backroad, WY

Backroad, Big Sandy River, WY

Backroad, WY

Backroad, Big Sandy River, WY

Backroad, WY

Backroad, Big Sandy River, WY

CR5/Bluerim Rd, WY

Then I continue along the rim. The views from there are fantastic. You could really stop every couple of yards to take pictures.

Backroad, WY

Backroad, Big Sandy River, WY

Backroad, WY

Backroad, Big Sandy River, WY

For sure, this really holds me up quite a bit. In the meantime my software shows an arrival time of eleven in the evening. It seems like I must skip this part down to Green River completely…

Backroad, Seedskadee National Wildlife Refugee, WY

Backroad, WY

Backroad, Big Sandy River, WY

Backroad, WY

Backroad, Big Sandy River, WY

Backroad, WY

Backroad, Big Sandy River, WY

Backroad, WY

I continue driving and suddenly I am in the middle of a Badlands country. There it is not really easy to follow the trail, especially when the track in my map is completely different to the real trail. But I am able to find my way, whereas it is sometimes getting really tough with all the washouts and inclines of 20 degrees and also this much in tilt. The imagination shows you everything from tipping over to a complete rollover…

CR7/Old Stauffer Rd, WY

Pronghorn, CR7/Old Stauffer Rd, WY

CR7/Old Stauffer Rd, WY

Finally I arrive at a well maintained gravel road. From there I make good miles. Once again I have the chance to drive on a small backroad with some grass in the middle. Then I also made this short offroading part.

CR5/Bluerim Rd W, WY

CR5/Bluerim Rd W, Green River, WY

Also from there I have great views when driving down into the Green River valley.

CR5/Bluerim Rd W, WY

Highway 374, Green River, WY

Way too fast I reach pavement and the small city of Green River. Almost I miss my planned Super 8 motel, because my stupid GPS software shows no waypoints. Next time I must work with more stops — or even declare everything as stop. We will see. For now, I first check in. It is already half past six anyways! There it doesn’t make sense to drive on as originally planned.

The motel has three stories, whereas it is built into a steep hillside. The third floor runs level to the upper parking lot. Indeed, the rooms are small but very nice. And the price is really a belter. This room is just $40 including tax!

For dinner they recommend the Krazy Moose. This one I have also seen in my software. Therefore I take a closer look on where it is exactly and program the coordinates into my GPS. Then I rework my tour that I am able to drive tomorrow the rest of what was planned today and the originally planned tour for tomorrow. According to my GPS software I should be able to make it within 10 hours. But I don’t believe this. Let’s see how much progress I will make tomorrow.

Around half past seven I leave for dinner. First, I am not able to find the restaurant because you can read “Red Feather Inn” everywhere. But it must be around here. So I park there and go inside. And indeed, it is decorated a lot with moose. So I assume I have found the right place.

I order pork chops because they only have a 6oz steak which looks too small to me. However, I expected more fillet slices because I didn’t knew what chops means. Anyways, there are even two big slices on my plate. This is really a lot!

I am barely able to eat all. Then I pay. There I realize that my well advanced in pregnancy server invited me for the coke. That is really nice. For sure, I give a very good tip. Then I drive back to my motel.

Impatiently, I immediately put my John Fogerty Revival CD into the player and write some emails. Then it’s time for doing my bookkeeping and writing my diary. Finally, I quickly download the pictures before I start checking my video taping. As it is already very late I will only be able to check one tape maximum. Damned, and I planned to getting up earlier…

The next day is in preparation…

Sights
—

General
Breakfast: IHOP, Rock Springs
Dinner: Krazy Moose, Green River
Motel: Super 8, Green River
Distance: 117 miles

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