Robert Stuart Trail 1812 — 1813

Day 20: August 31st, 2007 Montpelier — Afton

Now the Labor Day Weekend is approaching. Due to my previous experiences I made reservations early enough. So I can start my today’s journey quite relaxed. This time I have breakfast at the motel, which is completely against my usual habits. Everything is available like cereals, toast and coffee. But I simply miss the table service. In exchange I meet a couple with their child, who are from Freiburg in Germany. They are on their way to Yellowstone National Park. However, they are pretty short on words. So no real conversation is starting here.

I pack my stuff together and check out. Yesterday I saw just a block down the road the Oregon National Historic Trail Center. According to my map this should be placed along Highway 30 almost in Wyoming. Because I am good in time, I decide to visit this museum in town. There you are welcomed by actors in original 1852 clothing and they really take you back in time. Currently, they are doing the tour for just three people!

The National Oregon California Trail Center, Montpelier, ID

The National Oregon California Trail Center, Montpelier, ID

The National Oregon California Trail Center, Montpelier, ID

There you can really benefit! The show starts with playing shopping and what you will need on a big trek like this to Oregon. Which weapon, which draft animal for the wagon, which wagon, which clothing. You can learn a lot here about this former life and the hardships that lay in front of you. Then the trail starts and you “ride” in one of the covered wagon over the prairie — sure, everything is closed and you can listen to a tape where you learn from a diary. During this, you will be really churned on this covered wagon that you get an impression on how strenuous this journey was back then.

The National Oregon California Trail Center, Montpelier, ID

Suddenly the wagon stops and the cover opens up. You are now at a camp fire with two new actors, who are playing a couple on their way to Oregon. You can chat with them about the strain of the journey, what you have seen and experienced this day — simply a travel back in time to the year 1852 where you are fully integrated. If you would not have had your camera and modern clothing, you would really feel like being back in time…

The National Oregon California Trail Center, Montpelier, ID

Finally the trip is over and I have a nice chat with the actors about the trail I am following. They are absolutely excited about meeting someone who is interested in history. When leaving the museum I run into the couple, former farmers, again who have been on this played trip together with me. They are currently traveling with their Harley to meet her daughter. Before they leave, they hand me over a peach, just for nothing.

Highway 30, Big Hills, ID

Highway 30, Big Hills, ID

Then I visit the nearby Ranger Station to buy some maps. Afterwards I drive over to the next gas station and around half past eleven I am back on the road. Because I already tried to drive my planned offroad trail over the Big Hills yesterday, I take today directly Highway 30 to my planned exit to the north through Thomas Fork Valley. Indeed, there is not the museum as it was shown on my map. It was really the one in Montpelier!

Highway 30, ID

Munford Rd, ID

Unfortunately I am blocked again by private property along the course of the river and I must find a way around.

Highway 30, State Line ID and WY

Wood Canyon Rd, ID

Wood Canyon Rd, ID

But at Raymond I am already able to move back to my original planned road.

Now I am continuing on smaller roads and also briefly on Highway 89 to Geneva.

Without any issues I arrive at Caribou National Forest. The first part through this forest is traveling on “regular” forest roads.

NF-834, ID

NF-834, ID

NF-834, ID

NF-834, ID

NF-834, ID

NF-834, ID

NF-834, ID

NF-834, ID

NF-834, ID

88 S10 Blazer, NF-834, ID

NF-834, ID

NF-834, ID

NF-834, ID

NF-834, ID

NF-834, ID

NF-834, ID

NF-834, ID

NF-834, ID

NF-834, ID

NF-834, ID

NF-834, ID

Livestock, NF-834, ID

NF-834, ID

NF-834, ID

Also the beginning of NF–834 looks absolutely harmless. But at the branch to Dry Creek I start to doubt in the first moment if I should really drive this road. It looks very steep and rocky. But because I have my reservation for tonight I take the chances and drive the road. The progress is extremely slow. For these couple of miles I need more than two hours — and I am more than happy to have my lift kit! Otherwise I would have had hit the rocks many times…

NF-147, ID

Finally I am back on regular forest roads.

NF-221, ID

NF-221, Spring Creek, ID

88 S10 Blazer, NF-221, Spring Creek, ID

Stuart has followed Spring Creek, where the roads are starting to deteriorate again and finally end. There I must turn around once again…

On the better developed gravel forest roads I make good progress.

NF-111/Crow Creek Rd, ID

The finish of my drive out of the forest is through some cattle…

CR141/Crow Creek Rd, WY

Finally I cross the state line to Wyoming on Crow Creek Road. There, nothing indicates the change of states. Only on the Wyoming side is a road sign with the writing of “CR141” and Wyoming

Then I am back on the highway and I travel away from Stuarts Trail to the north to my motel, the Silver Stream Lodge.

Highway 89, Afton, WY

Almost I was not able to find the motel, because it is not near Afton but almost up to Thayne! But after a phone call to the lodge I am able to locate the place. Eventually I arrive there and I receive my cabin. The lodge is at a really nice location. The cabins are simple, but nice. Indeed, they have no television, but that is something you don’t necessarily need. Around a quarter past seven I check in and ask for a nice dinner restaurant. They tell me, that Dad’s Steakhouse up in Thayne should be really good.

After I have put my stuff into the room and checked the first part of my video taping, I depart for dinner. The restaurant is not fancy, but nice and the food is good. However, the price is pretty high for this ambiance. Outside in the vestibule is a band playing. But unfortunately I don’t have the time to listen to them, because I still have to check the rest of my video taping and prepare everything for my trip tomorrow. Just before nine I pay and drive back to my cabin.