SUMMER CAMP - CODY, WYOMING - 2006
Mule Back Trip on the Clarks Fork
of the Yellowstone River
July 23-26, 2006

We left Camp Buffalo Bill at 6:30am and met our outfitter, Jake Clarke, at the Irma Hotel in Cody, Wyoming. The Irma Hotel is the oldest hotel in town, built in 1902 for Buffalo Bill Cody’s daughter, Irma. The hotel is a museum too. Countless pictures and artifacts covered the walls.

Jake was there waiting for us letting us know why he liked his coffee black (ASFAD – another story for another day #1). We drove to the trailhead through the scenic Chief Joseph Highway. Halfway through the drive we stopped and studied the beautiful views of the mountains and valleys below. There was the scene of the Nez Peas Indians flight from the Calvary in the late 1800’s. What a wonderful view.

At the trailhead we unloaded, met our mules and began the arduous task of packing. There were 33 mules and 2 mares for our crew of 19. Finally packed up, were given instructions from the guide on handling mules. He explained not to handle them like a particular kind of welfare recipient (ASFAD #2) or else they would not respect the rider. We also learned to not pet the guide’s dog and he would not pet our girlfriends. The dog was there to alert us to bears on the trail and camp. We trotted down the trail for a couple of hours before reaching base camp. Outside a couple hornet stings to Patrick, it was uneventful. We all adjusted ourselves to our mules and to the saddles. We arrived at our campsite overlooking the Clarks Fork Valley. We unpacked the mules, turned them loose with bells and proceeded to set up camp. It wasn’t long and the smell of pork ribs and rice filled the air. Jake explained the reason for a clean camp. He reminded the boys about their appearance, body condition, hairstyle, your name (ASFAD #3). It rained for a while and a beautiful rainbow broke out. The boys realized the importance of rain gear. The boys laughed and chatted around the campfire watching the sun make its slow descent around 10:00pm. Lights out, bear bags, trash and food in the fire, ……clean camp.

Monday morning we awoke to fresh coffee, bacon and pancakes. After eating our fill, we packed our fishing gear and rode to the river on our mules. Thee were steep descents that required walking some stretches downhill. We arrived, unloaded our gear and began fishing. Many fish were caught, most small. Jake and the Wrangler Matt cooked lunch consisting of hamburgers and hotdogs. It was a fun and relaxing day. A rock-skipping contest broke out just before leaving. Jake again reminded the boys about how to take care of them and what not to put up with from others (ASFAD #4). Jake told us about how poor he was and how he fed his cat (ASFAD #5). We learned many things from Jake that maybe we should not mention. Patrick Mundlin forged the river risking his life to save a $3 lure he inadvertently casted across. Everyone that fished -- caught fish. It rained off and on enough to cool the afternoon and knock down some dust.

We hit the trail and rode up the switchbacks back to camp. It was a great view of mules up above mules going practically straight up. Hopefully the pictures will give it justice.

Back at camp we unsaddled our mules and got ready for a dinner of rib eyes, potatoes, corn and salad. The boys were asking if they got a whole steak that large. They found out their appetite made it easy to finish. A day without cell phones, Internet, video games; snacks etc. create a good appetite. We all slept hard because we were tired.

Wednesday morning we broke camp after a great breakfast of French toast and sausages. Packing up is hard to do. We took pictures and then the rain came. Several scouts had packed their rain gear. We stood in the cold rain and then it finally passed over to a hot dry day. The trip back was uneventful. It was good to see how the scouts learned to handle their animals. All became comfortable with the trail. We arrived back at the trailhead, unloaded, had a sandwich lunch, and said our good byes to Jake and Matt.

We took the scenic drive to Buffalo Bill Camp through Bear Tooth Mountains, a beautiful drive.