~ Green Creek Wildlife Society ~
~ Green Creek Wildlife Society ~
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Belted Kingfisher ~ Ceryle alcyon ~~~~~~~~~~ Welcome to the Green Creek Wildlife Society Website! We are a conservation and research organization based in NW Ohio. Founded by Tom Kashmer over 20 years ago we are highly involved in the area with research projects and educational programs year round.
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Rocky Mountain Trip Report:
Our first Green Creek trip was in 1986 (Grand Canyon) so this year’s trip should be #21 There was one year we missed but that was because we actually did 2 trips the preceding year This years crew consisted of: Tom Kashmer Steve Kohler Channel Hess Dan Ragen David Kohler Anne Baldwin Tonya Kieffer Cyndi Kohler Samantha Baldwin Scott Rettig. Aron Burmeister was supposed to be #11 but due to complications from a broken ankle his doctor recommended he stay home. The beginning of the trip turned out to be a typical GC adventure, our flight from Detroit to Denver was right on time, but my luggage remained in Detroit! They said they would deliver it – right – we would be calling at the Arapaho National Forest at an undisclosed campsite! Our only option was to remain in Denver until the next flight arrived from Detroit, with hopefully, my luggage. It did arrive and we only lost three hours. Dan met us at the Airport with his truck and a large trailer to carry our gear. Because we got a late state and because the campsites at he National Forest are on a first come - first serve basis, and because it’s a Friday, we had our doubts if any campsites would be available. We checked Campground #1 and it was full. Campground #2 was also full. Apparently the only available “spots” were down a fire lane with NO facilities. It was only for one night so no big deal, actually it was a really neat spot, very isolated, cold enough that we saw our breath in the morning. Saturday’s destination was Dinosaur National Monument in Utah. Other then driving in the wrong direction for about a half hour, the six hour trip was uneventful. We drove the auto tour through the park, and visited the Visitors Center. It was too hot to do any hiking. Our campsite at Dinosaur was spectacular, 30 yards from the Green River. The temperature was 96, HOT, and immediately after selecting our campsites we were relaxing in the cool waters. We had a “Gerplunking” contest and David was the champion, a reflection on his Gillmore Bridge days picking up canoes! That evening we decided to hike to an old abandoned homestead in a box canyon along the Green River. The old homestead was really neat, an old lady lived there that went through five husbands, she most have been a tough ole bird! The area was desolate, water supplied by a spring, scenery fantastic, but the isolation had to be torturous. We walked around the site until almost dark. By the time we returned to the campsite and ate a quick supper we were too tired to put up the tents. We just slept under the stars on tarps and what a spectacular view of the heavens, watching satellites became the activity of choice. Sunday’s destination was Arches National Monument, also in Utah. We stopped in Moab, Utah for lunch and picked up supplies. It’s interesting the way they charge groups at national parks, small groups are actually penalized, a vehicle (including vans) is $10, but a group is $5 a person, next time we’ll tell them we are just one big happy family! The sandstone rock structures were unique and the various bridges were picturesque. We hiked a one mile section called Park Avenue, and that was plenty, the temperature today was 103, a record! The scenery was so spectacular that we decided another short (1/2 mile) hike was in order. At 5 p.m. we decided to head to our next campsite which was also a first come- first serve. It was an 2 hour drive and we wanted to make sure we had a spot. The destination was Colorado State Monument. We stopped at the grocery store and picked up the needed supplies. By the time we arrived at the site (there turned out to be all kinds of available sites) it was late and we didn’t start a fire, so we had a cold supper. Our campsite was pretty neat, high up this mountain, but the view from our site wasn't the greatest, it was a view of the civilization of the valley. Not on the back side to the view reminded one of Arches, should have build the campgrounds there! Today was the big drive, major destination, Rocky Mountain National park, 6 to 7 hours away. We stopped for lunch in a skit resort town on Frisco, the whole town was nestled in the mountains, looked brand new, everything, including the food prices, was expensive. We arrived at Glacier Basin group camping area at 5:30 pm, a full day on the road. Dave, not yet realizing that we had to stop at the entrance boot, drove right past it! The ranger stuck his head out and yelled, it was kind of hilarious. We had prepaid the campsite a month ago but we still had to stop and register. A bear had been in camp last night so everyone was advised to make sure everything was safely put away. The next four days were amazing, 5 to 6 mile hikes each day, alpine lakes, water falls too beautiful to describe, wildlife everywhere, scenery spectacular, Ouzel Falls, Calypso Cascades, Cub Lake, Bear Lake. The days went entirely to fast. Anne, Tonya, Samantha and Scott found time to take a horse back trip into the heart of the Rockies. And for the best part the weather cooperated. Thunderstorms almost every afternoon, but that was naptime anyways. Sure we got flooded out once and had to move our tents, big deal, they were four great days! On the way back to Denver we planned on stopping at Pawnee National Grassland. So far we had visited two states, Utah and Colorado. The drive to Pawnee would take us really close to Wyoming, so we decided to have lunch in Cheyenne! We now had three states under our belts and we really weren’t that far from Nebraska so, what the heck, we touched the edge of Nebraska too! The Pawnee Grassland were scattered among private land holdings. The houses were few and far between and the roads were dirt (gravel) The number one bird species was The Lark Bunting, they were everywhere! The last camping night of the trip found us at Sterling Lake State park in Colorado. It reminded me of the campsite in New Brunswick near the Northumberland Straight that was so windy. We went on a scheduled park nature hike and if you really want to know about the experience you must talk to David, it was quite an adventure and no one can explain it better then him. It as our last night, with strong winds, and we didn’t think it was necessary to put the tents up, Big Mistake, the winds died down and the mosquitoes were unbelievable. Our course our very last night was spent at a Super 8 in Denver. We had an early flight on Sunday morning….up at 4:45 am! The flight home was uneventful and we arrived at 12:48. And so ends trip #21 for Green Creek, another wonderful adventure, on that will be remembered for quiet some time. And what awaits next year…..stay tuned! |
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For problems or questions regarding this website contact Auriel Van Der Laar
- aurielvdl@yahoo.com
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