The Great Divide Basin

 

The Great Divide Basin is an area of Wyoming where no water flows into, or out of, a large tract of land. This has the effect of creating what can accurately be described as 'a 'bit of a dustbowl'. On the edge of the Basin is Atlantic City; population 'about 57'. I thought I knew what the back-end-of-beyond looked like. I think I have a better idea now.

 

Eating our lunch at the Miners Grubstake, I wondered just how some communites seem to hang on to life. But hang on they do, and that bar is yet another where a darn good time could be had. (Editor; good job you were there at noon, then). Perhaps they are just too tough to die.

But take a look at that teapot! A clear winner for the August competition.

The dust on it did indicate two things though;

1. It is not used to brew tea and 2. No one in the bar can play the piano. Still is a beauty though.....

The few creeks in the Basin, which are created from rainfall or snow melt, are unreliable at best, especially during a drought summer. This is a drought summer. Our first possible water source turned out to be just dirt.

There is only a dirt road through the basin, with numerous lesser trails used by the hunters on ATV's (Quad bikes) and the like. We embarked on our journey proper.

 

 

"Not another photo....."

Inspite of this harsh climate a surprising amount of activity takes place in the Basin. There is a uranium mine and other (Oil?) exploration drilling, some cattle and sheep herding, and as mentioned the ever-present activity of hunting. We were caught up in a sheep herd early one morning, an unusual but effective alarm call.

But nothing interrupts the morning brew-up!

 

 

 

It still felt like a desolate, but incredibly beautiful, place..

Bands of pronghorn antelope roam the landscape. We would spook them (They spook real easy, and have eyes that provide 320 degree vision) and boy, can they run! I have been told they can hit 60mph, and I believe it. Too fast to photograph, anyway.

Perhaps overly cautious regarding water availability we carried two days worth, or some 15ltrs. That is heavy, and I now think actually insufficient to remain comfortable in temperatures in the mid-90's. But at the end of our second day we reached a well stocked reservoir (Editor; very large pond) where we drank our fill of tea and filtered water, camping right at the waters edge. We awoke to beauty all around.


 

 

 

Not a bad sight too wake up to.

Coming out of the Basin we had a couple of tough days biking towards Steamboat Springs, a bed, steak and beer (Editor; don't forget the tequila....). And that is where I sit as I type this, having actually caught up with this blog. So I bid you farewell on Tuesday 4th September 2012.

PS. Happy 51st Birthday to Owen for the other day. Crickey, I am getting to know some old people.



 

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