06/20/02 Hiking Turpin Trail:
Driving up US-26/287 after leaving Grand Teton National Park I saw a sign for Turpin Meadows Recreation Area. I went into Riverton, 120 miles away to do chores, etc. but came back to day to check out Turpin Meadows.5 miles back FR-30050 (Buffalo Valley Road) is Turpin Meadows Campground ($10/night) and the place was packed with horse trailers on this Thursday morning. 30's the last couple of nights with frost on the windows. No crunchy water though.
I thought I was doing Box Creek Trail but it turned out to be Turpin Trail, a trail in high use by horses for day and back country trips. The trail leads upward for 1/2 mile or so. At the crest is a nice view of Buffalo Creek and surrounding forests. A little farther on a sign points to the North and South Buffalo Forks. North seemed to be going uphill so I went that way.
This is Grizzly Bear country and I finally remembered to bring my pepper spray. I've not got it attached to my pocketbook I carry instead of a day pack. I can get at things quicker and easier that way.
This was basically a nice walk through the woods. The trail started at 7000 feet and rose 700 feet before I turned back at about 5 miles, just past a couple of beaver ponds. Didn't see any critters there except a couple of ducks.
Met several horsemen on the way back. One couple had to packhorses and looked to be staying a while. Then a family of 4 on a day trip followed by another couple. These guys told me nice views and stuff were 10 miles away, too far for me on a day trip. A ranger with a pack of 4 volunteers out to do trail work told me the South Fork has nice views after a couple of miles so I may go back tomorrow or the next day.
06/21/02 Hiking Buffalo Creek South Fork Trail:
Did major battle with the mosquitoes last night and came out second best. They came swarming at the truck, bound and determined they were going to feast on my sickly blood. I made screens for the tailgate section and the came in. I closed the tailgate and they came in. I closed the sliding glass windows and they still came in. I finally moved to last night's camp site. Mosquitoes there too but they must have been too stupid to figure out how to get in.
Dark clouds overhead as I hit the trailhead at Turpin Meadows again this morning. Many more horse trailers, horses in the corrals, people getting ready to head out into the Teton Wilderness. Got to the North & South Fork junction and turned left onto the South Fork.
Disappointingly, the trail turned away from from Buffalo Creek as it began its long climb upwards. The clouds turned darker and temperatures dropped 10-15 degrees. A few raindrops came down and it was really looking ferocious but that was it.
There's supposed to be some good scenery a couple of miles along this trail but after 3-4 miles I hadn't seen much. I used that plus the forbidding skies to turn back. Actually I just didn't feel like going any farther.
I met a couple of mule strings on the way down. Each leader wants the hiker to behave a little differently. They all want you well of the trail so as not to spook the mules. One wants you to talk, another not. One wants you to move around, another not. I just do whatever they say. They're the ones in charge.