Cross Country Skiing up Specimen Creek

I have been slow to get around to this "exciting" new activity. Actually, "exciting" is not exactly the word since there are plenty of things that would be more fun than sitting in front of a computer typing this stuff in. However, it does seem like the most efficient way to get pictures and related stories about adventures here out to family and friends. As I said in my brief and unsuccessful California gubernatorial campaign, "I promise good times!".

So, 3 weeks late, on to the first adventure:


My wife's friend's son, Chris, and I decided to go for a xc ski up Specimen Creek. The crick is in the NW corner of Yellowstone NP, in what I call the "free section" where Hwy 191 passes thru the park south of Big Sky on the way to West Yellowstone. We decided upon this adventure because the previous weekend, for my birthday, we had gone with my wife and a friend of ours on a xc ski up Fan Creek, which is just up the road. The other reason of course was to check out the area for some flyfishing opportunities in the spring/summer. I had meant to go this way last year and fish it and never got around to it.



So the adventure begins. Just past the trailhead the trail leads into some open forest. Chris leads the way up the trail.











After a time the trail drops down by the crick in the head of a large meadow. The snow was plentiful, as it had dumped just a day or two before. The springtime temps were warming up into the mid-30s.

More skiing through open meadows with Specimen Creek winding through.

Eventually we came to this spot, which drops off steeper to the right into the crick than it looks. That, plus it was icy due to the warm sun and subsequent re-freezing at night. It was challenging...not quite hair-raising but challenging. Chris was smart and went to the right of the trees. I took the "high road" and wound up having to bomb down hill thru the trees. Fun!

At last we came to our lunch spot, with the high mountains harboring Sportsman Lake beyond. Specimen Creek forks about 1/4 mile ahead.

Chris enjoys a tasty, hard-earned beer with lunch. Sadly not one of my home brews. Next time.

On the way back we took a slightly different route (the "real" trail judging by the blazes on the trees) and got to bomb down some nice little hills. Good for amateurs like us!




All in all it was a good trip and a fun time. Hopefully I will be able to continue this effort with more pics from future adventures! Enjoy.