Well it seems sometimes life has a way of loading you down. It seems like never ending problems with no signs of improving. With a shoulder that had been giving me problems for 4 years and even after surgery and physical therapy and extensive physical training I was not getting relief. After years of turmoil in my marriage it was finally coming to an end. Compounding that I had become estranged from my father due to things I care not to discuss. So after four weeks of working on my house to get things in tip top shape to put it on the market and my belongings moved out I was ready for a break.
Sometimes I would think if my shoulder does not start improving I was not going to enjoy the things I used to take for granted. It was dismal and I would tell myself other less fortunate from war that are missing limbs go through life with a smile. That was what helped me push on thinking of those soldiers! I kept telling myself it took three years to find and fix the problem so it just was not going to get better overnight. I stopped shooting my bow for a month and stopped lifting weights. I went back on anti-inflammatories start taking supplements of glucosamine, fish oil and Miller Light! I started swimming and started to feel like the pain was improving.
Then I had to get our house ready to sell and move my belongings. I had a bunch to do heavy lifting moving ladders you name it. Pain was bad but I noticed it was not the same pain. I felt my muscles in that shoulder were getting stretched and used like weight lifting can’t do. I would hurt for a day or two and the feel better. This would happen several times but I always felt better. The knife in the peck muscle pain was diminishing I could not believe my luck. Finally a change for the better!
I had not done a thing all summer so after the house was listed I was going on a pack trip in my favorite elk country. Upper Greybull River here I come! My wife was out of town and the realtor was not happy I was going to be in a place that she could not get ahold of me. I told her get used to it if the house did not sell before the hunting season there would be more of it. She said maybe we could give my wife power of attorney I never answered her. That was never happening! We had a showing scheduled every day over the next seven days. I told her sorry they could wait a couple of days.
Going on that trip was a blessing in many ways. We had a couple low balling us before I left. The gale knew my wife from work and I believe they were trying to capitalize on our misfortune. I refused the offer and I did not want to even counter but I was beaten out by my wife and the realtor. So I left for the back country in a foul mood. Not knowing what would happen while I would be gone.
I loaded the horses and my gear grabbed my Lab Mustard Seed and hit the road. The horses actually like going and after siting idle for eight months I could tell they were happy. Mustard Seed well he is always excited to go someplace. So with three happy critters loaded up I started to mellow. I love the drive to Meeteetse and then up the Greybull River to the Jack Creek Trail head it just reeks adventure! Some of the most rugged wilderness you can find full of fish and game.
We got to the trail head early afternoon. It’s about three hours horses back to Anderson Creek were I would set camp. I figured I would arrive around 5:30 plenty of time to set up camp and get the electric fence up for the horses. It was warm and breezy due to a fire on the South Fork it was a little smoky. The fire although was not that far had no chance of moving in to the Greybull side just not enough fuel across the divide. So with everything packed and saddled I mounted old Biscuit Lips and hit the trail.
Biscuit and Dubs ready to go.
Looking up the Greybull
Taking a break
Looking up into Anderson Creek you can see the falls a little smokey.
The head of Anderson still has some snow.
Looking up Elenore Creek
Topic: Summer Pack Trip (Elk Scouting/Healing the Mind) Pictures! (Read 904 times)
