September 8, 2005 Sibley Lake Camp Big Horn Mountains Wyoming

September 8, 2005
Sibley Lake
Big Horn Mountains
Wyoming

Big Mistake! The battlefield was totally depressing. Even thought The Ranger gave a very informative talk that favored the Native American history of the battle, even bring Sitting Bull’s words (see below) into the talk it was all too sad thinking about how and why the battle happened. Then to add insult to injury as we were leaving we had to jump on I-90 for a short stretch and low and behold it ran right smack through the middle of what was the Indian Encampment.
Our spirits lifted though as the Big Horns drew near and we started to climb up into some of the most beautiful mountains. First scraggly pastures with lost of rocks, then small groups of old weathered pine trees giving way to more and more rolling hills slowly turning into mountains. The weathered pines turned into proud Lodge Pole Pines and we were into the Big Horns. The mountains are softer than the Rockies with dense Pine forests and high pasture land. Flowing through out our great rivers, The Little Big Horn, The Tongue and Shell Creek to name a few. Looks like great trout fishing waters to me. Although there are signs by many of the river stops warning you that the water has bacteria and should not be drunk no warnings about eating the fish however but one has to wonder. By the end of the day had made two strong images ad am looking forward to tomorrow.

by Sitting Bull