The weekend of 2nd & 3rd we pretty much just stayed around the campground and started getting it ready to open. We’re still here at Bakers Hole and probably will be until the second week of May. The host for this site came in Friday and we introduced ourselves to them. This is the first time for them to host a campground as well as us. Sunday was spent cutting down dead trees and hauling it to the site where we will split it later. When we had finished cutting wood and were standing around talking, a herd of Buffalo cows came right in front of us (as in no more than 10 or 15 feet). A new calf is called a “red dog” and we were again fortunate to see one. Vickie told us it was no more than a day or two old. She was trying to keep up with the other “cows” and her legs were wobbling everywhere. When the red dog and cows were past us and headed away, we then decided to take some pictures ( not smart to take them when they are approaching).
Monday we went into town and did some errands. We thought we would drive out to Lonesomehurst and see if the road was opened. Well not to our surprise it was still covered in deep snow. The road back to the campground is 4 miles and we were able to go about ½ mile before the road ended in snow. It was obvious we were not going to get into the campground for several more days. Because the land is National forest, and is recreational sites, there is no plowing of the roads by state or county. The only way to get the road opened is for hunters to drive 4x4’s through it and hope the sun will start melting it away.
Tuesday we finished some cleaning up in the campground and Vickie decided to open it for use. The first campers to come in were a couple that have been “full timing” for the past 17 years. They told us they bought their motor home 17 years ago, sold their house, and have been living on the road since. We also experienced a first today, “Buffalo hazing”. There are a lot of controversies out here between the ranchers and the forest service. Vickie explained to us that every spring the ranchers will take helicopters and drive the Buffalo back into the park. This is called Buffalo hazing. The ranchers say the Buffalo carry a disease that infects the calves being born, so it is an on-going battle between them and the forest service. Well one of the main areas for “hazing” is right through the campground. We were alerted and we all took a nice safe place to watch from. Sometimes the Buffalo will run right through the middle of the campground. Thankfully today they headed into the north end of the cg. We were able to see several herds being pushed across the river and back into the park.
NEWSFLASH !!!! Well it’s about 8:30 pm and we get a knock on the door. The new host just told us a game warden came to their camper and told them a Grizzly had just entered the campground and for all of us to stay inside. What a way to finish the day!
So did you survive the grizzly?
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