| Elizabeth and Leif went kayaking on the Yellowstone River from Big Timber to Laurel, a distance of around 75 miles, over the 4th of July Weekend. They had planned the trip for 3 days, but the rivered moved so fast, the trip only took 2. It definitely wasn't like those rivers in Iowa. Before they went Leif asked around to ensure they were doing something they could handle. Next time he won't ask at a shop that specializes in whitewater kayaks. There were many sections of rapids and much stronger currents than they were used to. In the end they had to admit it was a fun trip that they were glad that they did, but which they will probably never do at that river level, which for posterity's sake was about 8800 cfs at Billings. |
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An old barn along the Yellowstone |
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Montana sky with Absaroka Mountains in the distance |
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Elizabeth whizzing by |
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Leif got far enough ahead of Elizabeth to take this crooked shot of the Beartooth Mountains and Elizabeth |
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Hey, it's hard to take pictures from a kayak rolling in rough water |
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I'd be happy with just the guest house |
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Another old barn along the river |
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Yup, it's a river |
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Bluffs along the river. Supposed their yellowish hue give the river its name. That or a mistranslation by the French of the Crow Indian name for the Yellowstone, Elk River. Incidentally, Crow is probably a mistranslation of the name Absaroka which means children of the bird. |
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Rapids that caused Leif to dump his kayak. Really they were considerably more formidable than they look. There were at least 3 ft waves. But let the mention that it wasn't the wave that got Leif; it was the hole after the last wave that sucked Leif sideways after I relaxed after making through the rapids that go Leif. |
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More of the eponymous bluffs |
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Elizabeth's boat on the bank after picking up the carnage of Leif's spill |
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My boat in the same location |
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Leif and Elizabeth after Elizabeth picked Leif's wet carcass out of the river |
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Our boats at the take out point in Laurel |
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Sunburned, but cute, Elizabeth after a weekend of kayaking |
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...and a strange man |
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... who needs a shower |
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sunset on the way home after getting out of the river |
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bugs on the windshield... |
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Sunset over the Crazy Mountains |
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Ditto |
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Ditto |
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Ditto |
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Ditto (amazing how the shot is clearer when you stop the car) |
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Leif making a last minute acquisition of sparklers to celebrate Independence Day. (He spent considerably less than the adolescents.) |
