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Too often we take things for granted these days. For instance how many times do you hear someone in California say they have never been through the Red Wood Forests or Yosemite National Park? How many people live in Utah and never been to the Arches, or Grand Canyon. One thing I’ve heard throughout my life is people saying that they have never been through Yellowstone National Park. I’ve heard this out of the mouths of people that have lived in West Yellowstone, MT. Its literally their back yard and they never taken the opportunity to go thru the park. Why is that?

Is it because the appeal of visiting the park isn’t there because it doesn’t take hours, or days to travel to it? Does it seem like an every day aspect of their life that there is no curiosity any more? I’m sure it is different for everyone. I bring this up because I was born an raised near Idaho Falls, ID only 2 hrs from the park. My family has owned a cabin in Island Park, Idaho since I was 5, only 20 mins from the West Entrance. We spent weeks there during the winter and rarely visited the park. I can barely remember the last time I went thru the park with my parents. However, I have very fond memories of the park during the time I worked in the park and in West Yellowstone.

This last Labor Day weekend I decided that since we were at our family’s cabin I would take the opportunity to take my 3 year old thru the park as well as my 1 year old, but he won’t remember much. It was such a great experience that we have decided to try and make it thru the park at least once a year. It is only 2 hrs away so this can be accomplished in just a day if needs be.

I have gone thru the park on several occasions, but in the summer and winter time. It had been a long time since I had gone thru the park for pleasure rather than work, which made it much more enjoyable than I expected. Its always exciting to see some of the large game in their natural habitat. The adrenaline that starts pumping as you snap a picture of a 6 point Bull Elk at 25 yards will always be a great experience no matter how many times I get that opportunity.

The next adventure once the kids get a little old will be give them the experience of visit the park in the Winter. It is an experience that if you have not yet had the opportunity to do so, you better take it at least once. Especially those individuals that are close to the park. I will admit for an extreme backcountry rider that I am, I don’t look forward to the ride, but there are very few places where you can get that close to the animals in the winter. Its worth at least one trip into the park during the winter, and if you have more than one day you can always take the opportunity to ride the thousands miles of trails outside the park or endless backcountry riding of the west.

What a year. The winter was one for the record books. Its been a long time since we have been able to ride in May with powder and then to even have a couple of rides in June. I don’t remember the last time I was able to ride in June. Old Man Winter had the global warming nuts running backwards as they tried to explain why it was such a long winter, as they came up with some excuse that it was an effect of global warming. I figured since the winter lasted so long that it might come late this year. I’m starting to thing the opposite. There has been some series of cold spells already that makes me think that winter is just around the corner.

I bought a dirt bike this year to help feed that craving that I get when I don’t ride for a while. Figured I would be able to ride it well in to November. I had a bike a while ago, sold it to pay for some schooling, wish I never would have done that. Sold the bike, the schooling was worth it, but should have found alternative ways of funding. Finally after some persuasive talks with the wife was able to be another one. In my opinion one of the best bikes built, Honda CR 250 R, mine happens to be a 2004. I’m having a hard time switching up to the 4-stroke yet. My last bike was a 01 CR 250 R. Its been a great summer getting back into riding. The last time I rode a bike, I ended up over shooting a jump and having surgery to fix the problem two years later. I will admit I was a little gun shy at first, but its all coming back to me. As close to snowmobiling as I can get.

However over labor day weekend, I was to see new snow fall as I stayed the weekend in our family’s cabin. I’m ready to put the bike up and bring out the sled. Let it snow, Let it snow!