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About this trip
We are going to be glamping under the stars at nice campgrounds throughout the west. We'll be staying in a hotel at the beginning, middle, and end of the trip. We will be searching for all of the major mammals the west offers - bison, pronghorn, wolves, bears, elk, big horns, and moose. You can set up your own digs, or have it done for you. Full hot breakfast every morning. Stargazing when the skies allow. Campfire every night. Individual tents, unless a tent for two is requested. One large tent for gatherings. A motel is provided half way through in West Yellowstone for two nights. This allows us to refresh, hear the wolves at night, and make midway transfers to and from Jackson possible. ( Note: A taxi from Jackson to W. Yellowstone is $700.) We'll be heading in a large clockwise circle, going west from Denver to the Green River Rendezvous in Pinedale, Wyoming, then up to and through the Grand Tetons to Yellowstone. From there, we head to the Madison River Resort in Montana, then over to Cody, Wyoming, for a rodeo and the Buffalo Bill Center. Then we head northeast to the Little Big Horn, paying our respects to both sides of the conflict. We will be camping tonight near Devil's Tower.
We will be visiting Deadwood, SD and Rapid City, spending the night glamping in the Rapid City area for the next two nights. We will be heading to the Badlands, Crazy Horse and Mt. Rushmore while in the region. On the way to Denver the next day, we will be visiting the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, SD.
Camping equipment.
There are a LOT of tents! We will be glamping - very comfortable. I am planning to get single tents, with a nice double cot ( for one person ) and one large tent for everyone to hang out and eat in. Comfortable bedding.
Campgrounds have fire rings, and good bathrooms. My hippy days are long over - we WILL be comfortable.!
We will have a nice grill and cooler with us. Buy food along the way. Breakfasts are included. One welcome dinner and one farewell dinner included. If this ends up being a training trip, we'll go over how to feed groups in Yellowstone - it is not easy!
I am planning to emphasize stargazing, but the skies must cooperate.
Mode of transportation.
5 or 6 people will be traveling in my new Toyota Sienna, with a trailer for luggage, or a rooftop carrier, depending on how well we know how to pack.
7 to 11 people are in a 12 passenger van with a trailer.
What’s included
- Mt. EvansDrive up 14,271' mt. near Denver
- Rocky Mt. Nat. ParkGLamping here
- Dinosaur Nat. ParkA large building with dinosaur bones
- Grand TetonsA majestic Mountain Range
- Yellowstone Park1st National Park in the world, establlished by Pres. Grant in 1872 .
- Wolf and Grizzly CenterRefuge for wolves and grizzlies that cannot survive in the wild.
- Yellowstone Bear Worlddrive thru park to see grizzlies.
- Madison River ResortWe are Glamping here. Spending time in a speakeasy from Chicago.
- Buffalo Bill CenterCody, Wyoming. 5 museums in one. Not to be confused with the Buffalo, Museum and grave in Denver.
- Mt RushmoreJefferson, T.Roosevelt, Lincoln, and Washington.
- Black Hills Open JeepOff road open jeep tour of Custer State Park.
- Crazy HorseMonument to Crazy Horse, Lakota leader of Little Big Horn battle.
- The Mammoth SiteEnclosed dig site, featuring an excellent museum and gift shop. An atlatl is next on my list.
- All breakfastsdepends on where we are.
- Welcome Dinnerto be announced
- Farewell Dinnerto be announced
- Airport transfersWhen we get to West Yellowstone for two nights, some people may be leaving, and others arriving.
- tentsYou will be issued a single tent with cot and bedding, unless you specify otherwise. A $200 credit off of the price of the trip is offered for those who bring their own. ( not advised ).
What’s not included
- travel insurancestrongly recommended
- lunches
- dinners
- horseback riding
Available Packages
The first week goes from Denver to Jackson, Wyoming, stopping in Pinedale, Wyoming for an Annual Reenactment of the fur trade in the early 1800's. We will be visiting Yellowstone and West Yellowstone as well. Includes a float trip down the Snake River.
Fly out of Jackson, Wy.
Save $25 per camping night if you set up and take down your camping gear. There are 4 the first week; 5 the second week.
Flying into Jackson, Wyoming, we will be visiting Yellowstone Park and then heading to Cody Wyoming for two nights. Includes the Rodeo! From there, we camp for three nights near Rapid City, visiting Lead, Deadwood, Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse.
Save $25 per camping night if you set up and take down our camping gear.
Your are booking for both week one and week two described above. This plan offers a discount of approx. 8 percent for booking both weeks.
Itinerary
We will be gathering all day at the airport hotel, and spending the night there. Price is based on double occupancy. Will be having our welcome dinner at the hotel. Time will depend on when everyone gets there.