2023 - West - Bighorn National Forest - Porcupine Falls & Ten Sleep Canyon - August 9

 August 9 - What a beautiful drive & hike today.  We drove through the upper side of Bighorn National Forest and hiked Porcupine Falls.

The path down was only a half of a mile but extremely steep and a change in elevation of about 450 feet. That meant climbing back up 450 feet.

The reward at the base was probably one of the most beautiful we've seen. There was a huge waterfall on the left but then a smaller one coming out of a hole in the cliff on the right. With my knee still healing, I stayed up at this viewpoint while the others continued to the base.

Can you spot my crew down at the bottom?

Here they are -

Here is a closer view of the smaller waterfall from the side of the cliff-

Here is Vaughan's view of the waterfall

and his view of me up on the cliff (that little speck under the middle tree up top).

Along our drive we happened upon a herd of elk - 

This was our lunch stop and also a great spot for rock-hounding.

Shell Falls

At Shell Falls we spotted this amazing creature which we later found out to be what is known as a hummingbird-moth (Hyles Lineata). It acted as a hummingbird but had no feathers. The wings were beating so fast that it was difficult to get a shot of them but somehow I managed.

Ten Sleep Canyon -