Totoro's Adventure

Totoro and I set out from Yellowstone and stopped in the Tetons for a hike up the Middle Teton, the highest peak in the park that can be reached without technical climbing skills. Here, Totoro scrambles up a slope that is considered an off-trail scramble in Wyoming but might be called the Madison Gulf Trail if it were in New Hampshire.

Summit! Totoro at 12,804' with the Grand Teton visible behind.

We drove further south and took off over 40 miles of dirt roads (my little car was not happy) to reach the Wind River Range. I explored granite cirques and cliffs carved by glaciers, and subsisted off pop tarts and box macaroni and cheese for a few days. By the higher alpine lakes, colorful climbers tents were set up, and I could hear shouts of "on belay" echoing down from the walls of the mountains, though any climbers must have been too high up to see.

We set up camp by Big Sandy Lake, next to a group using pack llamas. Yes, pack llamas. I want one to carry my pack!

After bouncing back over the dirt roads, we made it to Utah! Here is Totoro at the Great Salt Lake. You really do float when you swim in it - and little brine shrimp were swimming all around, it was like the world's largest pool of sea monkeys.

Into red rock country, where I'll be spending the fall! Here are the hoodoos and rock formations of cedar breaks national monument.

Cedar Breaks also has bristlecone pines, including this 1,600 year old tree. As totoros love big old trees, I thought it was very fitting for Totoro to sit in this one.