#5: [22-Aug-20]

#4: [24-May-13]

#1: [06-Oct-00]

#2: [10-Jul-03] (incomplete)

24-Aug-2005 -- It was time for another confluence adventure, this time with successful visits in Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, and Montana. This would be the twelfth out of thirteen visits on my trip.

I was on my way from 41N-116W and was taking my time and enjoying my drive through Yellowstone National Park. I used my Golden Eagle Passport for entry (best deal around – only about twice the entry fee to the park!) one last time before it expired at the end of the month. I saw pretty much every type of animal native to the park except the bears and looked forward to driving out the northeast exit and over Beartooth Pass.

I went out the northeast exit of the park and stopped .23 miles north of the confluence. My real-time moving map using NG TOPO! displayed another road in the town of Silver Gate not too far ahead that would take me across the creek and possibly closer to the point. I continued and turned south onto Monument Avenue across a bridge over the Soda Butte Creek then turned south onto Bannick Trail. This area was full of very nice summer cabins and I was able to park .59 miles away at a trailhead to the North Absaroka Wilderness.

I set out to hike along a well maintained trail. I wore my Keen water shoes anticipating getting wet crossing the creek. The water was low enough that I only got wet because I wanted to. I came across an area of fallen timber in a slight clearing. I continued on amongst the trees to the confluence. I had a heck of a time zeroing my GPS units out! I took my pictures and then started back.

Picture #1 shows the general area looking to the east. I found the confluence to be near the base of the fallen tree in the center of the photo. Picture #2 looks south. Picture #3 looks west. Picture #4 looks north. Picture #5 shows my GPS position – there was a long slow confluence dance waiting for those zeroes! Picture #6 shows the trailhead by where I parked .59 miles from the confluence. Picture #7 shows a part of the trail. Picture #8 shows the small stream I crossed. Picture #9 shows some flowers on the way back. Picture #10 shows the house east of the trailhead. There were many very nice houses back in this neighborhood!

Total time off US-212 was 1:12 with a drive/hike distance of 2.23 miles.

My final confluence as this adventure continues is at: 45N-109W.