Finding a Back Door into Yellowstone

A horse packing adventure into the North Absaroka Wilderness and Yellowstone Park. A group of 4 men, 2 outfitters and a cook from Alaska traveled up the North Fork of the Shoshone River over the pass into Lamar River drainage. Exploring the back country by horse back, we then rode over Mist Creek Pass into Pelican Basin just east of Yellowstone Lake. Our goal was to find a back door into Yellowstone, we did do just that. Along our journey we traveled in three river drainages, saw unbelievable mountain country, did some fishing and learned some history. We set out to just enjoy the back county by horse back and we did.
Please comment and share your feedback with us. We'd love to hear from you.
Be sure to like, subscribe, and share if you enjoyed this video. More trips are being planned.

[@KatWoman_]

Beautiful video and well-narrated. Thank you for taking me along.

[@cowdogflicks]

Glad you enjoyed it! Our Pleasure

[@wyomingmuleman9842]

The three kids leading the riders are Hunter, Clayton and Etta. They work for Carl and are a real pleasure to know. Thank you Roger for documenting your your adventure. Getting to see and experance the backcountry is a gift not many will enjoy.

[@rogercain5837]

You got it. They were great to be around

[@sarahhauptman]

Wow. I clicked this only intending to watch a few minutes, but ended up watching the whole thing. You are a great storyteller. I liked how you incorporated some of the history of the locations. Looks like an amazing trip!

[@cowdogflicks]

I am glad to hear that watch my latest video and let me know how you like that

[@allenrogers5459]

Wow this is good. Each video you do the stories get better. I am impressed with this. Keep them coming. We enjoy them

[@maxcorder2211]

Awesomeness. I love the smile and attitude of the lady cook. ❤

[@cowdogflicks]

She was great check out lastest video

[@lynettemacdonald3957]

I just love it .I was with you all every step on the way. Dam amazing.

[@cowdogflicks]

Thanks for watching watch the latest video you will enjoy it

[@49er61]

I can only imagine how fulfilling a ride like this would be all of the beautiful scenery kind of like what the old west was way back when. Thank you for sharing a wonderful adventure

[@cowdogflicks]

this trip was great i did enjoy it a lot

[@didiertrekkeur]

hello i introduce myself didier i am french and i live in france i love nature and i love what you do this total spirit at mother nature i subscribed to your channel my greetings from france Didier

[@cowdogflicks]

Thanks for watching and subscribing. Hope you’re bringing more trails on horseback soon. Enjoyed hearing from you from France

[@didiertrekkeur]

@@cowdogflicks thank you for your answer so subscribed I don't miss anything every time your videos come out I will watch with pleasure passion has no borders the proof I come from France and I love your country and customs and what you do see you soon Didier

[@tonics7121]

If this had been twice as long, it would have been too short. Thanks.

[@cowdogflicks]

Glad you enjoyed it it was a great trip

[@wayfaringrider972]

What a great trip - I would have loved to join you guys! Thank you for the historical information that makes the video even better. I also liked the pictures that looked like a painting. How did you do that? Happy trails - Gerry

[@cowdogflicks]

Good to hear from you. We are putting another trip together for next summer let me know. [e-mail]

[@SanJuanMountainBob]

Great video - enjoyed every minute. Sure would like to do that some day - i've always ran around the back country on my feet. At 67, that looks like a better way now! haha I'd better get it done I'd say. The history was a nice addition to the video. All in all, very well done and thanks much for sharin!

[@cowdogflicks]

Thanks for your comments I have enjoyed your utube also

[@AvaPotterfieldandFriends]

Love these videos. The cou try ... The views ... The horses ... The camping ... And all of you.

[@cowdogflicks]

Thanks 👍 glad you enjoyed

[@Paul-i2s]

Enjoyed your video, Got to do a backcountry elk hunt with Carl, Etta was in camp that week. That lady is a tough cowgirl , enjoyed the stories she told in camp about trips she had been on in Alaska. It was my dream hunt, absolutely gorgeous country and it far exceeded my expectations. Your trip reminds of my hunt, thank you. I’m planning on going back, lords willing

[@cowdogflicks]

i am glad you enjoyed your trip we did Etta is a great gal

[@Jigsdr99]

Beautiful Journey 🤠

[@cowdogflicks]

It really is! glad you enjoyed it

[@slowtwist]

I have seen that country from the road on the seat of a motorcycle, now I know what it looks from a saddle. Thanks, "I will fight no more forever."

[@bavariantrailriders1883]

Great trail and a beautiful landscape, super filmed

[@cowdogflicks]

Good to hear from you folks. It looks like you’ve been doing some riding to on your channel to. Enjoy the mountains

[@margaretsusanlohre9780]

Love love love your channel and videos!! I did a similar trip in Montana. I have horses and ride in SW Ohio but the majesty of the west is breathtaking! Thank you!!!

[@cowdogflicks]

That is awesome! Thanks for watching and commenting

[@wildrose156]

Wonderful! Always such a great way to end my day. Makes for sweet dreams. Thank you ☺

[@cowdogflicks]

Our pleasure!

[@secretdaisy6484]

Excellent! I spent my entire childhood on a farm in Kentucky on horseback and fishing in our lakes. I thought I would be a cowgirl when I grew up but it didn’t work out. I’m having a shoulder replacement surgery then putting everything in storage and going to spend a long time in the West mountain biking, a little hiking and as much trail riding as possible. Love 💓your videos. More please. 👍☮️🌞🏔🏕🪵🔥🐎

[@cowdogflicks]

glad to hear

[@brendachilders8075]

BEEN AROUND TRAIL RIDES ALL MY LIFE, FIRST TIME I EVER SAW THE MULES PEE IN UNISON 😂🤣😂 y’all do have em trained!!

[@cowdogflicks]

it takes training or they just stoped walking at peer at the same time good observation

[@Athabina]

what a majestic landscape!

[@cowdogflicks]

it is watch a jouney into the headwaters of the Yellowstone River its better

[@rickgreen9936]

wow!

[@JohnBergman-w4e]

Great video amazing journey just wish you would show on a map where you started and where you are at different points along the way keep on keeping on

[@cowdogflicks]

Noted! i will work on that

[@larryfuller1581]

Best one yet Roger that camera is amazing again great job

[@jimmyjohnson5269]

This looks like a great time 😁

[@cowdogflicks]

it was fun

[@HobbitHomes263]

Ya need to get down to Idaho for some Tiger Trout. Truly unique fish in the Rockies

[@alejodlt]

FANTASTIC!

[@cowdogflicks]

Good to hear watch latest vedio you will enjoy

[@roandrews7033]

I love seeing Etta’s adventure! Kodiak Alaska girl living her dream. 🥰❤️🤠

[@pattyaaron5227]

When I was a kid my parents belong to a riding club and we always went on trail rides but nothing like this. We only went for the weekend. It was great. Me and my parents. Those were the days

[@cowdogflicks]

good memoirs

[@garymoore3446]

Wonderful thanks...

[@cowdogflicks]

Our pleasure!

[@desertrose2059]

Beautiful visuals!

[@billgallagher2797]

Amazing 👍

[@gen5473]

Very nice...thanks for sharing. Some of you your pictures have filter(s) applied (or something), how are you doing that? Looks great!

[@loragunning5394]

"Gonna be an Advil night." I can SO relate to that, hahahaha.

[@cowdogflicks]

i agree with you again

[@archielynn3663]

wow great vid thank you guys va mt man out

[@cowdogflicks]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@stevetrowbridge7101]

Great video be safe god bless.

[@cowdogflicks]

Thanks, you too!

[@AndyTheCornbread]

Roger that was fantastic! Your film stories / movies are getting better and better each time. Did the outfitter supply the riding stock as well as the pack stock or did some of you bring your own riding horses? Also what camera are you using to film? How many batteries and memory cards do you have to pack for it and how long do the batteries last?

[@cowdogflicks]

Good to hear from you. Thanks for your comments. Outfitter supplied all the stock. Some of the guys could not bring animals. I use a GoPro 9 and a special camera to do the still phots.

[@rogerdudra178]

I, too, was very saddened by that 1986 fire. Hobbling those mules is a good idea.

[@cowdogflicks]

we agree with you

[@adow7382]

Still don't know how you keep the camera steady while on horseback. Not to mention ultra clarity video. Nice job.

[@cowdogflicks]

thanks for commenting I use a Gopro 10 to film this

[@BobBroeking]

Are all the horses and mules provided by the outfitter or are the horses you rode your own? The outfitter costs per trip must be pretty expensive? Liked this video… Bob

[@petertaylor233]

At 7.33 there is lot of wrecked forest. Is this logging land? or has the forest been degraded some other way like beetles. Beautiful places and rides, just curious why these areas look like they do.

[@cowdogflicks]

glad you enjoyed it yes beetles have done a lot of damage to the mountains then fires come in

[@stanstanton6154]

You can hear a woodpecker in the background @ the first camp

[@cowdogflicks]

I am glad you picked that out Thanks for watching

[@Hoppie1983]

Absolutely brilliant! Do you find the presence of horses etc encourages predators?

[@cowdogflicks]

No that many animals make a lot of nose. Wild life tend to get out of our way

[@Ahinton4691]

Awesome thanks

[@eprohoda]

amazig content.catch you later, )

[@dancingcowgirl85]

Love this!!

[@cowdogflicks]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@loragunning5394]

In this video, you speak several times about the devastation in the wake of the various back-country wildfires, and how some areas are growing back well and others much more slowly. As folks who love wilderness (and it's preservation), I think it's extremely important to remind your viewers and help educate the general public that periodic wildfires are a very natural, normal, and necessary part of any wilderness area's growth and evolution. We all must try hard to remember that wildfires burned thru these forests for millions of years completely unchecked and that those millions of years of periodic fires are what contributed to building the soils and biomass our current forests depend so heavily upon. There are many plant species, especially among the conifers, that do not release their seeds unless exposed to the high temperatures a wildfire exposes them to, so allowing fires to burn themselves out is a very, very big part of wise forest management practice. Humans who choose to live in forest areas need to take the necessary steps to protect their investments, of course, and fire suppression should focus on that, but where there are no human financial assets to protect, fires should be allowed to burn and the burned areas to regain their natural life without intervention, in my opinion. Yeah, burn areas are an eyesore for our human eyes hungry for the lush beauty of a climax forest, but if any of us think beyond the eye-candy beauty of the forest, even burn areas are rich with life within a month or two of the fires going out, and watching life return to burn areas can be just as enriching of an experience, just as spiritual, just as life-reinforcing, as time spent in a thriving forest.

[@cowdogflicks]

the other two men are forest rangers we had deep conversations of this topic we all agree with you

[@bdradley1]

What camera do you use and how do you keep it charged? We are going out with Lee Livingston in July. Thx Dave

[@cowdogflicks]

Thanks for your comment I think Lee told me about your trip I would like to talk with you about it please email me [e-mail] I use a gopro with extra batterys and a battery bank

[@bobdh8858]

Top👍🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴💖🤠🤠🤠

[@journeyhawk1728]

Are the bells on the horses meant to help keep predators away?

[@cowdogflicks]

yes and no I sleep better if I hear the bells at nite

[@journeyhawk1728]

@@cowdogflicks thank you for your reply. Much appreciated!

[@Dorfhiker]

@@cowdogflicks Not me. Spent a mostlysleepless first night on a backpacking trip along the north Buffalo about 12 miles in from Turpin Meadows back in 10’. Unbeknownst to us, there was an outfitters camp about a quarter mile up the meadow and the horses came down to us, clanking away, for much of the night lol. At the time it was annoying but all was forgiven the next morning when theexceptionally cute wranglerette in a purple shirt apologized after she asked where we were camped. Nice video. I love the GYE area…washakie, Teton, NA. So wild…

[@rosescott5971]

Have you ever have an encounter with bears?

[@cowdogflicks]

no they run away when they hear us coming I am glad you enjoyed it

[@HobbitHomes263]

Learn to throw the one-man-diamond and you can ditch the lash cinch

[@cowdogflicks]

i personally use the single diamond when i am useing my own stock i do agree

[@terryknutson3202]

Will not be a "secret" very long.

[@cowdogflicks]

its hard to travel that will keep numbers down

[@shredhiker6209]

As someone who hikes & backpacks this area a fair bit, it’s really awesome to see it from this perspective!

[@cowdogflicks]

Thanks keep exploring

[@williamkirkpatrick8314]

Love watching....Wish I was there!!!!❤

[@cowdogflicks]

glad you enjoyed it

[@robertdeubler966]

Wow thank you for taking me on your amazing trip it looks like you guys had amazing time. Now that would be an awesome ride

[@cowdogflicks]

thanks

[@edwardmiller6353]

Wow, Awesome adventure and scenery! Thanks for sharing it. We enjoy the narration, too; it adds a lot to the video!

[@cowdogflicks]

Glad you enjoyed it! watch my video on the journey to the headwaters of the Yellowstone river 1, 2 & 3 you will enjoy it

[@montanamornings8526]

Man I enjoyed this video. Love packing w horses and mules. You could sure tell who the customers were and who the wranglers were.

[@cowdogflicks]

in this trip yes you could

[@HobbitHomes263]

You cancome in the trailhead south of Big Timber and follow the trails into the headwater of Hell roraing creek. The best mostly unkowon trail into Yellowstone is that tiny slive of the park that is a part of Idaho. There are several ways into the park from the A-B.

[@cowdogflicks]

i will look that up on some maps

[@scottc3165]

Awesome trip. I enjoyed the scenery.

[@cowdogflicks]

Glad you enjoyed it it was a great trip

[@BrettVaughnB100]

That’s a great video ..beautiful country …what a camp ..lots of work to pack all that stuff

[@cowdogflicks]

It was a great pack trip. Big country up there. It was nice to have all that gear. A lot less gear when I go by myself. Keep riding

[@jaymezalexander3397]

thank you for showing me a beautyful piece of country

[@cowdogflicks]

i am glad you enjoyed it check out some of the other videos on my channel

[@texling93]

What a beautiful adventure. Brings back trips to Colorado San Juan Mountains with our horses. It just don't get no better than spending 10 day's in the mountains on horseback. The sound of horse shoe's with borium walking through the rocky streams, amazing. They would not allow our horse drink from streams. They had a foot and mouth virus going on in the area. Luck on our side, they lifted the quarantine the day we were leaving. We had to get vet to check horses before we left Colorado. Thanks for sharing.

[@cowdogflicks]

Glad you enjoyed it! maybe a ride in the future together in the mountains

[@eamonnocarroll5866]

Excellent - Thanks. - Eamonn/ Ireland/ Galway

[@cowdogflicks]

Glad you enjoyed it Watch my serious on finding the head waters of the Yellowstone river I think you will enjoy that also stay warm in Ireland this winter

[@DaSchnuz]

Found you by accident, sure glad I did! Exceptional video and great story telling!!

[@cowdogflicks]

thanks

[@RickySmith-zi5cz]

Amen.

[@ZoneZero-sm9jv]

That looks beautiful but really hard on the horses, having them carry 300 lbs of stuff just for your recreation.

[@HobbitHomes263]

You can always spot a dude a mile off. They be leaning back all over the cantle, soring their horse's kidneys.

[@HobbitHomes263]

You ain't trout fished til you are standing in the Lamar in the middle of a pale dun hatch, The trout will eat anything small and white and it is like standing upside down in a snow storm as the duns rise and fly up stream

[@patriciandcowgirl6044]

I really enjoy all your videos! You do such a good job.

[@cowdogflicks]

Thanks

[@davidburchfield2720]

Love the video was that one paint horse a medicine hat ??

[@bbowden1269]

Absolutely love your vlogs. Your still shots especially catch my attention as I think of what a great 500 piece jigsaw puzzle any one them would make. You, Sir, are a genius!

[@cowdogflicks]

I am glad you enjoyed it

[@user-li5vh4ex1v]

Ride up Fish Hawk, from the North Fork, drop in to Ron Dubes camp, follow the trail out, Has been in operation for years, Bill Jordan hunted Bighorn with Ron 30 yrs ago

[@cowdogflicks]

sounds like you have had some good times also

[@brianbeyer7681]

Weren't the Yellowstone fires in 1988? Great video. Thanks for sharing

[@rogercain5837]

Yes it was.

[@paulapaula551]

Wonderful trip, but I’m wondering about all the broken trees

[@cowdogflicks]

Bugs, Fire and wind are taking a toll on the moutains

[@46rambo49]

been down those trails many times, we raise pack mules and mountain horses, mustang/Draught crosses, it's getting damn hard to find pack trails that ATV's and Bicycles haven't ruined the wilderness on. It seems every ranch in Colorado is a Dude ranch now and that's just crazy to ride around those people

[@fisherwomanforJesus]

What carried the cook stove and coolers and cameras ??

[@cowdogflicks]

al those pack horses

[@mattmccleary1278]

Anyone bring firearms for bears? Be damn good idea!

[@cowdogflicks]

yes we did check out Alex right hip no one misses with Alex

[@dojocho1894]

so great God bless

[@cowdogflicks]

Thanks

[@vivianhelt8860]

How did the coolers get there.? 😳

[@cowdogflicks]

on a pack horse one on each side of horse

[@bobogilvie4472]

I live just across the border from Det. Mich. in SOUTHERN ONTARIO and I remember having clear water also whnI was a whole lot younger than I am now. Just wishing I could have experieced what YOU FOLKS are doing. THANK YOU for the video.

[@cowdogflicks]

thanks for your comments

[@everettsanders4672]

I am in awe of the beautiful country. I'm 77 and never done anything like this but I could and would if I had the opportunity. I ran into the last cattle drive in Wyoming. It started in Fort Worth and going to Miles City Montana,and I offered to trade my Honda Civic,worth about $8 thousand for a drovers horse,of course he wouldn't and didn't blame him. Some day

[@cowdogflicks]

good story i like it thanks for your comment

[@rogerdudra178]

Greetings from the BIG SKY. I sure do remember weighing packs and the reasons why.

[@cowdogflicks]

remember the mountains always call you

[@TheEverLovingOutdoors]

What a great team you have! Thanks for sharing.

[@cowdogflicks]

Thanks for watching! Look on channel for the Journey to the head waters of the Yellowstone you will enjoy it

[@reggiebald2830]

Lamar River Valley; stunningly gorgeous! Thanks for taking us along!

[@cowdogflicks]

Our pleasure!

[@MRPBDB]

Just found your videos. Awesome. Thanks for posting..

[@cowdogflicks]

Welcome! glad you like them watch my latest one a joinery to the head waters of the Yellowstone River

[@IgnacioroRodriguez68]

Interesantes estos videos del tipo "viejo oeste" muy sana una vida asi, todo naturaleza! Nada contaminacion.

[@cowdogflicks]

thanks for your comment

[@kristibrz2798]

Love watching your journey, thank you for taking us❤️

[@cowdogflicks]

anytime checkout latest videos on my channel

[@adambernard1672]

Great video - gods gifts are awesome. Thanks for sharing.

[@cowdogflicks]

thanks for comments

[@juditahn9649]

hobble the lead horsies is always a sign of knowing what to do good Job

[@cowdogflicks]

yep

[@rongrindstaff3027]

That's how life should always be, awesome love it.

[@cowdogflicks]

I do agree

[@antonygill5104]

At hidden lake why are all the trees dead anyone?

[@cowdogflicks]

the fire of 1986 burned the whole area nothing survived there it is trying to grow back but will be years

[@vivianhelt8860]

Amazing memories ❤️

[@cowdogflicks]

yes

[@redbird6310]

Do ever take a woman with you unless her name is Sacajawea.

[@ronnie32567]

The photos on the second day with the horses and mule in the river, it doesn’t look like a photo, looks like a painting. Amazing what did you do to get that effect?

[@cowdogflicks]

I am glad you enjoyed it