It is sage-grouse time again! I’m going to start updating my blog again to keep up with the 2011 field season. Let’s go!

We just pulled into Lander tonight after a 2-day drive from California. The past few weeks have been a bit of a scramble to get everything together, so it is hard to believe we are finally here. We were a little worried about driving conditions because of a big storm coming through, but managed to time things pretty well. A little bit of snow over the summit of the Sierras, but much better than the 2-4 feet that was predicted later that night.



After making it through we stopped at a little store in Reno for some field gear.



I’ve never been to Cabela’s, although I’ve ordered plenty from their catalogs. Pretty amazing place. As much as I’d like to have spent a lot more time (and money) there, we had to get back on the road. Crossing Nevada seems to take forever. We drove through a dreary overcast landscape for most of the day, and not long after sunset we settled in Wendover, on the Utah border, for the night.

The next morning we proceeded on towards Salt Lake City, first crossing one of those impressively straight stretches of highway.



The weather held as we climbed through Park City, and up into Wyoming. We leave I-80 at Rock Springs. I just had to get a shot of this tempting restaurant right next to the gas station. Renegade indeed.



We encountered our worst weather as we crested South Pass between Farson and Lander. Snow cutting down visibility, and a road surface with ice and snow on it. I can’t say enough how great the tires are on these cars- although it was a white-knuckle drive for much of this stretch I never felt the Dodge Durango slide around.

After checking into the Pronghorn Lodge, (our normal landing pad at the start and end of the season), Gail and I met Stan from Wyo Game and Fish at the Lander Bar. A Swiss Piggy and great pint of beer- what a great way to celebrate our return to Lander!