Leaving the geyser basin, I headed east, back across the corrugated ravines of the Cement Hills, along the north shore of Shoshone Lake. I was headed for campsite #8R3, located east of the backcountry rangers cabin, hard by the north shore of the lake. It was only a few miles from 8R5 to 8R3, giving me plenty of time to explore both the geyser basin and the area between the two campsites.

8R3 is, like many of the Yellowstone backcountry sites, located about 1/4 mile from the main trail, down a little spur that winds down the ridge to the lakeshore. It has a great cooksite, and some good tentsites on the hill above the cooking area. My only complaint was that the box toilet was located only a few feet from some of the best tent sites, but otherwise it was a superb site. The views south and west across Shoshone Lake were spectacular, and the site even had its own resident bull elk to keep me awake at night as it bugled and bullied its way through the forest surrounding the camp.

Getting water for supper was a challenge. Shoshone Lake typically gets some high wind each afternoon (something to definitely bear in mind if you're paddling the lake.) The shoreline below camp was getting hammered with big waves, churning up the volcanic ash that makes up the narrow beach along the lake. I ended up having to strip so that I could wade out far enough to get a supply of grit-free water for the night's meal. That was refreshing...

The top photo shows the view looking east towards the Narrows, which are, of course, a narrow part of the lake that offers a shorter and safer crossing for paddlers hoping to avoid being swamped by big waves. It's a really wild spot, and reminds me of the coast of Maine, with rocky outcrops and dense pine forests. Of course, Maine doesn't have Grizzly bears and volcanos, but still, there is a resemblance. The site isn't quite as comfortable as 8R5, but it still offers up a great place to spend the night.

I could see one of the paddle-in sites near the location of the backcountry rangers cabin. The paddle-in sites are away from the trails and backpacking sites. It's a remarkably well-organized system of providing a wild experience for different groups of wilderness enthusiasts. In the lower photo, the view is to the west, with the rocky little point blocking the view of the rangers cabin on the other side of the little bay just past the point.

I spent much of the evening relaxing on my sleeping bag pad down by the water, writing in my journal and watching as the resident osprey sailed overhead.