Welcome Committee
A Rainbow Welcome Committee is stationed on the road into Big Sandy. They stop all non-local traffic to give directions and answer any questions.
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Front Door Parking
There is only one road in and out of the Big Sandy area. The first Rainbow parking lot is just inside the Forest boundary fence. This lot is marked as being for handicap parking. There is no parking on the BLM ground south of the fence. Law enforcement officers are stationed at near this parking area.
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Sensitive Area - No Parking
The Forest Service and BLM have placed signs along the road to designate No Parking areas. Rainbows have added their own signs with comments modifying the government signs. This one says, "Save the frogs!"
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Forest Service Rangers
Law enforcement officers search a vehicle at the Forest boundary. Law enforcement is strictly enforcing all regulations. Law enforcement officers from BLM, Forest Service, Sublette County Sheriff's Office, K-9 dog units, and (we're pretty sure) undercover officers are patrolling the Rainbow gathering.
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Front Door Parking
1st Parking Lot, right at the Forest boundary. This lot is supposed to be for handicap parking. The main parking areas and trail access into the Rainbow camp are several miles further up the road.
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Bus Village
The second parking lot is at Bus Village. The 1-mile hike is the shortest of the three, but has a steep climb. It is a very scenic hike through the forest, passing by multiple little lilly ponds along the way. Kids and anyone not in the best of shape can still use this trail with the hill, just take it slow and rest often. The experience of this pretty trail is worth the effort.
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Back Door Parking
The third, and last parking lot, is at Sedgewick Meadows Road and FS Road 855. Parking is on hilly slopes. The walk in is longer and the trail is a bit muddier.
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Road 855
Road 855 is the "back door" trail into the Rainbow camp from the third parking lot.
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Middle Trail
The trail has been well cleared and is marked with plastic bags tied in the tree limbs above. These bags also serve as places to deposit any litter. The Rainbows pride themselves on everyone doing their part to pick up any litter they find and keeping the forest clean.
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Pond by trail
The middle trail to the Rainbow camp goes past many little ponds like this. The walk through the forest is very scenic and has interesting things to look at. Crews have cleared the trails of rocks and debris all the way in. Expect a one to three mile hike, depending on which trail you take in. If you're bringing a wagon, it will be a bit challenging in places, but Do-Able.
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Rainbow Family
One of many colorful banners within the Rainbow encampment. This one is located near the Information Station and main meadow.
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Karin Zirk
Karin is a popular rainbow blogger and was helping at the information booth.
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Information Tent
Rainbow Information tent at the main meadow. There is a bulletin board here where people can post messages. They also call this station "Rumor Control".
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Lost & Found Board
People can post messages for others on this bulletin board.
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Recycle Bags
There were many stations like this throughout the Rainbow camp for depositing recyclable items.
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Circus
"Circus Maximus" is a self-appointed fire marshall. He hails from Seattle, Washington. He was very friendly and helpful. The Rainbow behind him was given the opportunity to not be in the picture when this photo was taken. He purposely chose to be in the picture and to be very rude for the camera.
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Circus Maximus
Circus: Here's a better photo of you to send to your friends and family. Thank you for letting us take your picture.
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Food Line at Kiddie Village
At least 11 differnt kitchens have been set up throughout the Rainbow camp and all the food is free. Some ask for firewood contributions. The cooks in this kitchen pride themselves on a well-rounded meal choice.
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Dinner
Meal at Kiddie Village this evening included salad, fresh home-made bread, and beans.
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Fresh Baked Bread
"Flower", on the right, cuts home-made bread that has just come out of the oven at the Kiddie Village kitchen. Recipe is white bread topped with Basil and sesame seeds. Flower is part of a Rainbow group that goes around the country to disaster-striken areas in their specially-outfitted bus kitchen and they provide free food services to victims. For more on their efforts, Google "New Waveland Cafe".
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Camp Signs
Improvised signs are all over giving directions to various camps. Trails have been constructed through the forest to keep traffic on designated trails.
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Juggler's Glen
This gal is learning how to walk on a tightrope.
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Camp Trails
Trails have been cleared within the camp area to lead to the various group areas. Deadfall from the forest has been placed along the sides of the trail to mark the route and keep people on the trail to minimize spread of the traffic impact. When the area is reclaimed, the logs and debris will be spread naturally across the landscape to erase the presence of the trails and make the forest floor look natural again.
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Lovin Ovens
The Lovin' Ovens is one of the many free kitchens set up in the area. this one was very elaborate and a very creative effort. The ovens can be accessed from both sides.
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Lovin Ovens
Another view showing the elaborate set up for the Lovin' Ovens kitchen. Firewood is neatly cut and stacked for use to keep the fires going for the ovens.
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Medical Tent
Tent for the "Montana Medics." There are several medical stations throughout the Rainbow camp. These are staffed with a combination of professional medical personnel and helpers who are familliar with holitic healing techniques. Patients who have really serious emergencies are taken to medical treatment facilities in nearby towns.
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CALM Medical Camp
CALM stands for the Rainbow Family Center for Alternative Living Medicine. This is one of several medical treatment camps throughout the Rainbow gathering area. For some Rainbows, this is the only medical attention they will receive all year long. The rest of the year many are on the street and homeless, with little or no money, and definitely no medical insurance to pay for any medical treatment they need. This year, Rainbow Geoff told us they are treating a lot more dental problems. They hope some Dentists will be coming for the Gathering and be willing to help out with some of the needs this year. These tents are placed in locations where there are "healing vortexes".
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Infected Ankle
CALM Nurse Practicioner Jane treats a girl from Hawaii who has an infected ankle. Many of the Rainbows walk barefoot around the camp. Common minor injuries include stubbed toes and minor cuts and abrasions. Medical treatment is free in the Rainbow camp. Each of these camps have people who generously donate supplies, money, time and expertise to help supply these medical stations at the Rainbow gatherings every year. For some of these people, this is the only medical attention they will receive all year. Check out our Related Links above for an interesting article in the Charlotte Observer that talks about the challenge of providing medical treatment to the homeless and those who have no money, no medical insurance, and who do not want to be found all the rest of the year.
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Diner at Evening Circle
At mealtime, one of the Rainbows climbs onto a large boulder and uses a horn to call the Family to the main meadow for dinner. Cooks from each of the kitchens bring food to the center of the circle. Everyone in the circle holds hands and a blessing of sorts is given. Children, their parents and pregnant women get to be served first to receive food. After they are served, everyone else may get in line.
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Wash, Rinse, Disinfect
There are stations like this near each kitchen to wash plates and utensils.
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Directions to Bathroom
The sign doesn't mince words. The Rainbows don't worry too much about being politically correct. What you see is what you get.
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Protected Area
Some areas within the camp have been taped off with yellow ribbon to keep people off to protect fragile resources.
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Big Sandy Trailhead
Big Sandy Trailhead was quiet when we visited on Saturday, June 28th, with just eight cars in the lot. There was no one camping or using the nearby campground (out of sight and to the left in this photo). The trail into the wilderness goes from the covered sign in this photo and to the right and behind the photographer. Hikers can only go a couple of miles in before encountering snow still in the very high country.
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Big Sandy Openning
Big Samdy Openning was very quiet. This area is part of the closure which was implemented on June 27 by the Forest Service to protect resources. The FS doesn't want the Rainbow gathering to overflow into these wet meadows. Big Sandy Lodge and the wilderness campground and trailhead are just a little ways down the road in the distance in this photo. Elevation is around 9,000 feet here. This is also part of the area where the Boy Scouts have project work to do this summer.
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Old Buck Fence
This is one of the old, fallen-down buck fences in the Big Sandy Opening area that is scheduled to be removed by the Boy Scouts this summer.
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Big Sandy Loge
The gate into Big Sandy Logde is closed to reduce the 4-wheeler traffic from non-guests. The owners commented that business has actually been very lively with people booking to be close to the Rainbow gathering. The owners have not had any problems or incidents to date with the presence of the Rainbows.
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Fire Danger Low
The Forest Service maintains a sign in the area letting people know what the current fire danger is. It is LOW at this time.
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BLM Rangers
BLM Law Enforcement officers are regularly patrolling the area for public safety. They are making everyone follow the rules to the letter. This stricter law enforcement standard is being applied to all public using the area around the Rainbow camp.
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Road Construction
There is some road construction going on along the back roads that lead to the Big Sandy area. The general area of the camp is in the mountains way in the distance behind this road grader.
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Big Sandy Openning Road
This is the final intersection on the maze of roads leading to the Big Sandy Opening. This is actually a "T" intersection. Depending on how you come in, you'll either continue straight on or turn left here. (Follow arrows on sign as applicable). This intersection is also where the Lander Cut-off of the Oregon Trail crosses the road. If you are into history, look for the white cement trail marker in the grass off to the left at this intersection. The trail crosses from right to left as people in the 1800s would have travelled through here. Anyone traveling in from the left road would have already passed over the Lander Cut-off a couple of times already on the road coming in to get to this point.
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No Parking
Signs have been posted on the road into the gathering area to keep the road from getting blocked with park cars.
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Free or Roadblock?
Message from the locals? We passed these two recliners sitting out at the end of a ranch driveway along the main road going on the way to the Big Sandy area. We weren't sure if they were intended to block the driveway, or were being offered up as free-for-the-taking seating for anyone who might be passing by. There were no notes attached to the chairs. Whatever the intent, they were still sitting there many hours later when we returned from our visit to the Rainbow camp. No doubt hundreds of cars passed by during the day as the steady stream of people flow in for the Rainbow gathering.
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