Scenic Drive to Ten Sleep and Around to Worland

It is so darned hot - 98 was the high predicted for yesterday, we hopped into the car and decided to see a little of the country.  Drove north out of Thermopolis to a town called Worland, then moved east bound on a scenic highway to Ten Sleep which sits in the Big Horn Basin, at the foot of the Big Horn Mountains.  Ten Sleep got its name from the Sioux Indians.  They measured distance in camps or night stays from one place to another.  Ten Sleep is ten camps between Yellowstone and Laramie.  Today, about 150 people call Ten Sleep home, but.  There is a horse hotel (campground where you can let your horses out and graze while you camp there), couple of restaurants, hotel, museum, gas stations, churches.  Thriving little community.

Pretty scenery

Saw some interesting things along the way - some old buildings ready to fall down - wonder what the building would say to us today; the Wyoming crops (oil derricks and gas containers); passed the Wyoming Whisky distillery (the master distiller is a transplant from Kentucky); rivers and creeks almost overflowing from the snow melt; roadside information stand about Jim Bridger.

Entering Ten Sleep - Big Horn Mountains ahead

Wonder what stories this building could tell

Wyoming crop (oil rigs)

We turned north out of Ten Sleep and followed a narrow canyon where the river Nowood (yep - there was no wood along the river) flows.  Then swung around and headed back south towards Worland.
In Worland we visited the Washakie Museum (it is located in the county of Washakie - Chief Washakie did not live there, probably hunted in the area) which depicted the time of the dinosaurs which roamed throughout this area.  Displayed wonderfully, did not know that one of the largest dinosaur finds was near Worland and today there is still ongoing archeology digs continuing there. Showed pioneer life, the Johnson Range war era (1890s) that pitted the cattlemen against sheepherders, and then they had a weird traveling display.

Colored area is where dinosaurs roamed

Awesome displays 

Howe Quarry is in Worland

Of weddings and wheels.  Wedding dresses and the stories of the women who wore each dress from the turn of the century, and of antique cars from the turn of the century.  Strange combination.

Cooking/baking lessons from the past 

Got back in time to close up the RV and put on the AC and a thunderstorm came through.  Cooled it down comfortably.  Supposed to be in the mid 90s for the next 3 days.  Ugh.

Thermopolis, Wyoming And It's Hot

Short drive from Lander to Thermopolis, but a very pretty drive to here.  Passed through Riverton again, said goodbye to the Popo Agie River, could glimpse the next mountains way in the distance.
We were driving within the Wind River Indian Reservation, Shoshone and Northern Arapaho, for most of the drive until we got to Owl Creek Mountains, a range within the Rocky Mountains.  Did not look too daunting, knew we had to go up and over them, but we went through them instead.

Good bye Lander and the Wind River Mountains

Could see the Owl Creek Mountains way out there (90 miles!)

Wind River Reservation has 5 casinos

Goodbye Popo Agie River

Wind River Canyon is beautiful, cutting through the Mountains for 10 miles, a level (no climbing) drive.  But first.  24 years ago when we drove this route in a rental RV, we remembered driving out of some mountain range and VOA-al-la - a huge lake in front of us.  We talked about hoping to find the lake and we did.  Called Boysen Reservoir, a man-made lake created from the Wind River Canyon dam, holding back the Wind River, and the dam is 4 miles into the canyon.

Boysen Reservoir 

As the water is spilled through the dam, huge white, foaming, rapid waters moving downstream.   At some point the Wind River merges with the Big Horn River, called "Wedding of the Waters".
We saw rafters traveling down the river - bumping up and down.

Moving into the Owl Creek Mountains

Of course - had 3 tunnels to go through

Train tunnel

And construction equipment clearing the road of debris.  Looked like landslides all over.  One side of the canyon is the scenic byway we were on, right against the tall rocks.  Then the river to our left with railroad tracks along the other side of the canyon.  Saw new tracks that were laid and with that, remnants of a huge landslide.  After we checked into the campground we found out that 4 weeks ago a major landslide closed the roadway as well as took out a huge area of the tracks, pushed them right into the river.  Cost of a million dollars a day to have the railroad shut down.  Took 1 week to repair the tracks.  But 4 weeks later, they are still clearing and rebuilding the roadway.

Narrow Canyon

Rafters!

We are suffering through mid 90's temperatures now and through the next 4 days.  About 8 degrees warmer than normal.  We will sit tight here in Thermopolis (they have the world's largest hot springs and can enjoy them free), do some sightseeing, then by the 5th of July head to Cody, Wyoming.

Last Day in Lander, Wyoming

The day before we move to another place is clean day.  Laundry is done, RV is swept clean and wiped down, the tanks are emptied and chemical put in, start putting things away so the day of travel isn't so crazy.  I had decided to do ALOT of laundry this time which means bed linen stripped, extra blankets and sheets that we may have used cleaned, cat's beds also washed.  Went into Lander to the laundromat since I had many loads to do, and while I was sitting waiting for wash to get done to move stuff into dryers, I noticed a building right next door with NOLS on it.  Not sure what it was so when I got back I googled it - and was amazed.

Every time we had come into town to shop or pass through, you could see a number of young adults walking around, shopping.  Lots of stores for sports equipment and for clothing.  A cute town, very touristy, have many functions for the public - picnics, 10k run coming up, party in the park, etc. There is Central Wyoming College here, but it is not a large college, so I wondered why all the young people.

NOLS!  Remember the space shuttle that blew up?  The Columbia?  The entire crew of seven astronauts participated on a NOLS Professional Training course August 20-31, 2001 in the Wind River Range of Wyoming right here, and the news of the break up of the shuttle was very difficult for the NOLS community.  So when that happened, the town went into mourning.  NOLS is National Outdoor Leadership School.  Paul Petzoldt, a legendary mountaineer, had a dream. He wanted to train leaders. He wanted to help people learn to care about and protect the wilderness. Petzoldt saw his dream come to life in Wyoming that year. He called it the National Outdoor Leadership School and started up in 1965.  Classes can be tailored to a specific need or utilize the programs established.  As young as 12 can be enrolled.  And, NOLS is located all over the world.  Started at Sinks Canyon  back in 1965.  International headquarters right here in Lander. I am impressed.

Tomorrow we head to Thermopolis, Wyoming.  We had visited that town (only a 24 hour visit) back in 1991, so we wonder what has changed, if the hot springs are still there, the smell of sulfur just as strong.  Will stay there until Sunday the 5th the get through the holiday, and then move on to Cody, Wyoming.

Wind River Heritage Center and St. Stephen

During our walk at Sinks Canyon State Park, we chit-chatted with a couple who lives in Riverton.  They asked us if we had visited the Mountain Man Museum there?  So - off we went.  Riverton is 25 miles north of Lander, an easy drive, and we found the museum without any problem, if you did not know what this was, you would drive right on by.  Non-profit, only through donations, no help from the city or government, what a gem!  Most of the 60 wildlife mounts were done by Trapper Jack who started trapping when he was 7, and lived to be a 98.

And from the outside you would think, okay - what is this place?  Old building from out of the 40's but once you open the door to step in - wow factor.  A woman first greeted us, started explaining the history of all the animals on display, giving us details and information we would not have known - like, the buffalo and how the cattle ranchers in the area did not like them because they had a disease that caused major problems for the cattle herd.  She is an Arapaho Native Indian and talked about living and growing up in this area (the Wind River Reservation) and the different animals she knew.

Over 22 wax life-size figures, many dioramas, depicting the mountain man era, the westward emigration trails, living on the frontier, Indian life, so much history and heritage in this museum!    What a treasure.  Out back was a log cabin - authentic, and also the log cabin where Jim Bridger stayed at during the 1830 and 1838 Rendezvous.

Ashley of the American Fur Company

Life like!

While talking to the various curators of this museum we were informed that starting July 1 in Riverton is the Mountain Man Rendezvous reenactment - goes on for 5 days.  We will definitely think about visiting Riverton during this time.  Also, the curator mentioned St. Stephens Mission about 2 miles from the museum, is a wonderful picture taking opportunity.  Off we went to find the mission.

See the drum?

Every window was a different pattern

Notice the drum?

Amazing!!! I have been in many churches that displayed their statues and artifacts - many in Jerusalem, Israel.  I have never been in a Native American Catholic Church.  Every window a stained glass with native artwork, the stations of the cross depicting Native American Jesus,  the alter with the teepee, the Virgin Mary as a Native, the baptismal font (a drum).  Truly incredible to see!

Sinks Canyon Nature Trail

This morning we went back to Sinks Canyon State Park to walk their nature trail.  Very pretty, some of it along side the Popo Agie (poe-poe-shue) River, parts of the trail moving along the river riparian, then up into the meadows, strolled along into the woodlands, and then back down to the beginning of the walk.  Lovely.  Again, the wildflowers were out in all their glory.

See the butterfly?

Guess I am missing my days as an Ohio Master Gardener - love the flowers!!

Before we started on the walk we passed the yurts that you could rent which were right inside the campground where the nature trail started.  Wish we could have seen inside, and one was right along the river.  How cool would that be to hear the water at night while you are inside the yurt?

3 Yurts for rent at state campground 

At the beginning of the trail you crossed a tension wire bridge, as you move the bridge sways with you.  A little scary at the beginning.  We decided to go the opposite of the way we should have - which at the end of the walk was a great decision.  We ended up dropping down considerably right at the end and if we went the way the route said, would have huffed and puffed just to get 'going' and I might have been a little annoyed.

Bridge over the Popo Agie River

A little scary at first - swayed as you walked, see Yurt to right?

Interpretive signs along the way, we did not see any animals but sure heard lots of birds singing.  The temperature was perfect, we did not get hot until the very end.

If only I could paint this! 

At the end of our walk, while we were changing out of our walking shoes back into our regular shoes, a couple with a dog walked by and we had seen them on the hike.  During the conversation and sharing pleasantries, they mentioned if we had seen a mountain man museum in Riverton?  You really should go.  Since it was only 11am, why not?