The Braille Trail on Casper Mountain

We learned about the Braille Trail from the Casper's visitor information magazine and thought we would climb up the Laramie Mountains to find this trail.  What a wonderful idea and very well planned out. For those people who are visually impaired, this trail was developed to learn and experience what a sighted person would see.  At each station is information about something of the forest, whether learning about trees, stone, what you may be hearing or feeling.  On each sign is information but below the writing is the same in braille.  Was the vision of one man and became a reality in 1975.  Huge organization to keep the trail vibrant and accessible.

Clear day to head up to mountains

Crossed over Platte River

Heading up - steep grade

Viewpoint half way - Platte River we went over minutes ago

Many homes tucked away in mountain 

Had to watch for skinny Bambis!!

Lots of mountain roads - Braille Trail to upper left

I felt this was a very sensory hike.  The trail had markers to explain a facet of the forest, telling the impaired person how to maneuver on the trail - take so many steps or walk so many meters to the next station, reaching a knot on the rope to let you know you are close to the next station.  Hearing a creek babbling, the wind rustling, the smells, the touching of trees/shrubs/ground - was a great experience.  If you so choose, you could also wear a pair of glasses that prohibit you from seeing, to feel and experience what an impaired person would experience.

Very dense woods

To show the Braille at bottom of each station

Instructions 

Could don the impaired glasses if want

Up, down, around we go

The trail was 1/2 mile long, up and down, in deep forest, crossing bridges, into a bog, and back out.  I swear there was deer or even a moose, we both could hear something near by, snorting every now and then.  Never did get a glimpse of it.

Allowed impaired person to get to water to feel it (look beyond bridge)

Very pretty Elk Creek 

Like the ending statement by Emerson.....

Chattered at us, reminded us of Bud Man - always talking to us