Friday, May 29, 2020
Lander, Wyoming to Casper, Wyoming
Highlights: 1838 Rendezvous Site, Wind River Canyon, Hot Springs State Park, and the Cloud Peak Skyway
The Rendezvous was a yearly trading fair in the early 1800s where trappers could sell their furs and replenish their whiskey and other supplies. These raucous festivals were attended by white trappers (including Kit Carson, Jim Bridger, and other famous mountain men), Indians, travelers, tourists, and entire families. The 1838 Rendezvous was held along the Wind River in what is now Riverton, Wyoming, and is one of the few Rendezvous sites still in its original condition.
Original Rendezvous site, Riverton, Wyoming
Tom the mountain man
We took the Wind River Canyon Scenic Byway north between Shoshoni and Thermopolis, passing through 2,500-foot canyon walls exposing some of the oldest rock formations in the world. An extremely pretty drive.
Wind River Canyon
Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis is the oldest state park in Wyoming, small at only one square mile but with multiple geothermal features, including the world's largest mineral hot spring and the 1,000-foot-wide Rainbow Terrace. We weren't able to visit Mammoth Hot Springs at Yellowstone because the Upper Loop of the park hadn't reopened yet, so this was a nice alternative. We walked across a wobbly old iron suspension bridge over the hot spring for a fantastic view of the terrace.
Safety cowboy and his safety horse, Thermopolis, Wyoming
Hot Springs State Park
Swinging Bridge
World's largest mineral hot spring and the Rainbow Terrace
Sneaky snake
Black Sulphur Spring
From Thermopolis, we drove north to Worland and then turned east on Highway 16, which from Ten Sleep to Buffalo is known as the Cloud Peak Skyway, winding through Ten Sleep Canyon and over the Bighorn Mountains. It was another awesome drive.
Ten Sleep Canyon
Buffalo, Wyoming
Tom wanted me to pose here - I don't know why
At Buffalo we turned south through green hills covered with cattle and pronghorn antelope and made it as far as Casper, pulling into the parking lot of a closed visitor center overlooking the town just before sunset. As we were sitting there making a hotel reservation, we were treated to an unexpected (especially since it wasn't yet dark) fireworks show, probably coming from the nearby racetrack.
Casper, Wyoming
Lodging: Clarion Inn at Platte River in Casper. A large king room in a very nice hotel for only $52, but when we entered the room, it was over 80 degrees, the air conditioning didn't work, and we didn't even have a window. Returning to the front desk, we learned the a/c had not yet been turned on for the season, and the receptionist offered us a box fan. Since it was cool outside, we decided we could live with it if they'd move us to a room with a window. She did one better and upgraded us to a suite. Yeah!
Driving distance: 331 miles
Tom
Goetz's Homepage
|