Lander, Wyoming

Sleeping Bear RV Park
Lander, WY
July 30-Aug 5, 2019

Lander, WY was the last stop for our summer vacation.  


Getting to Lander from Island Park had us back-tracking as we headed south on Hwy 32 through Idaho.



It was a gorgeous drive...

Those beautiful Tetons.

 over Teton Pass between Victor, ID and Wilson, WY...

We were above the clouds! 

with a quick peek at The Tetons...

Teton NP is the only NP with an airport.

before heading southeast through the Shoshone NF on Hwy 26 (a section of the Oregon Trail Historic Byway) from Moran to Lander.


Our home base for the week was Sleeping Bear RV Park.

















We first heard about Lander in 2016 from MonaLisa and Steve's blog.  We love small towns, had a week to spend somewhere before Joe's MOHs surgery (in Salt Lake City on Aug 7) so why not go to Lander.   


Lander was established in 1884.  This small town is located in central Wyoming along the Middle Fork of the Popo Agie River.  It is named after Gen. Frederick Lander who explored the Oregon Trail's Lander cutoff.  Lander also claims to have held the first paid rodeo in 1893...an annual tradition they still celebrate.

Wyoming history of the bucking bronco dates back as early as 1918.   It is popularly known as the "Cowboy State".

1. Popo Agie Falls (July 31)
Our first hike in Lander had us following the Popo Agie River in the Shoshone National Forest.  It's an in-out, 3.5 mile (RT) hike through some gorgeous vistas.




The first part of the trail is lined with huge boulders on the right...

 and the Popo Agie River on the left.

As we followed the trail (with a steady elevation gain) we could see a huge cascade that plummets into the river.  But, this is not the end !


The falls is not one big fall, but is a combination of cascades ending with a swimming hole. 

It is quite "the thing" for the adventurous,to slide down the rock into the very cold swimming hole. 

2. Sinks Canyon State Park
(Aug. 2) is situated in the Wind River Mountains on the Middle Fork of the Popo Agie river.  



The park is named after a distinct geological phenomena in which the Popo Agie River disappears into a limestone cavern...

The Sinks

...and reappears a 1/4 mile down canyon in a pool filled with rainbow trout.

The Rise

3. Sinks Canyon Trail 
(Aug 2) is a 3.3 mile loop, but we included the Popo Agie Nature Trail for a total of 5 miles RT.  It's a nice hike along the river, through aspen groves, and canyon meadows.  Walking through the meadow was especially rewarding.

Blanketflower

Thistle

Lazuli Bunting

Western Tanager

A hungry Robin

4. Louis Lake Road (Aug 3) begins where Sinks Canyon Rd. ends.  The locals refer to this 70 mile scenic drive to some of their favorite fishing spots as Loop Rd.  



















Our first stop was Frye Lake.  This popular camping and fishing lake is also a storage reservoir for irrigation water.

Shortly after Frye Lake, the pavement changes to a gravelly/washboard road.  The forest is denser, except in places where logging has been allowed.  It wasn't very spectacular, but we wanted to reach Fiddlers Lake which is at the highest elevation (9411'). 

Fiddler's Lake

There is one in every crowd...reminds me of my Kindergarten days!

 At this point, we turned around.  But there is more on Loop Rd. to see. If we return to Lander, we hope to enjoy a hike and finish the loop. 

5. Bus Loop (Aug 4) is a hike we read about in Pam and John's blog from their visit to Lander this past June.  The trail is named for a small, rusty bus that is laid to rest there.

The area is primarily used for hiking and biking and the trials are not marked.  You can hike as long and as far as you want to.  There is no shade on this trail as it meanders  through pasture land...  

and over slick rock.  I love slick rock !

One last look back at the slick rock reef as we continued up the hill.

Thanks Pam and John for including the Bus Loop in you blog and especially for the great directions !

6. South Pass City (Aug 5), a former stop on the Oregon Trail and a booming gold mining town, is now Wyoming's largest historic site and a State Park.  


This impressive state park has 24 historic structures, more than 30 "period" room exhibits, a visitor center, picnic areas, and nature trails.

Our first stop was the Dance Hall/Theater/ Community Center/ and Sunday school building.  We watched a short video and were given a walking guide pamphlet.   


Beginning in the 1860s,  Pony Express stations and trails created by emigrants heading west were established.  South Pass City was born after gold was discovered there in 1867. While some came for the gold, others settled in the area to farm on public lands open to homesteading, and others saw opportunity as merchants and professionals and so a town boomed.  

The blacksmith shop had remains of tools, billows and old wagon wheels.

Up the hill from the structures is a cemetary.  I'm not sure what I was expecting, but there were only three graves and they were all children.


Also, South Pass City was home to Esther Morris, the first woman to serve in a judicial office in the U.S..  She was appointed Justice of the Peace in 1870 and served as judge.


This is the last post from our summer adventure.  Exploring new places, awesome weather, great hikes, and gorgeous landscapes made for a very nice get away.  

Until next time...

 HAPPY TRAILS !

P.S. Kudos to Wyoming...We loved their signs !

Yellowstone: Old Faithful

Buffalo Run RV Park
Island Park, ID
July 25, 2019

Island Park, ID was the next stop on our summer vacation.  I made reservations with plans to visit three places in Yellowstone NP...Old Faithful, Mammoth Hot Springs, and Lamar Valley.  Well, you know what they say about the best laid plans !  I didn't do my research... little did I know that Island Park has the longest Main Street in the world (so they say).  It is 33 miles long ! 

Since Buffalo Run, our RV park, was on the extreme western end of Main Street, it added 33 miles distance to planned eastern bound destinations. So, trips to Mammoth Hot Springs 80 miles (2 hours) away, Lamar Valley 104 miles (2 1/2 hours) away were cancelled.  We decided Old Faithful at 64 miles (1 and 1/2 hours) away was a must do.

Yellowstone NP archives photo taken in May, 2012

Back in May of 2012, Joe and I rode the Harley form Cody to Yellowstone so I can't say 2019 was our first visit to our country's first national park. 

Yellowstone NP archives photo taken in May, 2012 

The east entrance had just opened that day.  We saw a frozen Yellowstone Lake and lots of bison.





Old Faithful has been on the "I must go there list" for a long time.  Geysers are rare features.  Only about 1,000 exist in the world with more than half of those located in Yellowstone. 



So, on the morning of July 25 we set out at 5:30 am...it was a chilly 34 degrees... hoping to beat the crowds.  We enjoyed a nice sunrise along the way.


Once in the park, the drive was amazing...

Old Faithful parking lot...

We saw a moose cross the road and a bison grazing beside the road, but pictures were blurry.    
And we arrived to an almost empty parking lot...off to a good start !

We had Old Faithful all to ourselves !

From here we had an interesting walk (5 miles RT) with Morning Glory Pool our destination.  We took the counterclockwise direction.  In 1982, The Old Faithful Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Old Faithful Inn opened in 1904 and the entire area encompasses 160 acres.      

I was surprised to find that geysers have names.  I  don't remember most of those of names, but a few did stick out.

Grotto Geyser is the most unusual thermal feature in Yellowstone.

Giant Geyser is a cone shaped geyser and the second tallest geyser in the world.  

Tardy Geyser is a fountain-type geyser.  The water is cooler in the dark orange band and more bacteria can live there making the color so vivid.  The "microbial mats" are orange and red in the summer and usually dark green in the winter.  The color depends on the temp of the water (around 149 degrees) in the summer making it cooler than the water closer to the center.  That cooler water is home to more and different bacteria than those found near the eruption site.

Nature...not only art, but easy cool too!

Riverside Geyser is located on the Firehole River.  It is also a cone-type geyser.  

 A Ranger arrived and said the geyser would erupt at anytime, so we waited.  The gurgling was a sure sign and Riverside Geyser is a relatively predictable he said.

I am so glad we waited (maybe 20 minutes or so). It shoots  steam and water to about 75 feet and its duration is about half an hour.  It was picture perfect as the water arched over the river. My first geyser eruption !

Morning Glory Pool is a hot spring also located in the Upper Geyser Basin. It was named "Convolutus" in 1883...the Latin name for the morning glory flower.  That name didn't stick long as it was soon referred to Morning Glory Pool...thank goodness !  

The gorgeous aqua color at the center is just above the underground water source and that is where the temps are the hottest...up to 189 degrees.  The water is too hot for most bacteria, therefore it is very clear water.  When light hits the water, it looks blue since blue light scatters the most.  It is so sad to read the "interpretive signs" placed at the pool that discuss the damage caused by ignorance and vandalism.  It seems objects thrown into the pool have reduced the hot water supply and in turn is fading the beautiful aqua color.  

 It was such a wonderful morning...the air was crisp,  the skies were blue,  the colors were stunning, and we didn't even mind the occasional "stinky" smells as we took our time exploring Upper Geyser Canyon.  Our reward at the end of the walk was an erupting Old Faithful !

And what a difference a few hours makes !

On the way home, we took a short side spur to see Fireside Lake Road. 

Fireside Lake

Young Hopeful Geyser

Great Fountain Geyser on Fireside Lake Rd. is the only Lower Geyser Basin feature that the park makes predictions for.

White Dome Geyser on Fireside Lake Rd. erupted just as we were driving by.   

So Yellowstone was not a total bust.  And I have lots of information for when we return next time for a visit to the north park.  Our stay in Island Park, ID turned out to be a busy week as there is lots to see and do in the area.  More on that next time.

I will close with a few more pictures from our West Yellowstone visit...

Old Faithful

Firehole River

Beauty Pool

Until next time,

HAPPY TRAILS !