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Why not, is really what we have found. Wyoming is beautiful in its rugged nature, with fiercely independent yet friendly residents and plenty to see. Being the least populated state it offers long stretches of driving where all you see is the big sky, rolling hills, mountains, and perhaps some cattle.
But before we headed to Wyoming we had to wrap up our time in South Dakota. After our Mt. Rushmore evening, we camped in the highly recommended Roubaix Lake site. Arriving in the dark we knew there was more to see, and the morning didn’t disappoint with a beautiful wooded site with a peaceful lake. We then continued north to the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway, an area aglow with the splendid colors of fall. A short hike to a waterfall got us out into the South Dakota air one more time before crossing into Wyoming.
A long stop at the Wyoming Visitor’s Center gave us information about the northeast corner of the state and allowed Adam to make his signature dark, fresh coffee. After driving by a buffalo jump and the Aladdin General Store, we made our way west to the Devils Tower National Monument, a site visible for miles as you approach, rising straight up out of the mostly flat ground over 1200 feet. This most interesting geologic formation is thought to be the result of an igneous intrusion, magma forcing itself up through other rock formations, which then hardened and was eventually exposed by erosion. The site is revered by the people of Wyoming and many American Indian tribes of the area.
We did the short hike around the base of the formation, examining its structure, thinking about the history and the celebrations that took place there over the centuries, the people that wintered at its base, and the first to climb the tower in 1893 (the first woman reached the top in 1895!). There were several groups climbing as we watched and one that had just reached the summit as we arrived. Pretty impressive as it basically goes straight up over 900 feet.
We stayed that night in Sheridan, Wyoming and made our way into the Bighorn National Forest the next morning, a diverse landscape located in the Bighorn Mountains. We drove and walked some through the beautiful alpine meadows, with lakes and views everywhere you looked.
Our most interesting experience came as we made our way down out of the mountains. A handwritten sign on the side of the road said “Cows on road.” Sure, we thought, a stray cow or two that we should be mindful of if they crossed our path. Rounding a corner, however, quickly corrected our thoughts as ranchers on horses and in F350s were herding probably well over 1000 cattle down the very road we were driving on! (We then understood what the random dirt-like patterns on the road were…) Down the paved road they went, mooing and stalling, getting on the far side of the guard rail and needing to be directed back. They definitely went around the cattle guards though, forming a decent single file line to get off the road and into the ditch to avoid that pitfall.
We weren’t sure whether we would be able to get through, but a car coming the opposite direction seemed to just be moving slowly and the cows were moving out of the way, so we headed on, into the herd! Cow-people we were for about a half hour, in our Odyssey (hey, those cowboys were using F350s). Various cows expressed their exasperation by standing and mooing in our direction, but not being the smartest of creatures they moved out of the way when a bigger being came towards them. It was quite exhilarating!
The rest of our Wyoming drive was beautiful, and filled with less bovines, as we exited the Bighorn range and made our way north to Montana!
Moneys on the Move 