Did You Know This About Wyoming

 It has been nearly a year since I posted on this site. 

Not too long ago, it seemed that more and more blogs with Wyoming history seemed to be popping up. Since many were funded, I decided they could do the job much better than I could from my easy chair.  After more than 300 posts (all are still up) I bowed out. A few months ago, a student said, “Oh, you write the Wyoming stuff. We use it all the time when we are writing papers in class.”

That was enough to, at least, get me thinking about kick-starting the old blog. I think I will. Not sure how often, probably not weekly, but likely monthly. 

Did You Know?  A few facts to get up and running.

Wyoming has been at the bottom of a sea – many times throughout its history. Hard to believe, considering the number of feet we are above sea level.

We have been around for a long time. The rock making up the base of faults and mountains in Wyoming are at least five hundred million years old and possibly as old as two billion years. (even before I was born)

Only Wyoming and Colorado have four straight-sided borders.

Wyoming rivers drain water in all directions. South into Utah and Colorado, North through the Big Horn and Powder River, East through the North Platte, about a quarter of a mile from where I sit writing this, and west through the Snake River into Idaho.

A Quick Read and Photos Too

Apologies for not posting here for a while. With so many Wyoming sites, since I started this one, I was not sure if I had anything different to say. 

Alive and well - out hiking in mid-October

I hope to be back whenever I find something unique.  I am working on a new nonfiction Wyoming book - more news when I get closer to finishing the first draft. 

Bend in the North Platte River

The yard is raked and for the most part cleaned up and ready for snow - guess winter is coming as I see snowflakes in the air as I write this.

Ducks sunning on a river rock

Today's photos from the past two months and all within 50 miles, or so, of where we live. 

Evening at the lake

Backyard before the last of the leaves fell - 10 days ago.

Things To Do On A Wyoming Mothers Day

Seems to me that a good Wyoming Sunday afternoon drive cures most of my ailments.

Sometimes it is all about the view - this one from 25 miles west of town

It is always fun for Jan and me to see what wildlife are up and around, enjoying the day. 

Looks like a family outing

Wild Iris

This time of the year it is fun to what new wildflowers are blooming.

Indian Paintbrush - Wyoming State Flower

Today we took a drive to the west of town, not a long drive, only a total of about 75 miles and a couple of hours.

Prairie Dog calling out

 I thought that today I would post a few photos of our drive – it’s kind of what Wyoming is all about. 

Hope all of you enjoyed the day as much as we did.

A Sunday Drive

Working on a re-do of how this site looks. So far, a lot of do-overs, but I will get there soon.   

Sunning

We took an enjoyable drive yesterday and were once again reminded of how beautiful Wyoming can be. To some it looks terribly empty, to others, there is too much to see. 

Playing with the colors a bit

Snow in the mountains

If this one is blurry, they were in an all out run - 55, or so MPH

All of the photos are from that two hour and ten-minute drive. 

Young Mule Deer

Horses enjoying the new growth grass

What About That Wyoming Wind

Not sure about you, but I am getting tired of all the wind. Where we live in the North Platte River Valley, we don’t get as much wind as most of the state, except, it seems, this time of year. So many days with gusts around the state at 60 or more mph, seems unusual even for Wyoming at this part of the year.

Where the Wind Really Blows - I did a bit of research to see how Wyoming compared to other states and, as expected, this is a windy state. Wyoming trails only South Dakota and Montana in average wind speed. I found it both funny and appropriate that the list has the District of Columbia at the top with a wind speed more than ten mph above than South Dakota. Imagine that, D.C. with all the politicians is the windiest place in the United States. (I do hope the people that compiled this list I used do know that The District of Columbia, is not a state).

That’s a Lot of Wind - Last year Casper had a wind gust that reached 103 mph in February, as much as a class 2 hurricane. So what is the windiest town in Wyoming? Good question, either Medicine Bow or Rawlins, depending on the source, and if you dig deep enough, other towns and cities will probably pop-up.

But all of Wyoming is not considered windy, Worland, Lander, Guernsey, and I am sure a few others will pop up as members of the least windy cities in the United States. How do these places qualify? With average wind speeds of around eight mph or less for the year. With the speeds at that level, cities are in the bottom 20% for the wind in the country.

Is it Spring Yet? - It has been warm enough to play golf if not for the snow and wind. Now the snow, because of the wind, has melted and I may head out to the golf course the next time the wind is not so bad. I know what you are thinking – “Well, good luck with that.”

That’s it, one very windy post, but I still do not want to live anywhere else.

Today’s photos from our drive west of town this morning – enjoy!

John Jakes Short Stories

Fall in the Mountains

I just finished, last evening, reading John Jakes book of short stories, The Bold Frontier. This collection covered much of Mr. Jakes writing career, stores from as far back as the 1950s. I especially enjoyed the first story in the book, The Western and How We Got It. That story gives a background of where and how the western genre started. Other than that, the stories run the gamut from traditional to a bit quirky.

Not everyone that reads westerns is a Jakes fan, but after reading all the books of his Kent Family Chronicles, many years ago, I then read his North and South Trilogy which included North and South, Love and War and Heaven and Hell. Guess that makes me a pretty big fan.

Oh, one last note, the 84-year-old Jakes is still alive and well, the Chicago native now lives in Flordia.

Seems like I am not getting much writing done lately. Might be I am enjoying the great fall weather a bit too much. The photos on today's post came from our ride out west of town this morning. We covered 85 miles enjoying the wildlife and fall colors along the way.

Keep on reading and keep on writing. 

Nice Black Bear, but lots of timber between him and us - probably a good thing.

Wyoming Forts 1841-1909

The Forts

Much has been written and numerous movies and Television programs made, that include forts in the west. Many of these fictional accounts were set in, or near Wyoming forts. Of course, Fort Laramie and Fort Bridger are the most prominent, but Wyoming was home to many forts. Most were built for one of two reasons, protect the trails or the rails and their builders. Fort Laramie, established as a military fort in 1841, after more than a decade as a trading post, and Fort Bridger, established in 1842, were the earliest of the Wyoming forts. Others, such as Forts Fetterman, Platte, Phil Kearny, Reno, Russell, and Fred Steel were important but shorter lived.

On the grounds of Fort Laramie 

In Honor of the Chief

When the wars on the plains ended, the forts were no longer needed and were closed. Fort Washakie, established from the old Camp Brown,  (1871-1909),  was kept in operation longer than any of the other forts, likely out of respect for the old chief, it was renamed for in 1878. Chief Washakie, who died in 1900, had long been a friend of the U.S. Government and spent much of his later life working toward a sustainable peace and prosperity for his people. Fort Washakie was kept open until 1909, making it the last of the Wyoming forts to close.

68 Years

1841-1909 is not a long period of time, only 68 years, but it was the time of forts in Wyoming. Those 68 years make up less than an average life span, in today's world, and oddly enough, my present age but that is not relevant here, except to me.

Still tellin' stories at 68

A Lot Can Happen

Throughout all of history, much happens in a span of 50-75 years, check out any year and take a look at what happened over the next 68 years,  you might be surprised. In the 68 years that Wyoming had forts a period of movement, settlement and development took place that American had not seen before, an entire culture was wiped out and America fought with others and itself. 

What was wilderness in 1841 was well know by the early 1900s,
but some places, like this one, are still pretty nice and mostly unchanged

A Retired Life

Today some true Wyoming facts, all presented in photos.

15 miles west of town and the traffic does not appear to be too heavy

Nothing like a drive on a nice spring day. I know it is not spring yet, but it is sure starting to look like it.

Mountain stream running blue and cold

We took a drive out of town toward the Laramie Range yesterday, it was spectacular.

And a little closer to our pickup this little guy

The Pronghorn are in big bunches right now and make for some interesting photo opportunities.

A Raven amidst the Pronghorn

The snow up high always makes the mountains look perfect, with the big spring runoff yet to come.

Looks a bit like a painting

Thought today I would just blog out a few photos that I took on our trip.

Total trip, 72 miles, 36 out, turn around and 36 back. Only a couple of hours but most enjoyable.

The end of our trip, about three feet deep, we turned around and headed home

 

This was our view after we turned around

Storm Coming

Today’s edition of Wyoming Fact and Fiction will be a bit of each, maybe more fiction than fact.

With a big storm heading our way, southeast Wyoming, depending on the area, is expecting anywhere from 4 to 20 plus inches of snow.

Remember that snowman who was always in trouble for telling too many tall tales?

That guy was a real Snow-Flake. J

I do like the look of things in nature covered in snow but anymore I am not real crazy about scooping it.

I remember one year we got about a foot of snow and like any good neighbor I got out as soon as possible and an hour of hard labor later, nice clean sidewalks. During the night, the wind came up and blew most of the snow back in place on the sidewalks. I shoveled again the next morning, this practice went on for several days. I shovel in the morning and the wind blew it back on my sidewalks during the night. The snow never did melt it just wore out from tumbling back and forth so many times. J

So how cold and snowy was it?

With thanks to Dr. Phil Robert’s and his brothers, David and Steven, the following weather information was taken from their book, Wyoming Almanac.

Most snow in one season, 491.6 inches --  Bechler River (Yellowstone)

Most snow in 24 hours, 41 inches --  Glenrock (Central Wyoming. and to think I used to live there)

Coldest temperature -63 --  Moran (North of Jackson Hole in the Grand Teton National Park)

Hope this storm doesn’t turn into one of those days. To think that two days ago I played 9 holes of golf and was quite comfortable by adding only a sweatshirt and a pair of golf gloves – didn’t play very well, too many boogies, but it was nice being out.

Golf course today after yesterday's dusting of snow - believe this gal is waiting to tee off

I have long wanted to own a personal home weather station. Well, guess what, I finally got mine. More and more people are getting them, I guess there is a way to put them online so that others can see what the weather is doing in your own little part of the world. So far I have not figured out how to get it online, but it doesn’t seem like it should be too difficult. If there were only, a USB cord attached!

Well, time to go out and find the snow shovel – looks like I may be needing it – Again.

I like winter but by February I start to think of Spring!