Alpine Meadow by Sheridan, WyomingJun 8, 2010
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the land begins to rise, and soon we catch first sight of...
miles of snow fences
the plateau is causing us to go higher...
Date: 6/8/10
Tonight’s Location: Sheridan, Wyoming
Mileage: End - 42020
Start - 41774
Total Miles for the day: 246 travel miles; 174 miles up into the alpine territory of the Bighorn Mountains.
Weather: sunny, a few whispy clouds
Temperature: start 55º
High 70º, 51º up in the mountains.
Wildlife count: white pelicans (like those on Tablerock), pronghorn antelope (lots), mule deer 2, moose 4, wapiti* over 50, marmot, wildflowers.
We began the day with splitting an infamous cinnamon roll from Wall Drug, and a few of their famous donuts. What a treat. Headed for Sheridan, Wyoming, as we continued up the plateau. Very few croplands now, and mostly steep sided hills with a sage covering.
After a picnic lunch along the Powder River, in the middle of nowhere, we pulled into “Peter D’s” RV park about 2pm. He gave us some really good advice about a drive up into the Bighorn Mountains. We were set up and back on the road by 2:30 – driving up the steep switchbacks of Hwy 14 toward Burgess Junction. It was 51º up there and we were soon above snow. It was an alpine meadow, where the earliest of spring flowers were just beginning to show. We photographed some flowers we had only read about, as we have never had the chance to be in the mountains this early. Even down in the valley, the lilacs were just blooming. It was an amazing study in change due to elevation. We also spoke w/some fly fishermen who were preparing to fish the high mountain stream, running ice cold with snow melt, but fully expecting to land some brook trout.
As I write this, a meadowlark is singing her heart out. How amazing is our God! *By the way, if you don’t know Wapiti, they are elk!
