Sunday, August 20, dawned cloudy and windless. After going to virtual Sunday school at One Church Bosque with Pastor David Hill and virtual church at First Lakeview Church with Pastor Keith Yarbrough, John and I loaded up the dogs for a walk at Mountain Plains Heritage Park. The temperature was just right, and the dogs set off on a series of ready-gos. But then it started…target practice at the nearby Buffalo Gun Club. Our intended several-mile walk was quickly abbreviated to one short loop through the park.
The Bighorns were socked in as we headed out of town. You could barely see the foothills, much less the peaks. Since it was almost noon, we braved the fog and drove west 15 miles and had lunch at South Fork Lodge. We highly recommend their Portuguese kale soup, and the not-to-be-missed pie (caramel-apple-nut for me and three-berry for John). Oddly eonough, the clouds only shrouded the mountains for the first 10 miles or so. By the time we reached the lodge, it was clear.
After lunch, we took a side trip several miles down Hunter Road (also known as Road 19). It is a beautiful drive and the road is well-maintained. There was a small stream bubbling nearby and the road was lined in spots by large aspen trees.
There were high mountain meadows and deep, forested ravines. I thought sure we would see elk or deer, but perhaps it was too early in the day.
At one point, this chubby yellow-bellied marmot ran across the road and watched us pass. He, or she, was the only wildlife we saw.
As we headed back to Buffalo, we again drove into heavy clouds. You can see them nestled in the valleys between the peaks.
But Hunter Road is just one of many beautiful roads and trails we have visited the last couple of weeks. Here are some images from our walks up and down Clear Creek west of Buffalo.
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| The impound at the turn-around for our walk |
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| Cody and I enjoyed the view |
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| I think this is lupine, the Wyoming version of bluebonnet |
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| This one is called woodland pinedrops |
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Downstream from Mosier Gulch, the terrain flattens and Clear Creek welcomes dogs
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| Beautiful (in its own way) is the abandoned water treatment plant |
There are plenty of places to rest beside quiet pools. It's a beautiful area.
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