In the Shadow of the Bighorns

We have spent the past two weeks in what has become our of our favorite places, Buffalo, Wyoming, in the shadow of the Bighorn Mountains.  

This is our second time to stay in Buffalo, and we now feel quite at home in Deer Park RV Park.  Deer Park has beautiful, large, shaded sites, and that’s just the beginning.  

It also has a lovely walking trail through the woods, with large, open areas where dogs can chase balls.  (There are also deer and turkeys in abundance, but we try not to chase them.)  

There is also an ice cream social every evening between 8 and 8:30 where people can buy a couple of scoops and meet their neighbors.  And speaking of neighbors, staying just up the hill in their Ellipse motor home were Chris and Jan Hanks.  We enjoyed meeting them and their red border collie, Sky, and Australian shepherd, Molly G.  Their home base is in Saint Augustine, FL, but like us they travel to cooler climates in the summer.  We shared a great meal (without the dogs) at Winchester Steak House.   And hope to meet up again, perhaps next summer here in Buffalo.

Here are some of the reasons we love Buffalo (in no particular order): 

We feel at home in this small town with its friendly people and interesting shops.  Rue, Colt and I especially like the park in the center of town with its statues of sheep and their herding BC.  

Visiting children like them, too.  

It was here a couple of years ago that we first learned about the Longmire mystery series.  Buffalo served as the model for the fictional town of Durant, Wyoming, the county seat of the also fictional Absaroka County, where Sheriff Walt Longmire has entertained so many of us.  Author Craig Johnson and his wife live just 15 or so miles down the road in Ucross, WY (population 25).  We have enjoyed not only his books, but the popular Netflix series by the same name.  Some episodes of the series were filmed in Buffalo, and a number of the buildings will look very familiar if you have watched the series.  This year, we missed by only a few days the seventh annual Longmire Days in which Buffalo celebrates all things Longmire.  A number of the cast members from the TV series were on hand for the festivities, as well as author Craig Johnson.  We had to content ourselves with ordering the latest book in the series and visiting the Longmire store in downtown Buffalo, identified as "Longmire Campaign Headquarters."

We also stopped for a beer in the historic Occidental Hotel Saloon.  Founded in 1850 and restored in 2008, the hotel has been named by True West Magazine as the Best Hotel in the west and the saloon as Best Saloon in the West.  Guests have included Teddy Roosevelt; "Buffalo Bill" Cody; Owen Wister, Author of The Virginian, the most famous Western novel ever written; as well as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.  The hotel's Virginian restaurant is also worth a visit.

This area has wonderful hiking trails.  One of our first excursions was into the Bighorns for a short walk up Circle Park Trail.  The trailhead is just 13 miles out of town, near the Cloud Peak Wilderness.  The trail winds through the mountains for 8.9 miles and connects with several other trails.  

The trailhead is a couple of miles off Hwy 16 over a rough almost-four-wheel-drive dirt track.  As we were creeping along, I suggested John put down the rear window a bit so the dogs could look out.  The instant he did, Rue and Kota sprang forward, each trying to get the best spot.  The automatic window went all the way down before John could stop it, with both dogs jockeying for position.  Just as I turned around, I saw Rue's rear end disappear out the window.  Fortunately, we were barely moving and I guess she landed on her feet.  She was none the worse for wear, and embarrassed that she had let Kota push her out.  I can do without those kinds of adventures.  

Since we hadn’t planned a long day, we only hiked up the trail for a mile or so, then back down.  We made the mistake of not putting packs on the dogs, so they were more interested in hunting than in staying on the trail.  Lots of squirrels on that trail, too!  The scenery was beautiful, though, and we’ll put it on our list for a take-your-lunch full-day trip.

Fires in neighboring states have made it pretty smoky here several days.  However, on Wednesday we looked out at the Bighorns and saw clear skies and snow on the peaks.  Beautiful!

We have also walked sections of the popular Clear Creek Trail, which runs through town and for miles along the banks of Clear Creek.  The in-town sections are on-leash only, but outside of town are areas where well-behaved dogs can have a bit of freedom.

The Bagley Pack wear their packs and carry water and snacks for all of us.  It’s a beautiful hike.

Clear Creek also offers some good fishing holes.  We love the area above and below Mosier Gulch Picnic Area west of town.  The water is cold and swift, and in most places the creek banks are steep and rocky.  We tried a few of the spots along the creek, but spent most of our time at the three impounds above and below some low dams. 

It was also another great spot for lunch with a view.

John caught the first fish of the season, but after a frustrating day of trying every bait in our arsenal, I caught a grasshopper which in turn caught this lovely rainbow trout.

We did have a scare, though.  After our fishing/hiking trip, we took off their packs, loaded the dogs and left for home.  At least, we loaded two of the dogs.  Kota had found a well-cured deer leg, and while we were loading Colt (who needs a little assistance) she didn’t get in the car.   Instead, she took her deer leg and slipped into the bushes.  It was some 30 minutes later when we arrived back at the RV and began to unpack that we discovered only two dogs were with us.  Frantic, we broke several speed limits on the way back through town and skidded into the park whistling and calling her name.  It was only a couple of minutes until she appeared, none the worse for wear but very glad to see us.  Lesson learned…again.

On Friday, Rue and I drove east for our last lesson with Wendy and the Mutton Mafia.  We will miss the rolling hills we pass on the left side of the road and the lush, irrigated alfalfa fields on the right.

As well as the views of Clear Creek running through the valley.

As Wendy and I drove out in the Ranger to find the sheep, we saw this pair of sandhill cranes grazing in the field.  

The male was trying his best to impress his companion.  

We watched for a few minutes while he cackled, danced and pirouetted, trying to catch her eye.  The lady appeared unimpressed.  We wished him well in his out-of-season courtship and moved on to meet the sheep.

Rue and I are making progress, and she did a good job with some big outruns and a bit of driving. 

Frank critiqued her performance, while Wick just wished it was his turn to work

We will miss our mornings with Wendy and her Creekside Stockdogs.  Thank you all.  It's been a great two weeks!

Rue and I drove home, anticipating another walk along Clear Creek before getting organized to leave.  Surprise!  (but not the good kind) John met me with the news that there had been some confusion with our reservation, and that the park was expecting us to leave pronto!  We packed up in record time, and by noon were, as Willie says,  “On the Road Again…” bound for Custer, SD.  Fortunately, Custer’s Gulch RV Park, which will be our home for the next month, had our space available a day early, so we are now back home in the Black Hills.