Lander, Green River Lake

Sunday, July 19
Lander to Green River Lakes

Good breakfast of bacon and eggs and oranges as Greg revives last night’s campfire.  It is 42 degrees, so the fire feels good!  As we are getting ready to leave, a herd of cows wanders behind our campsite and onto the exit road.  More free range.

We continue through the Lake Country, passing Fiddler Lake, Lake Christina and Louis Lake.  Many small ponds along the way, too, some covered with lily pads.

We pass the Little Pop Agie River where we see another snow shoe rabbit dash across the road.  They are all brown except for their large white feet – look like they are wearing fluffy slippers! Too speedy to catch a photo, though!

 We have been in Shoshone National Forest, which is almost all pines and other evergreens.  No bark beetles here.  We get back on Hwy 28 S, and see many of the ubiquitous snow fences, some over 8 feet tall.   After a short drive, we go back to a dirt road heading north to Big Sandy.  Antelope and cattle, with snow patched Wind River Range to our right.  
 The road follows the contour of the earth and we follow the road!  We finally get back to pavement where we see this coyote cross the road and go up a hill.  The magpie took exception to where he stopped – must have been near a nest.

Saw a few sandhill cranes as we approached Pinedale.  Looking for a place with wi-fi, but we haven’t seen a McDonalds or Starbucks or Lowe’s (etc) in several days.  Greg pulls into a Hampton Inn and I go in to ask if there is any wi-fi in town.  The friendly front counter woman says we can sit in their breakfast area and use theirs!  It isn’t terribly fast, but we are able to get caught up a bit before heading on.

We have read about the Green River Lakes area in Bridger National Forest and decide to head there for a campsite.  The write-up raved about the scenery and mentioned that the “last part” of the drive was on unimproved road.  We follow the Green River through some ranchland and then hit the dirt road – for 18 miles!  We were almost ready to give up when we rounded a bend and said ahhh!  The great scenery was here. 

The road literally ends at the campground.  We found a beautiful site overlooking Green River Lake.  Campsites are large, and our nearest neighbors are Rich and Penny, from Utah.  He has been coming here since boyscout days.

Greg gathers and splits firewood and we have a nice fire.  The Camp Host, from Alaska, says there have been a few bears in the area, so keep food locked up.  We will try a hike around the lake tomorrow.  We see several horsemen in the area.

 Nice sunset.  Beautiful stars later complete with shooting stars and Milky Way!!  WOW!  But very cold!