June 28, 2018 Snowy Range, Wyoming

Thursday, June 28

51 degrees this morning at 6:15.  We drive back into Rawlins where we find gas and breakfast before continuing to the Snowy Range.  Greg and I climbed Medicine Bow Peak here with brother Tom and his wife Sue back in 1977 or 78! Throwback Thursday.

The Snowy Range, with Medicine Bow Peak, are a sudden and real treat.  You are driving along with Prairie on both sides, there is a sign, a few hills and then Boom!  You are in the mountains!

As elsewhere, there are signs of a strong snow runoff.

 Many small lakes and meadows full of wildflowers.  Just gorgeous!

 Flowers at every elevation.

The water is so clear!

Here a stream flows from Lake Marie.

 Many patches of snow.

 At Snowy Range Pass, 10,847'  there is a lookout tower and several marmots disappeared quickly.

 Lots of inviting camping spots along this highway 130, including Silver Lake near the top.  Could spend a week here!

But, we've decided to head for home so the next few days will be lots of driving.  Back to rangeland with cattle and antelope till we get to Laramie and head southeast to connect with I25 in Colorado. Greg says this is day one of "Numb Bum" travel.

Traffic in Denver is often nightmarish with accidents and construction thrown into the mix.  Here's Milehigh Stadium (This was a section of "go" of the "stop and go" traffic.)

We breeze through Colorado Springs and Pueblo and it is looking kind of hazy.  Beth gets a whiff of woodsmoke and googles wildfires in Colorado and sure enough we are near one.  They call it the Spring Fire and it is near Fort Garland, which we passed on the way to Great Sand Dunes where we started this journey a month ago.

In a little while, signs are posted and it is obvious that we are near - probably about 60 miles east of the blaze.

Looking for a place to spend the night, we lite upon Sugarite Canyon State Park, just over the border into New Mexico.  We call ahead and they are filled but have "overflow" camping available. Bonus: it is in the mountains near Raton Pass.  Today's temperature has soared to well over 100.  

Sugarite is only six or seven miles off of I25 and we find it with no problem.  Our space is small but flat and somewhat shaded.

 We relax and chat with some neighbors who are telling me about the bear in camp last night.  Someone foolishly hadn't put away remnants of dinner on their picnic table and the bear helped himself.

The Rockies are known for hummingbirds, but this is the first we've seen - a big guy! Gourmet hot dogs for dinner tonight and a big fat juicy orange.