June 29 Wyoming, Snowy Range to Flaming Gorge

Monday, June 29

44 degrees in the sun at 6AM this morning.   We go for a brisk walk, then use the generator to make coffee and hot chocolate and hot water.

 We noticed a side road on the way in that pointed towards Centennial, so decide to try this "short cut".  But we only make it about a mile before Greg makes about a 10 point turn around instead of plowing through this crazy rutted road with huge puddles that hide their depth.

 Back to 500 instead and north to 130 - the Snowy Range Scenic Byway, part of Medicine Bow National Forest.  We will laugh later in the trip as almost every road has a "scenic byway" designation, but in this case it is accurate - and how!

We saw more deer this morning including a doe with a little spotted Bambi.  As we climb in elevation we begin to see more snow.

We stop at Libby Flats, elevation 10,847 and take in the gorgeous surroundings.  A sign tells us that there is a 3 month growing season here and 5 months or more at below freezing temps!













This tower was built in 1961 and is surrounded by beautiful wildflowers.  It is extremely windy up here! So much so that Beth grabs her ear muffs!
(Photo deleted.)

Most flowers are small, so they don't show up well in photos, but in person they are gorgeous.

These yellow ones are a bit larger and are called Old Man of the Mountain flowers.  They conserve energy and produce only green leaves for a couple years before bursting into bloom and leaving seeds to start the cycle again.  Another reason to be careful where you tread!















Next stop is Medicine Bow Peak, Mirror Lake and Lake Marie. ( We climbed this peak a loooongg
time ago.)

 We traipse through some snow and then take a trail below Lake Marie.  There are a few people trout fishing along the stream.

More flowers, including these that are basically growing in ice water!























Next, we continue along 130, stopping here and there for more views of beautiful streams and lakes.  And then we gradually leave the mountains, and head north past Saratoga to 80W, a major east-west artery. We are back to flatter land with rolling hills of sagebrush and grasses.  Back to antelope country.

  We have decided to visit Flaming Gorge, which begins in Wyoming and runs for 90 miles south into Utah.

 We have never seen this side of the gorge but unfortunately the clouds move in (or we move into the clouds?) and we don't see a lot.  It is raining lightly by the time we reach Antelope Flats Campground which is about half full.















 Later, the sun sets over the water in dramatic fashion!

  We are in the Ashley National Forest, Utah tonight, beside the Green River.