Tuesday , August 20, 2024 Pinedale, Mountain Men, Wind River Range

 Tuesday, August 20

We have a relaxing morning then head south to Pinedale where we stop for breakfast at a place called Wrangler Cafe.  The parking lot was pretty full - always a good sign!  The menu says the building was moved from down the street, but they've been in business quite  while.

 Beth had a pancake the size of the dinner plate, along with eggs and bacon.  Greg had a huge breakfast burrito.  Both were very tasty.  We sat next to a table of three older ranchers.  I overheard one guy complaining that his wife won't let him ride horses anymore... equivalent to taking away the car keys, I guess!  We said hello and exchanged a few words on their way out; one had been to Texas. 

The Museum of the Mountain Men is our next stop - again, recommended by Tim and Tom & Sue.  Opened in 1990, it is very nicely done and had quite a collection of artifacts, including a rifle owned by Jim Bridger.  Lots of taxidermied animals and guns and other paraphernalia related to the mountain men and plains Indians.

Some nice artwork downstairs.

The demand for beaver, used in hats and other items, fueled the fur industry and created many mountain men.

Earlier we saw a buffalo coat.  This one is beaver.

The mountain men lived mostly in the 1800's and included company trappers, camp keepers and free trappers.  There were independent trappers, but more often there were groups sponsored by some company and they set up camps.

 

Beth especially likes these pencil drawings by Paul Calle.  Amazing detail. 

For about 20 years there was an annual Rendezvous where mountain men and some Native Americans got together to sell their pelts and stock up on supplies brought west for the event, like flour, sugar, coffee and other staples - and alcohol.    Ten were held in Wyoming and six were held in the Green River Valley, about 8 miles west of here.  It was an area of good grasses for horses and livestock and available water.  (We drive by it later.)

We watch a film and learn that most of the mountain men were educated and readers.  And most did not have beards, as the trend was that educated men were clean shaven.  After the demand for beaver pelts in Europe declined, so did the number of companies involved in trapping.  And then the rush of immigrants and wagon trains took over.  Several of the mountain men went on to be trail guides for wagon trains and other travelers and continued to help open the west.

We stopped at a Bridger National Forest Information Center in town which had this statue in front. The man there suggested we drive out to Fremont Lake and into the mountains there, part of the Wind River Range.  So, we do.   

Fremont Lake, the closest to town has a beach and some folks enjoying the day.  The others, seen from up in the mountains, look pristine and quiet.

We then go back through town and turn south.  We parallel the Green River, but not often close to it.   This coyote was staring intently at something but took off soon after we stopped.

Some rolling hills here and there and it is green only near the river, where these horses were hanging out.

Greg spots this osprey nest.  We turn around and go back for a look one of the two osprey kindly comes down closer - maybe to have a look at us!

We continue south toward Green River/Rock Springs.  Back to prairie land with cattle grazing and occasional ranches on plenty of wide open spaces.  Warmer than the mountains, but not too bad.  Thinking of a place to boondock, we come across a Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge sign, so head there on gravel but not bad roads.   Several miles.

Pass this pronghorn family taking advantage of puddles in the road.

We noticed signs for a boat ramp on Dodge Bottom Loop S,  so continue on to the Green River where there is a rough boat ramp and port-a-potty.  Haven't seen another person since we left the highway, so we decide to just park there for the night.  Good breeze helps and the temperature falls pretty quickly as the sun goes down.  

Interesting rock formations across the river.

Quiet.  Peaceful.

Some interesting smooth rocks by the river.  Nice and dark with no lights visible except a tiny flashing  beacon miles away, probably a communications tower.