Friday, July 10, 2026 Across Wyoming, Wind River, Sacajawea, Big Horn Sheep Info

 Friday, July 10

41 degrees this morning, brrrr.  Had to dig out an extra blanket last night!

We drive over to Sand Lake and have breakfast there.  Coffeemaker won't work (forgot that it doesn't like high altitudes).  Egg sandwiches and oranges.

 

The water level is pretty low and very still.  We are surprised that there are no fishermen since we thought that was the draw here.   Lots of birds including some little sandpipers.  Interesting to see shore birds in this part of the country in the Summer, but it happens often.

We continue north on more gravel roads.  We see a couple of deer, but mostly trees, trees and more trees, including lots of aspen for the first few miles. The air sure does smell good!  A family of antelope resting on the road scatters at our approach.  The cattle does more of a "mosey" out of the way. 

 We descend to more rolling hills and ranch land and turn west on highway 80 briefly, to 287 which goes toward Lander and the Tetons. 

Wind River Wild Horse Sanctuary in Lander is a quick stop.  It is managed by the Oldham family and Doube D Ranch.  Lots of signage regarding the history and importance of the introduction of horses to America and to the American Indians. Also discusses the different types and coloring of horses and how they are cared for.  There are pockets of wild horses throughout the west and they need to be managed for health and safety reasons.  

This is a wagon - early RV? - that the herders used when following and working with wild horse herds....we saw similar sheep wagons in other parts of the west. Cozy?

Next is a short detour to Sacajawea Cemetery, where she is buried along with her son.  Colorful decorations on graves ranging from very old to more recent.  There is one grave marker which just says 2 white women killed.........  A statue and small writeup about Sacajawea, who traveled as a guide with Lewis and Clark.

A nice Red Rock area around the Wind River.

Next is the National Bighorn Sheep Center.  Very informative about types of bighorns and their ranges, their body language, courtship rituals (butting heads) and a group of Shoshone Indians called The Sheep Eaters who followed the sheep and co-existed with them from 1200-1800AD.  Their horns grow more in summer than winter, creating kind of rings which can be used to determine age.  Unlike antlers of deer and elk, they do not shed their horns.

We decide  to go a little further into more wooded areas again as we are approaching the Tetons.

wild rose

We settle at small, 8-site, Hatch Campground, a good jumping off point for tomorrow's travels through the Tetons and Yellowstone. Glad to get a spot, as by 5:00 it is filled.  We've come down in altitude and the temperature has risen.   The host and his wife are from Idaho and have been campground hosts for 11 years at various locations. He comments on the heat wave (Yellowstone has had a heat advisory the past few days) and we pull out our small portable fans until things cool down.  It is a manageable 73 by 9:00 with the overhead fantastic fan running creating some nice air movement. More mosquitoes here as the sun goes down.  We spray all the window screens on the outside and only have a few visitors who come in through the door when we are in and out.

We enjoy chips and hummus,  sandwiches and carrots.  Beth has the upper hand at Cribbage tonight.