Advertising and Design
Day 2 in Laramie was a planned 18 mile mtb ride at Curt Gowdy State Park, a place I had been too about 10 years ago. Halfway between Laramie and Cheyenne, it’s a great park with 3 lakes and a ton of trails. Some easy and many technical that had me lost a couple of times and exhausted in the 100+ temps. Was glad to hit the final downhill to my rig and my last day of my trip.
I planned two days in Laramie as I was heading south. One day to hike Medicine Bow Peak and day 2 a mtb ride at Curt Gowdy State Park. Driving south I decided to check out Medicine Bow Peak first and found it packed with cars and the parking area blocked with snow.
Walked around, ate lunch and took some photos before heading to Laramie. The mosquitos were definitely out, and I wasn’t sure if snow would impact my plan to hike. I was feeling the elevation at 10k+ so decided while the peak was not in the cards I’de spend the following day doing the full 18 mile ride I planned at Curt Gowdy State Park.
Hot, hot, hot, and steep. Bonked on the way out. A big breakfast and Endurolytes not enough! But got her done for my final day in the Big Horns. On a side note. Always carry a roll of TP. You never know when the pit toilet at the TH will be out of the stuff!
In heaven.
Got my ride in and a tour of Park Reservoir where I stopped for lunch to take in the view of the Cloud Peak Wilderness.
Taking the steep as shit new trail for a tentative trail run. A Montana crew building it and barely a trail. Glad I got my Lekis. Raining just as I got to my destination at Poverty Flat. Black clouds and thunder overhead.
Just as I finished the traverse and was going to head down the switchbacks across the fire line where it burned last year, I could feel the inches of muck attached underfoot. It was pouring rain and hail. Made it to the dirt road which has more sand and rocks and ran down that to the TH.
Met the trail workers from Montana that hire out for projects like this across the west. Cool kids. Well educated and skilled just enjoying the beautiful outdoors. All from all over the country. Why it is so dumb for republicans to dismantle Americorps.
Fun trail by Clear Creek. up to Grouse Mountain. A relatively gradual climb with enough rock to make it interesting. On the return it’s fast and fun but keep an eye out for elderly folks getting their miles in.
Lander is such a great town. 2 excellent places to dine and a great place to spend a few days with its access to the southern Winds. The 19th through the 21st was great weather. Rain on the way stopping at the Tensleep Lake Trailhead that cleared into Buffalo.
Hiked up above Sinks the afternoon I got there. Day 2 to Upper Silas Lake in front of Coney Mountain with a fair amount of snow, stream crossings and mosquitos, and Day 3 up the Middle Fork for 10 miles.
Banana and an espresso Hammer Gel and back down we go. Epic day.
A beautiful day on the Alpine Loop. Just as I planned. A morning drive to Silverton for coffee and the past the ski area and up to the Alpine Loop. I was warned about a snowbank that was impassible but when I turned around debating options a line of Jeeps and a 4Runner came though that spot and said I could make it which I did, albeit sketchy and then the drive down to Ironton.
A 1/2 hour in the Ouray Hot Spring Pool and up to Ridgway for a couple of days.
