Another great day. We got up early again and drove out of Pinedale into the Bridger National Forest, climbing from about 7100 feet to probably close to 9,000 feet in the foothills of the Wind River Mountains. We climbed a ridge above Freemont Lake, a 9 mile long, 600 foot deep lake just outside of town. We took over 75 pictures, because the view was so spectacular, and due to the recent rains the wildflowers were at their peak. Annie took dozens of flower picture out of the van window and sent me on numerous picture
taking expeditions just off the road to document each new species. I'll let her post those photos later, but I have to say, I've seen more wildflowers in a day with Annie than I saw in my entire stay in the area 40 years ago. I've hunted mule deer and antelope in the hills around this lake, but as a 22 year old cowboy wannabe, I never took the time to really stop and look around. Thank God we get older and wiser (or at least more observant.) The road goes through sage brush hills into aspen groves and then into softwood forest. We are continually amazed by the number of species of softwoods here; several kinds of pine, spruce, fir, cedar and larch.
It's a big change from Spruce, Spruce and More Spruce.
On the way back to town we stopped at the Museum of the Mountain Men. I was expecting a little, tacky tourist trap. Much to our surprise, this was a really fine museum, with elaborate, well researched displays. There's a lot of money in Pinedale these days. It sits on one of the biggest natural gas fields in the country and Sublette county has one of the lowest unemployment rates in in the US. I won't bore you with pictures of the exhibits. You can see them online. Just check out their web site
http://www.museumofthemountainman.com/ and see for yourself, but Annie got a picture of a prairie dog on the boardwalk, and I just couldn't resist it.
After the museum, we shopped at a tiny natural food store and had a picnic in a beautiful little park right in town on the banks of Pine Creek (that's crick, in case you haven't traveled in this part of the country before.) I had a little nap and then we did laundry, had dinner with George again and then spent the evening at his house, reminiscing about old times. Oh yes. Annie and I did have a drink at the Cowboy Bar, where George and I used to play.
OK, it wasn't such a short blog. I know Annie is itching to post a bunch of wildflower photos, but she's sound asleep, so I guess it's time for bed.
taking expeditions just off the road to document each new species. I'll let her post those photos later, but I have to say, I've seen more wildflowers in a day with Annie than I saw in my entire stay in the area 40 years ago. I've hunted mule deer and antelope in the hills around this lake, but as a 22 year old cowboy wannabe, I never took the time to really stop and look around. Thank God we get older and wiser (or at least more observant.) The road goes through sage brush hills into aspen groves and then into softwood forest. We are continually amazed by the number of species of softwoods here; several kinds of pine, spruce, fir, cedar and larch. It's a big change from Spruce, Spruce and More Spruce. 
On the way back to town we stopped at the Museum of the Mountain Men. I was expecting a little, tacky tourist trap. Much to our surprise, this was a really fine museum, with elaborate, well researched displays. There's a lot of money in Pinedale these days. It sits on one of the biggest natural gas fields in the country and Sublette county has one of the lowest unemployment rates in in the US. I won't bore you with pictures of the exhibits. You can see them online. Just check out their web site http://www.museumofthemountainman.com/ and see for yourself, but Annie got a picture of a prairie dog on the boardwalk, and I just couldn't resist it. 
After the museum, we shopped at a tiny natural food store and had a picnic in a beautiful little park right in town on the banks of Pine Creek (that's crick, in case you haven't traveled in this part of the country before.) I had a little nap and then we did laundry, had dinner with George again and then spent the evening at his house, reminiscing about old times. Oh yes. Annie and I did have a drink at the Cowboy Bar, where George and I used to play. OK, it wasn't such a short blog. I know Annie is itching to post a bunch of wildflower photos, but she's sound asleep, so I guess it's time for bed.
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