WLM
| Wyoming Woman
Encampment and Saratoga. When we
reached the interstate, we headed back
to Rawlins, thereby completing a circular
route that was marked by spectacular
scenery.
Leaving Rawlins, we headed up Highway
287 to Lander. Miles of emptiness
stretched back from the road, broken
only by stark rock formations in glorious
shades of salmon pink, orange and
yellow. It was stunning. A lasting regret
is that, despite many attempts, I never
managed to do justice to the beauty of
Wyoming’s panoramic views with my
camera.
Lander was a delight. The atmosphere
in the town was warm and friendly, and
it was blessed by an excellent bookshop,
Cabin Fever, owned by Mary Ann
Hoyt, who was kind enough to give me
home-baked cookies to take out to my
impatiently waiting husband to keep him
quiet for a little longer so that I could
continue to browse the shelves and talk.
Lander is also the home of the excellent
Fremont County Pioneer Museum and
the Museum of the American West. I was
very grateful to the male curator in the
Pioneer Museum who so knowledgeably
answered all my questions, telling me
many things that I had never found in the
pages of any book.
Leaving Lander, we drove through the
beautiful Wind River Mountain Range,
heading for Yellowstone National Park.
Again, the views were breathtaking as
we drove to the Hatchet Resort, Moran,
the place we’d chosen to stay for our
three day stay in the area. Being about 30
miles from the entrance to Yellowstone
20
and the park’s lower
loop, and three miles
from the magnificent
Grand Tetons, we
were perfectly placed
to visit both Jackson
Hole, a must for all
western film fans, and
Yellowstone itself.
We did all of the
things that tourists to
the area do, including
tour the famous
geysers. I have to say
that while I enjoyed
the show put on by
Old Faithful, I found Castle, the geyser
next to Old Faithful, more interesting.
Having set a novel in the 1880s, I had
to visit an 1880s town, and we left
Yellowstone by Highway 14 to go to Old
Trail Town in Cody. I’d advise every
aficionado of the western genre to go
there. The minute that the visitor steps
into the long street of original houses,
cabins, stores, sheds and stables, all
full of interesting memorabilia, they’re
transported back in time.
And then, sadly, it was time to head back
to Cheyenne, and thence England. On
our trip, I’d found out everything that I’d
wanted to know, and more. And while
doing so, both my husband and I had had
a wonderful, really interesting holiday in a
state with areas of great beauty and about
which too little is known in England.
Since coming home, we’ve recommended
Wyoming to all of our friends, and both
of us would go back there like a shot!
WLM
Wyoming Lifestyle Magazine | Sprinter 2014
Liz’s must-see
recommendations from
her trip…
Two Bars Seven Ranch, Tie Siding
twobarssevenranch.com
Homesteaders Museum, Torrington cityof-torrington.org/city_test_028.htm
Fort Laramie nps.gov/fola/index.htm
Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West
Museum oldwestmuseum.org
Little Snake River Museum, Savery
littlesnakerivermuseum.com
Fremont County Pioneer Museum,
Lander museumoftheamericanwest.com
Old Trail Town & Museum of the Old
West, Cody oldtrailtown.org