My wife Nancy hates one of my favorite phrases, where I talk
about my “bucket list,” which lists things I want to do before I die.
She prefers
the term “fun list,” and quit referring to death. Ok, ok, so it is time again
to do a fun list of things in Wyoming this year. How does that sound?
I have been
writing these lists for awhile and am frankly amazed at both how many we have
done but also however are still out there waiting to be experienced.
This year I
hope to visit Brush Creek Ranch near Saratoga, attend the annual Fr. DeSmet
Catholic Mass outside of Daniel (it commemorates the first Catholic service
ever done here in the Cowboy State), and really tour the far western and
southwestern parts of Wyoming.
This year I
reached out some friends for their ideas. Here what I got:
Former State
Rep. Pete Illoway reminded folks of the grand opening July 10 of the newly
refurbished State Capitol in Cheyenne. It will be a wonderful experience, he
assures.
Jim Stewart
likes all Wyoming’s wonderful museums and gave a plug for his favorite, the
Pioneer Museum in Lander, which hosts free Indian dances every Wednesday during
the summer.
Debbie
Hammons, formerly of Worland, had a dream job of hosting Main Street Wyoming on
the PBS station. Here is what she said:
“You never mentioned any of the
fantastic re-enactment events that occur around the state. I love them because
people from all over the state who are reenactors participate. It’s their hobby
to be incredibly authentic. It’s so fun to watch them and hear their stories
and answers to questions.
“To mention a few: Fort Phil
Kearney Days between Buffalo and Sheridan with frontier era encampment; Fort
Caspar — not sure what they call their special days when the reenactors are
there; Casper also has local history buffs who have developed characters and
they take you on tours like the Sand Bar District; Fort Laramie may do it much
of the summer; Pinedale has the Mountain Man Rendezvous; Labor Day has a huge
Mountain Man gathering at Fort Bridger; and, of course, the Powwows on the Wind
River Reservation. Oh, do not forget the Mormon handcarts at Muddy Gap and
Sweetwater Station.”
Retired teacher
Barb Hunt of Lander does lots of traveling with her husband Gene. She says:
“Last summer we tried to get to all the state parks that had a lake, and will
be continuing on that, as it isn’t possible to spend time at so many places, in
just one summer.
“But there are two things that were
on my bucket list that are Lander-based, and we could suggest you think of
those. I always wanted to fly over the Wind River Mountains (highest in
the state) in a small plane, and we found that Andy Gramlich does that at a
reasonable cost.
“We camped and backpacked in many
of the areas but the look so different from the air. I contacted Andy
about the first of September and explained what we wanted, so he knew we needed
good weather. A couple weeks later he called and we got to see
everything, ending with a pass over our house on the North Fork of the Popo
Agie. Andy knows the area and we felt safe.
“The other thing on my list was a
horse pack trip up in the mountains starting in the Dickinson park area, so
that was with Jim Allen. More expensive than the plane ride, but we had a
wonderful week - they just dropped us off at our campsite and returned a week
later to bring us back.
“Of course we had our backpacking
gear so we were on our own. They also will take you in and supply
everything - Jesse Allen (former Miss Wyoming) took a group of yoga enthusiasts
the day that we went out (with our wranglers and three packhorses) but they
supplied everything for them and she was with them for their week. I
wanted to do that as a last good bye to the high country as I cannot backpack
anymore. We actually went to an area that was completely new to us, and
saw very few other people there.”
John Davis of Worland wants to hang
around the Oregon Trail this summer.
Just not sure where but “just hang around” and take it in, “ he
concluded.
I hope to be his tour guide.
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