The first stop in Wyoming is the Buckboard Crossing Campground – with very little forest at the campground. Because most of the Flaming Gorge area is the National Forest. Our campsite in the National Forest 🙂Flaming George National Recreation Area – the area around the 91 miles long Flaming Gorge Reservoir – which is created from the Green River and the Flaming Gorge Dam. Sheep Creek Loop Drive is a 10-mile long scenic drive through the Uinta Fault, along Sheep Creek with dramatic geologic formations. “Big Spring”Flaming Gorge Red Canyon (is actually in Utah) is the next very impressive area – and the best – it’s not busy at all!The little Bighorn Sheep – looks lost to us – but the little guy was very comfortable moving along the tip of the rocks!… and some of the the “Lady-Bighorn Sheep” close by. Maybe one of them is the mum from the little one.Flaming Gorge Red Canyon !!!We walked part of the rim trail – with many view points.Over 500 feet high Flaming Gorge DamBack than a couple lived in this Fire Lookout Tower – today a volunteer tells the stories.View from the CCC fire towerSeminoe State Park is the next stop.Our Campsite (this time not in the forest!!)… with a view to the reservoir.Seminoe ReservoirQuite a bit of wildlife here in the area … Pronghorns …Bighorn Sheep (unfortunately this time we did not see the “boys” )… and prairie dogsSeminoe DamIn the small town Rawlins – we take a tour through the Wyoming Frontier Prison.The Visitation Room“Block A” – lots of light for “good behaved prisoners”.2-person cell – cozy !!In Block B and Block C … it gets even less comfortable 😉… and the death rowThe prison was used from 1901 – 1981. It carried out 14 death sentences – nine men were hanged and five where executed in this gas chamber.Guernsey State Park – we have been here before – always a great stop.Our campsiteOMG – I bet mum & dad are super busy – getting food for 34 (!) chicks.The “castle” … a 2 story picnic shelter – build by the CCC.View from the “Castle”…The massive sandstone and log latrine was built by the CCC in the 1930’s. The structure is pretty large and the workmen jokingly named the latrine the “Million Dollar Biffy” because it took so long to finish the project. If it had a window on the water site – it sure would have a “million dollar view” too … LOL!When we arrived the water level of the reservoir was “ok” …As we arrived – they started a “silt run” and sending all water to Nebraska (to Lake McConaughy “Lake Mac” – where we go next 🙂 )… 2 days later – the water in the reservoir was almost gone!A visit to the “Register Wall” where the emigrants on the many tracks, which crossed here, would carve their names.At one time the names included dates as early as 1829 and one reportedly from 1797, both of which were judged authentic – not sure is this one is authentic though.Also the swallow’s seem to like the “Register Cliff”Very interesting history at Fort Laramie. The fort was an important way station for thousands of emigrants who travelled the Oregon, California and Mormon Pioneer trails seeking the promise of land, gold, and religious freedom – as well as the Pony Express passed through.Enlisted Barracks – with housing for the soldiers.Fort Laramie was established by the US Government to protect the emigrant trails – they split from here in different directions.
