Wyoming's Snowy Range

[sfarson]

If a lonely twisting and sweeping ride, with ascents and descents, through an ultra scenic setting has a way with you, perhaps you already know about the Snowy Range in southern Wyoming. Mentioned this to a friend yesterday who knows Wyoming well and he replied after the Tetons, he thought this was the most scenic place in the state. Hmmmm... anyway, a few pics and a vid.

 

At an overlook I noticed this marker stone...

 

The details...

 

Wow. Well, I had to find out the details. The tale is told well here... http://www.dailyyonder.com/how-it-ended-medicine-bow-peak/2009/03/25/2020

 

Medicine Bow Peak is to the left here. The riding through this landscape is special...

 

To the left/west from the image above, here is the invite...

 

A pause at one of the numerous crystalline lakes scattered throughout this high place...

 

And if having five minutes before moving on to something important , here's a vid to and through the Snowy Range...

 

[Guest Kakugo]

Stunning scenery... the colors are so vivid they look almost unreal.

[Quinn]

Are the periodic poles beside the road for snow?

 

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[Albert]

Wow, really nice photography. Very reminiscent of the Bear Tooth pass.

 

My wife and I did a trip through WY several years ago and found another "snowy range". We left Sheridan, WY for Red Lodge, MT and were climbing the eastern slope of the Big Horn range (north central WY) in a light drizzle with temperatures in the mid 70s(F). By the time we reached the pass there was heavy snow with the highway completely covered (around an inch). We have no pictures as my wife (passenger) was too scared to pull out the camera. When we finally descended the western slope the temperatures were back up to the high 70's. A comfortable temperature for an underwear change.

[longjohn]

Fine stuff. Thanks for sharing! I need to go back to Wyo.

[mackerman]

Great photos - and lucky us, we're heading that way right now - we'll be sure to look for the marker along the way. Such a beautiful area with such a sad story...

[sfarson]

Are the periodic poles beside the road for snow?

 

Yes, for the snowplow drivers. For knowing the depth of snow and edge of the road. Many Colorado Mountain Passes have these poles. In Rocky Mountain National Park they are very tall! There and elsewhere the poles are often right at the edge of a cliff. Not a job for the faint of heart!

 

Yes, the Snowy Range is scenic special and riding special. I think the name does come from the abundance of wintertime white moisture, but it could also be from the whitish look the peaks possess regardless of season. A quick web check and it is noted this range is a massive quartzite block. How about that.

[sfarson]

Great photos - and lucky us, we're heading that way right now - we'll be sure to look for the marker along the way. Such a beautiful area with such a sad story...

 

Yes, I was touched by the story as well. If it works for you, continue west past the Snowy Range to Encampment. There, connect with WY 70 for an amazing ride over Battle Pass, all the way to Baggs. WY 70, the "Battle Highway" may be a step down from Snowy Range scenery, but it is an even better riding road.

 

[longjohn]

Were these pics straight out of the cam, or was there some post processing?

[sfarson]

John... I applied HDR (High Dynamic Range) techniques to the pics. This is done by capturing three identical, bracketed images at different exposure levels (using a tripod or a very steady hand). These three images are then merged into one. It is supposed to give a closer rendering of what the human eye sees, avoiding the blackish blob loss of detail many cameras present of shadowy or darker areas.

[MikeRC]

Thanks for the pictures and ride tale. It was on my list to do on my way to the UnRally but had to be scrubbed when I had trouble with my front shock/strut. And I missed it the last time I was in the area due to 6" of fresh snow.

 

Maybe next time on my way to Colorado.

 

Mike Cassidy