Island Lake, Wind River Range

Island Lake, Wind River Range, Wyoming.

The Wind River Range in Wyoming is one of my favorite hiking, climbing and photography playgrounds.  The area has become considerably more popular in recent years, namely the Cirque of the Towers and Titcomb Basin areas (other areas can still be void of people!).

This image of an unnamed bluff at Island Lake was taken shortly after sunrise, very near camp.  I had backpacked in with big climbing aspirations, only to turn my ankle in the first couple miles of the hike.  With trekking poles I was able to continue the hike at a snail's pace to our destination, but that was it.  I spent the next several days resting my ankle and soaking it in the cold water in hopes of prepping it for the hike out.  It seemed to work!

This image recently appeared in a national newspaper in the U.K., supporting an editorial article about dumb hikers who injure themselves in the backcountry.  I'm kidding of course!  At least about the article content anyway.

If you are interested in the Wind River area, I invite you to view my Wind River Gallery for many more images.  I hope they motivate you to consider paying the area a visit.

As always, thanks for visiting!

Butch Cassidy Festival at the Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site



Warrior Peak in Cirque of the Towers.

Butch Cassidy, or Robert Leroy Park as he was born, was a notorious bank robber, train robber, and leader of the Wild Bunch Gang in the Old West.  He grew up near Salt Lake City, Utah, but later lived in Colorado, Montana and Wyoming.

In 1890, Cassidy purchased a ranch near Dubois, Wyoming.  The ranch was across the state from the notorious Hole-in-the-wall, a natural geographical formation that outlaws commonly used for protection and cover.  Many suspect Cassidy’s ranching, which he was never financially successful at, was simply a front for illegal activities with Hole-in-the-Wall outlaws.

In 1894, Cassidy was arrested in Lander, Wyoming, for stealing horses and possibly for running a protection racket among the local ranchers.  He served 18 months in the Wyoming State Prison in Laramie – the only prison to ever incarcerate Cassidy.

The Wyoming State Prison is one of the oldest buildings in Wyoming, having been built in 1872.  It first served as a federal penitentiary before becoming a state prison.  Today, the facility is open to the public, designated as the Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site.



Windy Peak reflected in Cook Lake at Sunrise.

The Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site is open daily from May 1^st through October 30^th.  It offers both guided and self-guided tours for a small admission fee.

Beginning June 14^th, the prison will host the Butch Cassidy Festival.  A special dedication of their new exhibit “Butch Cassidy:  Who Was That Guy?” will happen at this time.  I am proud to say that two of my images from the Wind River Range will be a central part of the display, celebrating the very area that Butch Cassidy called home.

The first image is of Warrior Peak above paintbrush in Cirque of the Towers, a popular rock climbing destination and a favorite area for photographers and backpackers.

The second image is from a much less visited, yet highly scenic area on the east side of the range.  The scene is Windy Peak reflected in remote Cook Lake at sunrise.  Cook Lake is located above Smith Lake and the Popo Agie River valley.

You can view these images and more in my Wind River Gallery.

Thanks for visiting!

Western Byways - Wyoming Edition

I'm currently editing images from my recent trip to the Canadian Rockies.  Hopefully I will be able to share soon!

In the meantime, I realize I haven't shared any recent published work.  Let's change that with this current cover image for Western Byways - Wyoming Edition.

This image is of Elephant Head reflected in a small tarn near Island Lake.  I'm not sure I would have captured this image had an unfortunate event not altered our trip.

We were only about 2 miles up the trail when I turned my ankle and crumpled to the ground in pain. I couldn't seem to walk it off, and the pain grew worse as I rested. In my mind, we had traveled too far (from Washington) to turn back. We still had 8 more miles to hike to get to Island Lake - our desired camp.

Eventually, with the help of trekking poles, I was able to force some weight onto the ankle and get back on it. We continued up the trail at a snail's pace, probably 1/3 of my normal hiking speed. I found myself focusing on stepping squarely each step; a tedious and disconcerting process.

We successfully arrived at Island Lake late in the day and found a nice campsite. It would be our home for the next few days.

With the ankle injury, there would be no wanderings into Upper Titcomb Basin or Indian Basin on this trip, as originally planned. I had explored both areas on a previous trip and desperately wanted to return for photography. Instead, I focused my photography around Island Lake in mornings and evenings, which offered some benefits and new learning experiences.

What did I do during the middle of the day? Mostly rest and soak my ankle. After all, I had 10 miles of hiking ahead of me to get back to my truck!

We still enjoyed our trip immensely. How could we not with such beauty all around us? After all, we were in the Winds! We experienced beautiful sunrises and sunsets, afternoon lightning storms, and beautiful rainbows.

More images from this trip and others in the Wind River range can be viewed in my Wind River Gallery.

Rainbow over a Pot o' Gold!

Rainbow above Elkhart Entrance, Wind Rivers.

Rainbows are a beautiful product of nature that capture the eyes, the heart and the imagination.
 
In Greco-Roman mythology, the rainbow was considered to be a path made by a messenger between Earth and Heaven.

The Irish leprechaun's secret hiding place for his pot of gold is usually said to be at the end of the rainbow.

There are also numerous religious connotations associated with rainbows.

Whatever your belief, you must admit that the spectrum of light we call a rainbow is a sight to behold and experience, especially after a storm.

This rainbow was just that, a sign that a strong storm in the Wind Rivers had come to and end, and promising drier times ahead.  It has been a popular image for me, appearing in calendars, magazines, and most recently as a cover for a world-wide published book.

This image appears in my Wind River Gallery, along with many others from the area - a true pot o' gold in Wyoming!