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Tuesday, February 22, 2011

The Snowy Range, Wyoming


When my husband I traveled back from visiting the Yellowstone National Park, and The Grand Teton National Park on a trip to the state of Wyoming, we drove along The Snowy Range Road, which is highway 130.  It connects Laramie to the Upper Platte River Valley. Begun in 1920, it took 6 years to complete and was called the "Great Skyroad."  It was designated the Second National Forest Scenic Byway in the United States.

 (All photos -- double click to enlarge)

An informational placard at a rest stop along The Snowy Range Scenic Byway which passes through the heart of the Medicine Bow National Forest and is peppered with crystal blue lakes and jagged gray granite peaks. The Medicine Bow Mountains are a mountain range in the Rocky Mountains that extend for 100-miles from northern Colorado into southern Wyoming.  Wyoming's northern portion of the range is often referred to as The Snowy Range.

The views of Snowy range Mountains is breathtakingly beautiful!  I was amazed by the large numbers of enormous boulders and stones that were scattered on both sides of the road way and on the valley floor, the result of glacier movement over the ages.


The grey mountain peaks are composed of Sherman Granite that dates back nearly 1.5 billion years. Due to the grandeur of these rock formations, many Native American people once revered this place as sacred.


We stopped at the Libby Flats Observation Point where we saw other visitors who were also viewing the beautiful scenery. 


Although the Libby Flats Observation Tower was only a few feet high, it was located at an elevation of 10,885 feet, and the town of Laramie, approximately 40 miles distant, was visible as were various lakes and mountain ranges.



Our view for the tower looking south toward Colorado.  With high power binoculars one could see Pike's Peak in the distance!

A sunny cup of coffee latte I had in a cafe in Laramie, Wyoming.

It's a beautiful country, and the Western part of the USA holds views that never cease to amaze and delight this East coast New York City girl!

Please come back Friday as I will have a special spring give away on my blog!

Linking this post to Susan blog's A Southern Daydreamer"Outdoor Wednesday" event.  Thanks Susan!





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48 comments:

  1. MichelleFebruary 22, 2011 at 9:20 PM

    We have been out west several times and it is a place of such stunning beauty. That cup of coffee is also beautiful! Sweet!

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  2. Betsy Banks AdamsFebruary 22, 2011 at 9:22 PM

    Looks like a gorgeous place, Pat. When we get to that area --SOMETIME---I want to visit the Snowy Range... Thanks!!!!

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  3. DonnieFebruary 22, 2011 at 9:28 PM

    What gorgeous scenery and last but not least that latte...lol...

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  4. The Gathering PlaceFebruary 22, 2011 at 10:13 PM

    Beautiful photos! The vast wilderness has a beauty that is quite different from the sights you see in your beautiful city. Both are lovely in their own way.

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  5. AnonymousFebruary 22, 2011 at 10:32 PM

    Stunning shots, Pat, simply stunning!
    And that cup of coffee is pretty neat, too!

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  6. Ginny HartzlerFebruary 22, 2011 at 10:45 PM

    I must admit that I like the observation tower and the coffee more than the mountains!! They are splendid.

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  7. YvetteFebruary 22, 2011 at 10:47 PM

    Just beautiful photography, Pat. And latte with a cute and sunny swirl in Wyoming, what is the world coming to? Ha.

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  8. From Beyond My Kitchen WindowFebruary 22, 2011 at 10:54 PM

    Beautiful photos of your trip out west. The Snowy Range is breath taking.

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  9. JeniFebruary 22, 2011 at 11:14 PM

    Absolutely breathtaking! I love traveling. don't do too much these days, but will when work slows down.. I'll live vicareously through you ;)!

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  10. KrisFebruary 22, 2011 at 11:54 PM

    GORgeous!!!

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  11. Infatuated with Homes and GardensFebruary 23, 2011 at 2:02 AM

    I love your photography, makes me feel like I am there myself:)

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  12. OlaFebruary 23, 2011 at 3:42 AM

    amazing wild landscape!

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  13. GracieFebruary 23, 2011 at 6:11 AM

    Amazing view, thanks for sharing. Laramie as in ....Fort Laramie?

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  14. Sam Hoffer / My Carolina KitchenFebruary 23, 2011 at 7:42 AM

    You are so right Pat. Views there never cease to amaze there. They don't call it big sky country for nothing.
    Sam

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  15. Welshcakes LimoncelloFebruary 23, 2011 at 8:05 AM

    Breathtaking scenery and I love the pattern on the cup of coffee!

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  16. AnonymousFebruary 23, 2011 at 8:37 AM

    Hi Pat, the views are one of the many reasons I love the southwest! It always boggled my mind that Sierra Vista, AZ was at 4,600 feet, I don't believe the highest mountain in Virginia is anywhere close to that. Your photos are grand! Thanks for sharing! The latte is beautiful!

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  17. Barbara F.February 23, 2011 at 9:22 AM

    I really would enjoy a sunny cup of coffee right now! What beautiful scenery. As always, you capture it so beautifully. xo, Barbara F.

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  18. genieFebruary 23, 2011 at 9:46 AM

    My husband have made a goal for ourselves to go out west. We have been south and abroad but never west. We need to see OUR country before I am too old to travel. These mountain ranges are magnificent and make us want to go even more. Thanks for a wonderful series of shots this week.

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  19. Mary BergfeldFebruary 23, 2011 at 9:50 AM

    Your photos are really a delight. One of our most pleasant vacations was spent in that same area. It truly is beautiful country. Thanks for the tour and the memories :-). Have a great day. Blessings...Mary.

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  20. ClaudiaFebruary 23, 2011 at 10:01 AM

    You have wonderfully captured the great expanse of our beautiful country. Big sky, snowy mountains and views that go on forever. Amazing that you get get a glimpse of Pikes Peak with the binoculars. I wish every American could travel from sea to shining sea to experience all.

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  21. VeeFebruary 23, 2011 at 10:52 AM

    Such incredible beauty! So where are you going next that we can hitch a ride along?

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  22. PondsideFebruary 23, 2011 at 11:16 AM

    All that and good coffee too! Mmmmm
    Wyoming has mythical status across the world - it conjures up images of cowboys and wonderful vistas. I'd love to walk up the steps to that viewpoint.

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  23. LasseFebruary 23, 2011 at 11:53 AM

    Very interesting! Great pictures and text as well.
    Greetings,

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  24. KristenFebruary 23, 2011 at 1:59 PM

    You could make some of those photos into postcards. They are simply breath taking!!

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  25. Light and VoicesFebruary 23, 2011 at 2:20 PM

    Cyber tour of Wyoming was interesting to say the least. Pictures are well done.
    Joyce M

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  26. Judy February 23, 2011 at 2:27 PM

    I just came from reading a Wyoming-in-winter blog post...quite a contrast to your pictures. Wyoming...beautiful in every season! We so enjoyed our visit there as well (in the summertime).

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  27. DonnaFebruary 23, 2011 at 2:56 PM

    Amazing! What beautiful scenery.

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  28. ShirleyanneFebruary 23, 2011 at 3:21 PM

    Sensational scenery Pat! Absolutely beautiful!
    Thanks for sharing!

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  29. The Charm of HomeFebruary 23, 2011 at 3:51 PM

    Beautiful photos! Love that latte.
    Sherry

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  30. DeannaFebruary 23, 2011 at 4:39 PM

    Wow, you always have the most awesome photos! I hope I'm not done traveling the US...there's still places here in Texas I have yet to see!

    Deanna :D

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  31. GailOFebruary 23, 2011 at 5:20 PM

    Gorgeous photography! From the mountains to the latte! Thanks for sharing this...once again this is a place I have yet to visit:)

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  32. SarahFebruary 23, 2011 at 6:47 PM

    Beautiful images! What fun memories these photos bring to mind. Every family vacation of my youth was spent in Yellowstone, the Tetons, etc. ~ Sarah

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  33. steviewrenFebruary 23, 2011 at 8:02 PM

    Gorgeous, gorgeous photos of the mountains! I'd love to get to visit that area one day.

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  34. Mary LouFebruary 23, 2011 at 9:58 PM

    We passed through Laramie one summer day in the snow! Your photos are a lot prettier than our view that day. thanks for showing them.

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  35. TracyFebruary 24, 2011 at 5:00 AM

    Thanks for this Wild West post, Pat! We've got to get ourselves out there! And maybe we'll find some sunny latte too. ;o) Happy Day, my friend ((HUGS))

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  36. TannaFebruary 24, 2011 at 6:44 AM

    Those Snowy mountains are so amazing they almost don't look real! Wow!

    I want one of those sunny lattes!! ;)

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  37. SheilaFebruary 24, 2011 at 8:55 AM

    Thanks for sharing your journeys with us Pat. Those mountains are breathtaking! I would love to go on a road trip across Canada and then back through the United States. Hopefully one day...

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  38. Flavia GalassoFebruary 24, 2011 at 10:03 AM

    You cannot imagine how much I liked Yellowstone NP and Wyoming..thanks for this pictures...hugs, Flavia

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  39. JennyFebruary 24, 2011 at 3:03 PM

    Hi Pat, my daughter worked for two summers in Yellowstone and I loved going up to visit her.

    These were such gorgeous pictures.

    Thanks for some happy memories!

    I'd love to go back sometime!

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  40. Old KittyFebruary 24, 2011 at 5:34 PM

    Oh Pat!!!! What a vista!! What a history!!! There is something so primal about ancient rock formations. Oh if only these mountains could speak - the things they'd have seen... that just amazes me!!! I can so see why this mountain range is revered by the Native Americans. It is truly breathtaking!!!!

    Thanks for such a great view of one of Nature's Wonders! Take care
    x

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  41. CatherineFebruary 24, 2011 at 5:41 PM

    Just beautiful. I love Wyoming!

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  42. Ciao Chow LindaFebruary 24, 2011 at 8:30 PM

    Wow, what a truly beautiful part of the U.S. I think whoever made that cup of latte/cappuccino is a real artist.

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  43. Elisa DayFebruary 25, 2011 at 1:21 PM

    Wonderful place. I am longing for some places without snow righ now.

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  44. Just A GirlFebruary 25, 2011 at 1:43 PM

    Hi Pat,

    Your pictures are just stunning!!! Hubby and I have never been to Yellowstone, but it looks gorgeous. I've heard they have a lot of bike trails so maybe we'll go this summer.
    I hope you're staying warm...it's raining outside my window and I'm loving it.
    xoxo Cori

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  45. betty-NZFebruary 25, 2011 at 6:36 PM

    Those are fantastic shots!

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  46. LaFebruary 27, 2011 at 6:58 PM

    Thank you for sharing these beautiful views. Ooh that latte looks awesome!

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  47. annieFebruary 28, 2011 at 8:38 PM

    How I love your photographs.
    Just always make me smile.

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  48. Laura @ the shorehouse.March 3, 2011 at 1:13 AM

    You've done some amazing traveling, Ms. Pat (and I can't WAIT to hear/read about your latest!!) and the photos you take make me want to jump on the next plane. I've never been to Wyoming, but I think you know I love Colorado...so I imagine I would love it there, too. I think I also mentioned to you (on FB)...separate but somewhat related I'm just itching to get to Glacier National Park. Not sure it will happen this year...but I'll keep trying!!

    Hope you're having happy travels! xoxo

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