Faces and Places

Can you guess which face is my favorite? You do not get a second guess :o) After many years of "talking" we finally went to Mt. Rushmore. What a delightful time. We left Monday 14th July and headed on I-80 to Rawlins, Wyoming. What a desolate place is Southern Wyoming. That is our memory from many years ago and it has not changed. Although some desolation has it's own beauty. We headed north on Highway 287 towards Casper, passing Martin's Cove and Independence Rock on the way, but our plan was to visit these places on the way back. The scenery was flat and verdant, with some rolling hills . Sometimes we could see the highway stretch before us for miles and miles, and they were not busy. There are not a lot of people in Wyoming, according to the last census only 494,000 living in 98,000 square miles. I was impressed with the idea of the distance to go to the nearest Mall and even then where was it? I did read a tidbit in the local paper that said there is only one escalator in the whole State and that is in Cheyenne the Capitol. (Utah has a population of 2,645,330 and 85,000 sq. miles) Wyoming has 3 Interstates. I-25 from Sheridan, thru Casper to Cheyenne, I-90 from Buffalo thru Gillette into So. Dakota, and I-80 from Evanston to Cheyenne.


We were impressed with Casper especially when on our return journey we only had to pay $3.91 a gallon. Imagine being impressed at paying so much for petrol.!! We stayed overnight there, need we tell you the Hampton :o) (thanx Vic)> Next morning we headed south on I-25 and it was panoramic, again the roads stretching empty before us, a beautiful day , good company what more do we need? Wyoming is very good at keeping the traveller informed as to the sights and the rest stops were really nice. We took off the freeway and headed east thru Lusk, then north thru lush grasslands, no trees to speak of and into So. Dak. and stopped at Edgemont and had a picnic. I didn't make note of the populations in these small towns but rarely over a 1000 and at an elevation of over 6500'. Then on to Custer, SD where we stayed for 2 nights. Custer reminded us of West Yellowstone but not as busy, petrol $4.15. After we got checked into the "Bavarian Inn" we headed to the "faces". It was very moving with an avenue of State flags leading the way. It was amazing to me that the sculptor knew where to put the faces. The rock is as you see the surrounding rocks. Black. But through the process of building and measuring and completing then the rock was polished etc. to give it the "white" look. I can't help but feel the sculptor was inspired because of the work involved. The processes are explained in various exhibits, and included the workmen being lowered over the cliff face in a bosun's chair. I would have to feel the person manipulating the machinery loved me. :o) The faces can actually be seen from many miles away, we did a road trip the next day and saw them from across the valley. Wednesday we visited Custer State Park which contains Sylvan Lake which is the lake that is featured in "National Treasure, Book of Secrets" and appears to be on top of Mt. Rushmore. Seeing is not believing. It isn't very far away, a few miles and we visited there and walked around the lake. We looked all over for the lost City of Gold and couldn't find it and certainly didn't find Nicholas Cage. As we left the lake and headed through the Park we did see wild Burros and many interesting "pig tail" bridges and tunnels. On our way back to our hotel we did see the "Crazy Horse" memorial which has been under construction for 60 years and is a long way from completion. We plan to go back in another 60 years to hopefully see the completed work. If you look closely you can see his profile and the beginnings of his outstretched arm.

On Thursday we reluctantly left the Black Hills and headed south to Ft. Laramie WY. Now was the time we planned to follow the Mormon Pioneer Trail. We crossed the North Platte River and went to the Fort. It was HOT!!! and the flies were driving us crazy. There is of course no way we can exactly feel how the pioneers felt but we could certainly sympathize as we battled the same annoyances they did. Friday after a good nights sleep, warm showers, good food, and into an air-conditioned car we headed west. This time we stopped at Independence Rock and are you surprised to know your Dad/Granpa/Friend climbed to the top? I don't have a picture to prove that because he took the camera but...wait... maybe I do.






Well, I chose the wrong picture he was only partway up at this point. He did see many signatures. Then onto Martin's Cove. Independence Rock is a landmark along the way that the pioneers were glad to see, and could be seen for many miles. Another landmark was Devil's Gate. This could be accessed by a trail at Martin's Cove. When we got to the Cove Visitors' Center we discovered that to get to the actual Cove we had to take a five mile round trip hike which we declined to do because of time. BUT, I think it would make a great Granma field trip. There is camping available at the Missionary Campground, running water, toilets, fire rings etc and if we provide tents and everything else we can have a great camp out. The missionary said they would help with stories and square dancing. If we were to go one day, sleep over, spend the next day hiking and pulling handcarts and sleepover another night then home. If you think you would be interested in this let me know.





We followed the road toward Lander, we stopped at "Split Rock" another landmark located in a beautiful valley. The wind was blowing something fierce so again our hearts went out to the pioneers, and you could imagine them plodding along thru this valley. We learned that about 500,000 people crossed the continent before the coming of the railroad and approx 20,000 died. Somehow I imagined a lonely group of people but that wouldn't necessarily be so. We stopped and took pictures of South Pass and of wagon ruts that are still visible. Again we stopped overnight at a Hampton in Rock Springs. Saturday we headed on the last day and stopped at Ft. Bridger. We have been there before with Michael and Lesley at a Mountain Man Rendezvous and had pictures taken with Ashleigh and the boys. But decided we needed to go again because this time we were pioneers. It was very interesting and there was a recent addition of a replica of the original trading post as it would have looked when the pioneers went through. We stopped in Lyman,WY. found a Maverick :o) and my travelling companion got peanut butter cups which he had been without for 5 days. Poor Pioneer. :o) We then headed on the last leg. I confess it was a temptation to go home from Evanston as it is only an hour from home BUT as we were still pioneers we took off at Henefer and headed over 65 down past East Canyon. As we got our first glimpse of the high mountains you had to feel for the pioneers as they would have realized they had to conquer those. "It is said" that some considered turning around and going back. Presumably rather facing what they had already suffered than those mountains. But they persevered and aren't we glad they did. On highway 65 we found a marker that told us that William Clayton was on that very spot on the 19Th July 1847 (same day as us 161 years later :o)) And the sign said,"80 miles from Ft. Bridger" and when I checked my trusty little book, that was spot on. :o) How did they negotiate those mountains? that brush? daunting!!!! We watched water skiers etc as we passed the reservoir and wondered if those faithful pioneers were ever able to get a glimpse of how the valley had developed. We got to Big Mountain where Orson Pratt was on July 19th 1847 then around the back of the mountain and down Emigration Canyon. We did stop where the Saints would have caught their first glimpse of the Valley but we couldn't see it for the haze. We did stop momentarily to get a picture at "This is the Place".


Did those English Pioneers have a "stash" with them? Probably not. Poor Pioneers !!!! :o)


We had a wonderful time. It touched our hearts many times. We thought of the comforts we take for granted and are grateful. I don't think that at my age I would have survived the experience, it was so hot, so many flies, incessant wind. Nevertheless, we are Pioneers. The only difference was we came by plane and train. But we had our struggles, NEVER to compare with the Pioneers, but we made it. We have prospered in this land "choice above all others". We love The Lord, and try to serve Him and be faithful. Life is good.