Many people make a New Year’s Resolution. I’ve never been too driven to make them—much less keep them.
This page is dedicated to subjects maybe a bit off the beaten path—most of which are in the state of Wyoming. Along with the standard area wildlife and landscapes, these are subjects I’d like to pursue more this year. Maybe you will also find some of these subjects of interest on your Wyoming visit. I included lots of links to help you with additional information.
Petroglyphs: There are several areas of the state with petroglyphs. This one was taken near the Boar’s Tusk in SW Wyoming called the White Mountain Petroglyphs. Castle Gardens are near Riverton and in the Wind River Mountains check out the petroglyphs at Dinwoody and Torrey basins near Dubois. Legend Rock State Petroglyph Site is located just outside Thermopolis. If you are heading into Wyoming from Utah or Nevada, do some searches online. Other states have even more. I’d like to try “light painting” some of the petroglyphs if I am ever there at the right time. Colored gels in conjunction with the lights might be even better. The closest petroglyphs are in the Torrey Basin near Dubois.
Native American Pow-Wows: There are many Pow-Wows held all over the state during the summer months. I always have a great time there.
Mountain Man Rendezvous: This page contains information on many of the regional rendezvous. The biggest one is at Fort Bridger over Labor Day. Most of the people at these events are quite “colorful” and are usually more than willing to have their photos taken. I definitely need to go to more of them in 2015!
Eagle Days: Farmington Bay, UT. Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area |Bald eagle viewing at Utah’s the Farmington Bay Waterfowl. For several years, my youngest son competed in ski competitions in Utah in February, so I happened to be in the area. I usually only had one day to spend there, and it was hit and miss from year to year. When it’s good, it can be really good! This area is reported to have the largest wintering population of eagles in the lower 48. Each year, the rangers poison the “trash fish” with a natural compound that suffocates them. The carp, perch, and sunfish float to the surface and become a feast for the waiting eagles. In February, the town of Farmington, UT hosts Eagle Days at the refuge, but that’s NOT the day to go! It is too busy and you are forced to ride in on a bus. The biologists poison some of the bays a few days before the event and fish are still floating by until the end of February when the roads close.
Rodeo: In Jackson, there’s a rodeo every Wednesday and Saturday throughout the summer at the Fairgrounds on Snow King Drive. Cody has a big rodeo nightly and there are a couple of rodeo grounds in and around West Yellowstone. I’d really like to go to more of them this year! Crews tore down the old chutes and announcer’s crow’s nest and are in the process of rebuilding them. The rodeo grounds will have a new face on the north side this year!
Cowboys and Wranglers: These kind of shots take a little pre-planning and work, but I really need and want to do more this year. I didn’t take many of the at all in 2014. If you have a family and want a wonderful week at a Dude Ranch, check out Triangle X Dude Ranch, Lost Creek Guest Ranch, Moose Head Guest Ranch, & Red Rock Ranch Dude Ranch. All are top notch! Some of the area ranches have calf roundups and brandings. I haven’t been to one in a while and it’d be fun to go again. I’d also love to be around the ranches near Kelly when the ranchers move the longhorns from pasture to pasture.
Wild Mustangs: These are one of my favorite subjects, but I only managed to photograph them one time in 2014. That’s definitely not enough! Wyoming has 16 Horse Management Areas plus its half of the Pryor Mountain Wild Mustang Center near, Lovell, Wyoming. Wyoming doesn’t have burros. Wild Horse and Burro Quick Facts. There’s a lot of information in the provided links. I’d like to go to a few more of the state’s HMA’s. The closest two are in Rock Springs and Cody. May and June are usually the best two months. Mares often give birth at this time, prompting fights between stallions. Every few years, the BLM conducts a “gather” to reduce the population at each HMA to a required number, but the BLM is secretive about when a gather will occur. Wild Mustang Gather: Rock Springs, WY
Ghost Towns: There are quite a few old ghost towns and forts in Wyoming. The link has quite a few of them. The Lincoln Highway was the first transcontinental highway for automobiles across the United States of America. It runs more or less parallel with US Highway 80 across the southern portion of Wyoming. I’d like to check out more of the abandoned buildings, stations, and signs along it. The photo above was at Superior, WY. Along the route, I’d also be on the lookout for abandoned vehicles rusting away in the sagebrush. Someday, I’d love to follow the road on across Utah and Nevada and into Lincoln Park in San Francisco.
Yellowstone: For a variety of reasons, including the cost of gasoline, I haven’t spent much time in Yellowstone over the past few years. I’d like to make a few trips this year. I still love the Tetons, but Yellowstone has some different looks and subjects. This place is definitely ON the beaten path, but I just haven’t been there much lately.
Fishing: Whether they are self portraits or shots of other people fishing, I’d love to build a collection of fly fishing images at all of the valley’s spectacular locations. A few fly fishing shots in Yellowstone with steam and fog would also be high on my wish list. Remote Triggering: CamRanger and RFN-4s
Barns: There are quite a few old barns and structures in Jackson Hole. I’ve photographed a lot of them. Sometimes it takes me a long time to gain access to the property. Some are easily visible from the roadways. I like to find them, then keep going back until the light has a romantic glow.
…and More: This group came to mind as I built this post tonight. They are in no particular order.
- Oregon Trail Ruts National Landmark
- South Pass City and the Oregon Trail
- Soaring Eagle Glider Flights – Glider Flying :: Jackson Hole …
- Evanston, Wyoming: Union Pacific Railroad Yard and Roundhouse
I am sure there are lots of other opportunities and lots of events worth covering and if I think of a few, I’ll add them here. MJ
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