Wednesday in Wyoming -- July 27, 2016

You don't want to touch the thistle's spikes, but isn't the flower beautiful?

Like the other pictures I've shared this month, this one was taken at Pole Mountain.

Can you tell that I like that place?  It's less than an hour's drive from Cheyenne, but the terrain is very different from the grassland prairies that surround Wyoming's capital.  A great place for a picnic lunch and some time away from the computer.

Wednesday in Wyoming -- July 20, 2016

If you're looking for a wonderful place to hike in southeastern Wyoming, I recommend Pole Mountain.  The combination of wildflowers (in season, of course) and panoramic views can't be beaten.  Be careful, though, to come prepared with sunblock and lots of water.  The sun is intense, and the altitude (around 8,000 feet) presents its own challenges.

Wednesday in Wyoming -- July 13, 2016

Although many parts of the country are filled with wildflowers during the spring, they come later at high elevations in Wyoming.  I found these in bloom in early July.

Like last week's picture, this is from Pole Mountain, close to the summit of Interstate 80.  The elevation there is over 8,000 feet -- definitely high altitude.

Wednesday in Wyoming -- July 6, 2016

Doesn't this picture say "Western" to you?  It does to me.  The combination of the blue sky, cumulus clouds, red earth, and twisted tree all remind me that I live in the West.

In case you were wondering, this picture was taken less than fifty miles from Cheyenne at Pole Mountain, which is part of the Medicine Bow National Forest.  It's a wonderful place to hike or simply enjoy the scenery.