Wednesday in Wyoming -- February 26, 2014

Have you heard the term 'desert varnish'?  That's what the dark staining on this cliff is called.  According to the National Park Service, desert varnish is created when bacteria oxidize manganese and iron and deposit it on the rocks.  I don't claim to understand how all that works, but I do know that it's beautiful. 

Wednesday in Wyoming -- February 19, 2014

Let me introduce you to one of my favorite statues in Cheyenne, the Iron Horse.  As you might guess, it was named in honor of the railroad -- the original iron horse.  The position right in front of the Union Pacific train depot is no accident.

What I particularly like is that this horse is  made of pulleys, wheels and other pieces of metal that many of us would call junk.  I call it the ultimate recycling.

Wednesday in Wyoming -- February 12, 2014

Here's another bear from the same State Museum exhibit as last week's post.  I continue to be amazed at the artists' creativity.  Even though I make my living with words, I would never have thought to put lettered tiles on a bear.  Would you?

Wednesday in Wyoming -- February 5, 2014

What is it?  It's not alive, that's for certain.  If you use your imagination, you may see that it resembles a bear, albeit a very creatively designed one.  This was part of an exhibit at the State Museum several years ago. Those of you who've been following this blog may recall a bear made out of pencil tips.  This is another entry in the same exhibit.

If you look closely, you'll see an eagle perched on one of the bear's ears and a camper complete with tent inside its mouth.  I don't think I'd feel too comfortable camping there, do you?

Wednesday in Wyoming -- January 29, 2014

Swans in Yellowstone?  I was surprised when I saw them.  Somehow, I thought they migrated to warmer climates as most birds do, but there they were, apparently unconcerned by the ice drifting only a few feet from them.  What beautiful birds!

Wednesday in Wyoming -- January 22, 2014

Yellowstone has so many beautiful areas that it's difficult to choose a favorite, but if I had to, it would be the northwestern part of the park near Mammoth Hot Springs.  I love the views of the mountains in the distance and the abundance of wildlife in the Lamar Valley.  And, of course, there are the terraces at Mammoth itself.  While not as dramatic as the geysers in  the various basins, they're still a beautiful example of thermal features.

Wednesday in Wyoming -- January 15, 2014

Last week we looked at what appeared to be fairly tame elk.  This week's wildlife sighting is a bison, and there's no doubt that it's a wild animal.  Though they normally walk (lumber might be a better word) slowly, you definitely don't want to be in the path of an angry bison.  Their sheer size, not to mention those sharp horns, can be deadly.