Wyoming

 

Fort Bridger, WY

 The morning started off sunny and cool. Rain and thunderstorms were predicted for later in the day. This was a rest day with no specific agenda. We opted to take a drive and see the local area.

Fort Bridger, population 345 has 2 bars and liquor stores, but no grocery store. We passed through 2 smaller communities, both with bars and no other services………very different from Utah!

 

 

Flaming Gorge is the popular local sight to visit. Off we headed with clouds creeping over the mountains and slowly encroaching as we approached the lake.

 

 

 

 

Initially the landscape was barren and lunar like, becoming green agricultural land the closer we got to the lake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Temperatures dropped steadily as we arrived in ??? for a late lunch. Initially we had planned to visit the dam, but upon learning it was another 45 miles (one way) we reconsidered and headed back towards Fort Bridger on the Flaming Gorge Scenic By-Way, passing through Green River, where we joined Interstate 80.

 

 

Descending into Green River.

 

 

 

 

 

The storm clouds were ominous by this time and it was evident that we were not going to escape the storms. Within minutes, the heavens opened up, limiting visibility and making travel treacherous.

 

 

Thankfully, the storm passed after a 20minute deluge. By the time we reached Fort Bridger, the sun was shining once again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next day we visited Fort Bridger State Park, right outside the RV park gate and within easy walking distance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our expectations were low, after all, what could one expect from such a small town/village. We were very pleasantly surprised, and spent a pleasant afternoon strolling the grounds and visiting the museum, learning about the history of Fort Bridger.

Jim Bridger, a fur trader, along with his partner Louis Vasquez, established their first trading post along the Black Fork of the Green River in 1843. Their clientele existed almost exclusively of westward bound emigrants since the Green River Basin fur trade had essentially died out by that time.
Emigrants, especially the Mormons complained that Bridger charged exorbitant prices and that the conditions of his accommodation was that of squalor. A group of Mormons tried to purchase the property from Bridger, but he refused to sell.

It is rumored that the Mormon group reported to Brigham Young, the state governor, and leader of the Mormon church that Bridger was selling alcohol and guns to the Indians.

A cavalry group was dispatched to Fort Bridger, only to find that Bridger had been made aware of their arrival and had fled.
The soldiers settled at Bridger's Trading Post and Fort Bridger was established.

 

 The stream running through the park was overflowing from the spring rains. A family of beavers had obviously been busy felling trees to build a lodge