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

 
 
 
 
 

 

Utah continued

It was a beautiful sunny morning as we departed Bryce-Zion campground, heading to Fillmore. Highway 89 north was quiet except for the odd travel trailer, horse trailer and pickup trucks passing us.

Spring run-off and recent rains were evident by the swollen, fast moving Sevier River, running alongside the highway.

 

We stopped about 40 miles north of Glendale in the town of Panguitch for a propane top up and diesel fuel ($2.39/gallon).

 

This quaint, agricultural town was almost deserted early on this Sunday morning.

A few miles north of Panguitch, we connected with highway 20 east, which took us over to Interstate 15 north.

 

 

Travel today was up and down hills constantly.

Interstate 20 was no different, chugging uphill, passing the semi-trucks, only to have them pass us on the down slope.

The snow covered mountain peaks range from 10,000 to 12,100 feet. The majority of today’s travel was at an average elevation of about 6000 feet.

We descended down into a rich, fertile, agricultural valley as we neared Fillmore.

Upon arrival at the Wagons West RV Park, we found the office closed with a note on the door to pick a site and they would see us on Monday to settle up. Sites were dirt & grass, but long and good distance apart. They had great wifi. We had a quiet, comfortable night.

Fillmore was a small, rural town, past its best before date.

 

 

 

I later learned that Fillmore was Utah's first capital.

As part of our tour of town, we visited the State House, State Park. Fillmore was the first capital of Utah and elaborate plans were prepared to house the state government.

The house one sees here today was all that was built, and as a result of running out of money and government in fighting, the project was abandoned and the state capital moved to Salt Lake City.

 

Next morning, we departed Fillmore for the 3 hour drive to Salt Lake City. This was not a sightseeing visit. Alan had to fly to Kelowna, British Columbia for a business meeting, the car needed some repairs at the Ford dealer, and Susann needed to catch up on laundry, blog and housekeeping chores.

We did venture out for dinner in neighboring Bountiful before Alan left. We visited 3 restaurants, none of which could we have a glass of wine with our meal. Tired and frustrated, we drove 22 miles to the Longhorn Steakhouse in south Salt Lake............and thankfully, they served wine!

 

 

Salt Lake City, Utah to Fort Bridger, Wyoming

 

Upon Alan's return, we departed Salt Lake City for Fort Bridger, Wyoming.

 Downtown Salt Lake City

 

Flanked by massive hills as we climb up and out of Salt Lake.

 

 

New life, spring flowers and foliage

Heading north east on Interstate 80 towards Wyoming border.