Thermopolis, WY (9/7&8/2018)

Wyoming is the least densely populated state, other than Alaska.  Part of the reason for this is the fact that much of the state doesn't appeal to most people as a place to live.  With plenty of desert and rugged mountains, life here has always been something of a struggle.  Evidence of geologic upheaval is all around.  For someone who likes rocks and dirt, it's a great place to visit, but even I wouldn't want to be here full time.  Even in areas with more accommodating landscapes, the weather can be scorching hot in the summer and brutally cold in the winter, and the wind can be strong any time of year.  It takes tough stock, both people and animals, to survive here.

And yet those same geologic and climatic conditions are responsible for attracting multitudes of tourists.  With a population of less than 600,000 people, the state enjoys nearly 9 million visitors each year to places like Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.  Smaller attractions, like Thermopolis, try to appeal to those visitors on their way to or from the big parks.  Wyoming has done a good job of creating state parks to preserve and present geological, archeological and historical sites.  And there are many colorful "badlands" beyond the park system.  One just has to look for them.

The highest point in town is Roundtop Mountain, a symmetrical and colorful formation at the edge of town.  With such a dramatic location, what better place for the town's cemetery and a golf course?  The trees in these areas are great places to find birds, especially mountain bluebirds.

 

During my time in Thermopolis, I routinely went out for both sunrise and sunset, trying to take advantage of the striking geology surrounding the town.  Even if the sunrise or sunset itself wasn't spectacular, the strong light on red rock buttes made for interesting photos.  I don't want to go overboard, but here are a number of sunrise/sunset photos taken over a couple days.

 

 During my late afternoon drives in the hinterlands, there were numerous opportunities to enjoy wildlife, especially mule deer.  On this evening, most  of the deer were lying in deep grass, with onlytheir faces visible.

 

Soon after, a small flock of turkeys also appeared in the grassy meadow.

An archeological state park known as Legend Rock is located about thirty miles from Thermopolis.  I took the scenic route and passed through an area called Cottonwood Creek.  This old school building suggests there was a community near here, but I saw no other evidence of such.

At Legend Rock, there is a single cliff wall, maybe 300 yards long, that contains hundreds of petroglyphs.  Some of the images have been carbon dated to as much as 11,000 years ago.  Others are only a few hundred years old, and some of the newer ones overlay the older ones.  Modern graffiti can also be seen. A nearby stream was a surprise in such an arid land, but could have been the reason ancient Indians lived nearby.  I assume this is Cottonwood Creek.