Yesterday was a travel day but we were able to get into our campsite by early afternoon. Lots of switchbacks as we travelled from Sheridan (elevation 3743’) to our campsite at Bald Mountain (elevation 9200’).
Our campground is small – only 15 sites. With the elevation it’s at, the temperature dropped significantly- from 24 degrees C to about 15 C. However, Paul found a sunny spot to do a bit of work on the solar and was quite comfortable in his shorts and long sleeved shirt.
Paul observed a lard herd of elk on the clearing above our campground in the evening but they were a long way away. This morning several mule deer went theough our campground, grazing in the empty campsites. They were obviously comfortable around people and cars as they just looked up and then returned to their grazing.
Our day today is a sightseeing day, mostly through the Bighorn National Forest. Our first stop was close to our campground – the Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark. The road took us up to over 9600’ elevation. This is sacred lands of the many indigenous people in the area. It is made of local white limestone laid upon a bedrock of limestone, 80 feet in diameter. It has 28 spokes and 7 stone cairns inside, the centre one being the largest at about 10’ in diameter. It is still used today by area Indigenous people for ceremonial and traditional uses. Many “gifts” are left attached to the fence surrounding it.
Our journey today continues in the next post.
Following Joyce & Paul's Travels in Retirement 