Steve Moseley

Nearly all of the folks who mention they’re bound for Yellowstone Country while chatting at my visitor information center post along I-80 are either families or retirees. It is far and away most likely it will be them to which I offer my ‘local’ knowledge gained over five years living in Powell.

To these adventurers I explain my ‘local resident’ knowledge of the area and ask if they would like to get some free materials and then chat about them. They say one version or another of “Heck yes!” after which I patiently explain there is much more to see than Yellowstone. I pitch the Bighorns, Beartooths, Pryors, the museum in Cody and more. Much more. You folks live in paradise. Did you already know that? Well now you do.

Then the other day I met a man from Minnesota who was different. Much different. His interest in Wyoming was deeper.

This gentleman said “Wyoming” when I casually inquired where he was headed. What he had in mind, I soon discovered, was just to wander around. He said he was retired and looking to move from Minnesota to the West, most likely Wyoming. The problem? While he was drawn to the ‘idea’ of Wyoming, he had zero specific knowledge of the place and no idea where to look.

“Step over here,” I said, “I can definitely help you out,” and began to dig out my cache of Cowboy State tourist info I keep handy on a shelf in the corner.

I laid out the Wyoming highway map, which is incredibly helpful to travelers because its graphic elevation relief makes mountains — or the lack thereof should that be your choice — obvious at a glance.

I began by asking what route he planned to get there. The answer, delivered with a ‘whatever’ shrug, was “I-80 all the way, I guess.” As is my habit, I interjected a couple alternate routes which, in my considerable experience, have much more to offer.

As what was becoming a lengthy discussion prattled on, I sang the praises of northwest Wyoming. Powell in particular, but other places also.

Then it began to dawn; this man still meant to stay the course and take I-80 through Wyoming all the way — Rawlins, Rock Springs, Green River, et al — to check them out as prospect locations for a relocation to the West. The air fairly gushed from my lungs in reaction. Clearly, he had never been there. I have. Please know, I bear no ill will toward the lovely folks who live in that region of the state. Quite the contrary. My sympathy for them runneth over.

But in the case of this specific gentleman, who had professed a desire for wildness and mountains and a peaceful pace from the outset, I could not remain silent.

His lightbulb clicked on when I loosely replicated a square with my hands and held it over that area of the state. No topographical relief to speak of was to be seen there. Then, I did the same for northwest Wyoming. The Bighorns, Beartooths, Absarokas, Pryors and all the other ranges that ring the Big Horn Basin fairly leapt off the page.

He said, “Wow! I see what you mean.”

From that moment on, I and your corner of Wyoming had his full attention.

I mostly talked and he mostly listened for perhaps half an hour. By the time he shook my hand with appreciation and deep thanks, I had him routed to Scottsbluff, visiting Ash Hollow, a wonderful prehistoric animal excavation and state park near Ogallala, then Chimney Rock and the Scotts Bluff National Monument once he got there.

After a night at a Scottsbluff hotel and a couple meals (mustn’t forget I am, after all, a Nebraska Department of Tourism employee) he would dive across the border to Torrington.

From there I used a highlighter to make it easy to find Casper, then north on the interstate from there (making sure to mention Wyoming’s generous speed limit) to have a look at Buffalo then continue north and check out Sheridan’s prospects as a place to put down roots.

My suggestion was to arise early enough after his night in Sheridan to be climbing the hill toward Burgess Junction not long after first light and more or less guaranteed he would see moose if he did. We talked about the excellent Burgess Junction visitor center and more moose hangouts across the top and all the way to the bottom of the west slope on U.S. Highway 14A, which I told him is unique as one of dang few highways built almost entirely to showcase breathtaking scenery.

U.S. Highway 14A was constructed using design and engineering specific to the classic routes through the Alps in Europe. Did you know that? No? Well now you do.

I didn’t bring up one of my favorites, Five Springs Campground, because the road is sketchy, but I couldn’t let him drive right by the Bighorn Canyon rec area. Coached him up large on the wild horse range, bighorn sheep, spectacular views into the canyon, the place’s other-planet-like landscape and the Caroline Lockhart ranch.

And there you have it, the abridged version of how I helped a nice Minnesotan with money to spend in Wyoming dodge a bullet.

I love this stuff. Can’t get enough.