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Lookout Peak - part 3

Photo by: Tim Bindner

From our travel from Colorado we crossed the border into Wyoming and arrived at Laramie, Wyoming. This was the state where we spent most of our trip.

Arriving in Laramie, we visited the Medicine Bow Ranger Station to pick up maps and headed into downtown Laramie for some lunch. We parked a block away and walked over to Crowbar & Grill for a tasty lunch.

With our bellies full, we walked back to the car and drove down highway 130 (Snowy Range Pass) toward Centennial, Wyoming. The view from this two-lane highway (picture above) surrounded us with vast fields containing wild horses, cows and elk. In the distance we could see the Medicine Bow National Forest and at the highest peak we saw snow covered tips. Soon we arrived at the hotel.

My previous blog provides information on Centennial Wyoming so I shall not repeat it here. After unloading our car we were met by our friends Mark and Lynn, who we ate dinner with at our hotel. After dinner Mark wanted to take us up the hill to Medicine Bow Peak. A 15 minute drive and we were at the foot of Medicine Bow. Along the way we visited Libby Flats Lookout, West Marie Lake, Mirror Lake and saw Lookout Lake in the distance. The sun was setting and being 2 hours behind, we decided we wanted to head back and go to bed, so we did.

The next day we again met up with Mark and Lynn, loaded up in their truck, and returned to the West Marie Lake parking lot. Marcie, Mark, and I walked over to the lake and admired the view. We then began a hike to “Lookout Peak”. The entire trail takes you 7.5 miles up and along Medicine Bow peak and returns to the parking lot. We only hiked one mile of it.

The parking lot was at an elevation of 10,491 feet above sea level. Within one mile we would be at 11,051 feet. Living at 699 feet above sea level, we all three felt the strains on our bodies. Every 30 50 feet we had to stop. Gasping for air, headache (me) and general fatigue, made this 1 mile (one way) trip a daunting challenge. We had no agenda, so we took our time, caught our breath, and made it up to the peak overlooking Marie Lake. The views were spectacular, and Marcie, Mark and I took shot after shot.

 

The trip down was much easier, and we passed a few people coming up the trail. One older lady was running up the trail. I felt embarrassed, but she was a local and used to the elevation.

We drove around some more, saw some moose on the side of the road and had dinner at our hotel once again. It was a great day, and I was so happy to share it with my wife and friends.

Until next time,

Tim (Kilmer)

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