Have you ever found yourself in a place that wasn’t what it appeared to be?

The Medicine Bow Peak area in southeast Wyoming is like that. It’s in the Snowy Range, a collection of majestic and imposing mountain peaks about 1-hour’s drive from Laramie. If you’re not familiar with Laramie, then it too is about an hour’s drive west of the state capitol, Cheyenne. Laramie is also the home of the University of Wyoming.

Medicine Bow Peak, Wyoming, looking southwest
Photo – Uwyo.edu

What does the Medicine Bow Peak area appear to be? It appears to be a rugged, remote, defiant wilderness. I’m sure it’s all of those. On the other hand, it’s also peaceful and inviting. Inviting? How so? Well, the Medicine Bow Peak area seems to invite visitors to be still, to listen, to look up, to take in the caressing, whispering sound of the wind, to register the blue of the sky, to let go of the stress and strain of what goes on in the lowlands below (in the nearby metropolitan centers of Cheyenne, Fort Collins, Boulder, and Denver). These mountains say, “Come. Sit. Drink in what is around you. Recharge. Reconnect with earth and heaven.” So, in a good way, these craggy, chiseled peaks are very much not what they appear to be.

Medicine Bow Peak, Wyoming
Photo – Uwyo.edu

These mountains are officially in the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests. Archaeological research estimates Native Americans (Northern Arapaho, Oglala Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, and the Eastern Shoshone) visited and lived in these mountains as early as 8,000 years ago. The area was (and, to a degree, still is) teeming with wildlife. There are elk, moose, bear, deer, turkey, mountain lion, badger, eagles, and more. The tribes that came to these mountains collected long sections of lodgepole pine for their teepees. They also came to “make medicine” (i.e. traditional, holistic medical treatments) and enjoy the soothing and healing properties of mineral hot springs in the area. (Note to self: Another post is needed about Saratoga Hot Springs, not far from Medicine Bow Peak and south of Rawlins and I-80.)

Lodgepole Pine, Medicine Bow National Forest
Photo – FRLambrechtsen

My interest in these mountains began in the early 1990’s. My family and I were living and working in the Denver area. A group of colleagues and neighbors decided we were going to go camping in the early summer. The Denver Front Range area was really busy then. I’m sure it’s even more so now. To get a little more “off the beaten path,” we decided to head up into southeastern Wyoming. We took the “shortcut” from Fort Collins (Hwy 287) and headed northwest toward Laramie. Before Laramie, we cut off and then headed pretty much west (on Hwy 130 toward Centennial).

Historic Marker, Wyoming Hwy 130 near Laramie Regional Airport
Photo – FRLambrechtsen

In about 30-45 minutes from that turn-off, we were up the mountain and at our campsite. Of course, the kids loved it. Tents and sleeping bags were made for kids. The camping wasn’t primitive, as some camping can be. We had running water and there were toilets. We were up near 9,000 feet elevation. The morning, afternoons and evenings were…crisp. Campfires, hot chocolate, and marshmallows and…we were good!

Then came the question that tied me to these mountains after that (and pretty much got me to write this post): “So, did you hear about the plane crash that happened up here? Yeah, it was a while ago…in the 60’s or something like that. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir was on the plane.” Whaat…?

Medicine Bow Peak from Lookout
Photo – FRLambrechtsen

Okay. If I was sort of interested in the area before, now my interest was really pricked. (I’d never heard anything like that about the Tabernacle Choir.) Later, on that camping trip, we drove up higher as a group. There was a lookout area. We stopped and talked to our kids about these mountains. We pointed to the peaks in the distance and mentioned there was once a plane crash “…up there.” Jackets were zipped up against the wind. Trees and shrubs seemed sparse. It was kind of barren. Someone mentioned it was because the area was so high, so cold, and because the wind blew so hard and so much. I believed them. That camping trip was a nice one, a memorable one, at least for me.

Snowy Range looking northwest
Photo – FRLambrechtsen

Over 20 years later I returned…to see if my memories served me well. They did. Most of the photos I’ve included with this post are a testament to that. If anything, Medicine Bow Peak and the Snowy Range were even more “inviting” to me than before.

In the years since my first visit, the Scenic Byway road has been improved. There are more turnouts. At one of the turnouts that looks down and out at the mountains flanking Medicine Bow Peak, we found this:

Remembrance Plaque, Medicine Bow Peak
Photo – FRLambrechtsen

I’ll avoid blathering on here.  Suffice to say, the plaque/monument was a modest reminder of the tragedy that happened at such a beautiful place over 60 years ago.  For more background on the crash itself, this link can help: https://www.wyohistory.org/encyclopedia/united-flight-409-1955-crash-killed-66-people

I’ll wrap up this post by saying: I’m so glad that I decided to return and spend some time in these beautiful mountains.  Let me (and the State of Wyoming) “invite” you to come to Medicine Bow Peak and the Snowy Mountains. Come. Listen to the wind.  Watch the clouds push by. Pull in the high, thin air. Take some pictures…either with a camera or just with your own eyes and your brain.  Gather some indelible memories. I can practically guarantee you’ll be glad you did.

Medicine Bow Peak and the Snowy Range
Photo – FRLambrechtsen