RonnieAdventure #0176 - Western Wyoming - 2015

The Shoshone Indians called the river Seeds-Kee-Dee Agie, but the Jedediah Smith and his Mountain Men camped at this location on March 19, 1824 and named it "The Green." Mountain men considered these waters to be "the greatest beaver waters ever known." Years later emigrants followed the same trails established by the mountain men and camped in this same area. Unfortunately, many emigrants drowned trying to cross the river and were buried along the river banks. 

Located just a few miles up the road is Names Hill, which contains the names of many mountain men and emigrants that passed this way and carved their names in the soft sandstone. The oldest inscription was made in 1822 and the most famous inscription  is "Jim Bridger 1844 Trapper."

The Green River Valley Museum in Big Piney contains a wide variety of local historic items that were used to support ranching and agriculture in the Valley. The Lander Cut-Off (North Fork of the Oregon Trail) passed just north of town, but none of the thousands of emigrants migrating west settled in this area. It wasn't until the late 1870s that cattlemen started ranching on nearby Piney Creek and formed the community of Big Piney.  

The Lander Cut-Off shortened the trip to the Pacific by 5-to-7 days and avoided price gouging ferries to the south. It is estimated that about 300 wagons and thousands of cattle, horses, and mules passed this point each day at the height of the migration. Visible wagon ruts that "continue over the next ridge are reminders of the largest known voluntary migration in world history." 

The Museum of the Mountain Man in Pinedale contains a large collection of Mountain Man artifices and historical documents, including the 40-caliber rifle that Louis Vasquez presented to Jim Bridger in 1853. Not to be missed if you are interested in mountain man history.

Although most people know that the Lewis and Clark Corps were the first to cross the continent, how many people know the name of the second group. Fortunately, I found a sign on the north side of Highways 189/191 between Daniel and Bondurant that answered the question. On October 18, 1811 Wilson Price Hunt and his team of sixty-one Astorians of the Pacific Fur Company camped for five days at this site in Sublette County (Wyoming) while making their trip to the Pacific Ocean, becoming the second group to cross the continent.  

Attention Quilters - Great Business Opportunity!!! The little old Grandma that ran the quilt shop in Jackson (Wyoming) has passed away and now there in no quilt shop in all of Jackson Hole. Great opportunity for someone that wants to be an entrepreneur.

Since there is no quilt shop to visit in Jackson, you can always stop by the Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center, which is located just south of the National Elk Refuge. Also, the Jackson Town Square contains four beautiful elk-horn arches (one at each corner of the park).

Of course, most tourist come to Jackson to ski or visit Grand Teton National Park, located north of town. I think the views across Jenny and Jackson Lakes were my favorite spots.