Snow, Bluebirds and Lakeshore Drive

Very wet two days in Guernsey. My gauge had an inch and a half before the snow came. Not sure how much snow we got but had a foot on the rails of our backyard deck.

By early afternoon, the roads had melted enough to allow a drive along the east side of the park on Lakeshore Drive.

 Funny thing about that name, some modern maps list Lakeside Drive and the homes between Hartville and the east side entry to the lake have addresses of Lakeside Drive. When I was researching my book, available later this week, all notes from CCC times refer to the Drive as Lakeshore and some Lake Shore. Lakeside Drive must be a modern day mistake.

Bluebirds everywhere in Long Canyon today. What a great day for a drive, even if it was a bit wet.

Ice is Breaking Down on Wyoming Lakes

The state has issued a warning to ice fisherman to be careful as much of the states ice is no longer safe for walking or standing on when ice fishing. I have never seen anyone ice fishing on Guernsey Lake but I have seen people playing on the ice. Now is the time to stay off. 

Can Spring really be coming this soon? Probably not!

Ice Can Draw an Interesting Picture

Open Water and Ice at Sandy Beach

Flying Toward Spring

Winter Settles Into the Park

Looks like winter in the park now. Quite a bit of snow cover and no people. 

Seems to be a lot of empty camping spots - all of them

Not a bathing beauty in site

Not a single boat on the lake and no one on the beach - must be the ice keeping them away.

Frozen Waves

But the Park Still Has Visitors

Hey Back here guys!

Almost a Year Old Now - and ready for spring

A Mountain a Moon and a Sunset

Sometimes a photo says it all. With the August 10, Super-Moon, I couldn’t resist. All Photos from Guernsey State Park. Enjoy!

 

What about the mountain and the sunset?

 

 

 

 

 

The Storm Rolls In

A warm summer day and then the clouds rolled in.

Most of the visitors left the park when the storm approached - too bad they missed this.

 

Wasn't too bad back in town either.

Another Dam Update

 
Maybe, just maybe this will be the last of my dam road updates. No, it is not open, not yet, but looks like the work crew is in clean up, and finish up stages.

 

I took these photos Sunday evening, possibly by the fifteenth we will be able to drive Lakeshore across the dam.

The lake is full, a few of the newer picnic spots are in the lake but most are fine.

Duck Picnic?

 I have said this before but it is really nice to see a lake full to capacity, or maybe a bit more.

With a full lake the springs are back- Waterfall along Red Cliff Trail

Deer In The Park - Guernsey State Park

There seems to be a few more deer in the park than the past few years. Not sure why. We decided to count last week and headed to the park at optimum deer counting time, for us, right after supper. 

Out of a bunch of 9 on Mae West Hill

We counted 32 doe on the west side trip and the next evening 17 does on the east side. (I am never sure if more than one makes them does or multiple doe, I used both, thereby assuring myself I got, at least, one correct) Have not seen a buck for a while, but did see a group of 6 two weeks ago. Looks like that adds up to 55. It is nearly impossible to drive through the park in the evening without seeing a substantial number of deer, pretty cool!

Nice Group of 9

 We have not seen much of the turkeys this spring, only a few here and there and not often, hope they all survived.

Trying to Hide, but we can still see you

New Wyoming Licence Plate

Think we could talk the Legislature into this?  All the money goes back to the parks, works nice for the University, and great advertising too. 



New Wyoming License Plate

 

 Meanwhile, pretty nice Thursday evening sunset at the park.

Sunset - Guernsey State Park, North Bluff Castle

The Castle at Guernsey State Park

“Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair.”

 Remember that old Brothers Grimm fairy tale? Well, I wouldn’t either, but my wife loved to read it to our kids when they were little.

So what does that have to do with Guernsey State Park? Well for frequent visitors it is a simple answer. Guernsey State Park just might be the only state park in America with a Castle, The North Bluff Castle.

Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, it is a one of a kind. The builders must have taken a long time getting it just right, just right for the perfect view. The tower is only 13 feet high but that 13 feet affords a magnificent view.

Don’t want to walk up the stairs? How about these views from inside the picnic area of the shelter, no steps needed.

 

Looking West - Laramie Peak



Looking North

  

I cheated - this is upstairs
but my grand kids love this view.

 




If you haven’t been there for a while, it may be about time to take a trip to the Castle on the North Bluff at Guernsey State park

“Oh Rapunzel!”

 

Guernsey State Park - A Walk In The Park

Yesterday we took the Knight Mountain Trail in the park. It starts in the Upper Spotted Tail campground, leads east for a quarter mile before turning north (left) down through a creek bottom.

Walking east from Upper Spotted Tail

 

Then the fun begins, the winding trail leads up a good grade on a surprisingly well marked trail.

Up the trail we go

 

 It goes up over the top of Knight Mountain then on down into Fish Canyon. (we didn't go that far) 

About 2/3 of the way up

 

We turned around before we took the final steps up to the very top. This point in the trail affords a spectacular view of the lake, Brimmer Point and everything to the west.

Nice view from here

 

Eagle's eye view of Sitting Bull

 

Brimmer Point across the way

The top part of the trail appeared to need some actual climbing, not just our normal hiking.  Maybe we will try to go on up, and over, later this spring.

Looking east (the other way)

 

Seven in the evening and heading down (that's the Laramie Range in the west)

This is one of the original Civilian Conservation Corps trails and one those young men must have had a blast building. 

This one isn't for everyone, as it is not, just a walk in the park, but last evening a coupe of old retired seniors made it okay.

Almost forgot my weekly Dam Road update.  Here it is . . . . .

Not Yet!

 

 

 

 

Guernsey Dam Update 3-17

All kind of rumors as to when the road over the dam will be open, latest is that it could be Memorial Day weekend.

The ice is gone

They have poured quite a bit of cement since last weekend.  I took all of these photos Sunday and, to me, it looks like they are moving along pretty fast now.  Maybe they were far enough behind they need to get it going now.

Lots of new concrete

View from the east

May have to move this before letting water through
 

Speaking of interesting rumors, also heard the dam will be filled above what it has been the past few years, even when it was full. Not sure, but there is a lot of snow pack.