[Personal] TL;DR Lots of images and two vids. Vedauwoo!
Vedauwoo. Pronounced vee-da-voo
Back in the early part of 1979, I became totally fascinated with the backroads behind the F.E Waren Air Force in Cheyenne Wyoming. Good part of my tour there previously was confined in a hospital (different story). So I was desperately aching to get out and about.
So walking around the outside of the base, I saw the grand vista of the Laramie mountains with deep blue skies. In the foreground was all the rolling hills leading up to those mountains.
It was all so enticing, after 6 months being confined to a military hospital. And that whole back area seemed to be oh so mysterious and just oozed of the unknown.
I didn't really know by just how much though until much later. Being on foot limited me quite a bit, until I was able to finally get a motorcycle 6 months later and I had nearly forgotten about that area. So I made many little trips at first, on my free time which I had plenty of having a four day work schedule, one day on call and three days off. Eight day week total.
I won't go into all those little trips, rather to say some were not that little having gone all the way to Denver some 100 miles away, on that 175 Yamaha motorcycle 😈
Once I got over my wander lust, I became interested in that same area though. I had past it many many times on my way to Laramie on I-80.
So looking closer from the base, I noticed another little road that went through those enticing hills. I learned much later that the road was called Happy Jack road, aka Highway 210.
Going down that road, I noticed a large outcrop of rock and decided to investigate. I came across a big mystery, that to this day, I could never figure out.
Some say I must have found the Ames memorial. And I can understand why. Where else in that area could a medium large pyramid be found?
Yet I know it could not be true. No statues for one and there are two at that memorial. Plus the fact that it was hallowed out and people had been in there, with graffiti all over it.
I was saddened by the graffiti, yet very preturbed about the area. Just no indication of who had made it.
This only very much added to the whole mystery of the whole area. It was only about 7 miles from the base. I have searched the internet for decades ever since and found no reference to that pyramid to this day (I just looked again) and found nothing other than the Ames memorial.
As I continued on down Happy Jack road, I was amazed by all beauty around me. It's not noticed when you're on the interstate. Plus the added fact you're going a bit slower on a country highway. And there are many little ponds and streams around...
... and the rock outcroppings become larger and more frequent.
In this area is located three interesting reservoirs (Granite lake, Crystal lake and the North crow) which I had couple of interesting incidents. Another story there! 😊
Yet this back road to Vedauwoo is just a bit further and few would think to turn on it. I have no idea why I did back then. Just that it seemed an interesting dirt road. In the first picture the sign says Vedauwoo, on the maps it's called Forest road 700. Back then there was no sign! Just another dirt road.🤷♂️
Back then nobody was in or around the area, and I do mean nobody because I saw no one. And still today it's considered an out of the way place, yet now days the whole area is a huge tourist attraction in comparison. See the videos.
What draws people to the whole medicine bow area could very well be the same unique feeling I had back then. Some have said the whole area is haunted. That maybe true.
Stories say that the crow indians use it as a meditation, burial and bravery area. I can believe that. Whatever the reason why I was drawn to it, it was a life changing experience. One that I cherish very much.
Today the Vedauwoo area is very well known for rock climbing and mountain biking. It certainly has had an interesting rock climbing past as well. All the way back to the 1880's.
I certainly I did climb these monumental boulders and explored the whole area. Yet not to the extent and scope that quite a few have since then. I was by myself, except one occasion, and had no gear other than my own two feet.
Drone view.
[media=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9oMI-Jbz8lM]
Mountain climbing.
[media=https://youtu.be/-IQloGl4rFA]
[i]Hope this was interesting enough.
More on Vedauwoo and source of some images and one video.
https://www.vedauwoo.org/about-vedauwoo/
https://www.aaroads.com/guides/vedauwoo-rd-wyoming/
https://www.aaroads.com/west/wy-210.html
61-69, M
