Although our original intention had been to take US 20 through Yellowstone, the entrance on the west and exit on the east were at least a week away from being opened. Hence, we entered Wyoming south of the park, drove up through Jackson Hole where we watched a few skiers racing downhill on this gorgeous spring day, and then, a little to the north, suddenly came upon the Grand Tetons which never cease to amaze.
We camped just to the east of the Tetons and the next morning set out through Togwotee Pass which crosses the Continental Divide at 9,658 feet. Plenty of snow here. Rejoined US 20 at Shoshoni. In Casper, we visited the National Historic Trails Center which highlights the Oregon, California, Mormon, and Pony Express Trails. Having just driven through some of the hardest parts of several of these trails, it was sobering to think about the thousands of people who made the trek west in the mid 1800′s by foot or covered wagon when there were no roads, no stores, no campgrounds with running water.
The next day, we stopped for a few minutes at Rock in the Glen, near a stage station along the Oregon Trail. There are many names scratched into the rock, a few from the early days of emigration. A little further down the road, while looking for a museum in Douglas, we happened upon some old railroad cars on display. To go west on one of these trains was to ride in style.