Taking a closer look at the hills

I’ve been spending a lot of time on the river lately. I don’t mean I’ve taken up ice fishing or I’m making plans to take on the Polar Bear experience. It’s just I find myself, in my everyday routine, drawn more and more to the Big Horn and Wind River. I know, it’s kind of hard to avoid since it weaves through town, but even when I’m nowhere near the banks the river seems to find me.

Case in point — Thermopolis Middle School has an incredible display in their hall regarding a artist-in-residence project from a couple years back. The main subject of the piece, of course, is the river(s). Interestingly enough, it depicts the water as more reptilian than liquid.

If, way down in its depths, it actually happens to be a big snake, I hope it’s one that can see better with the contribution of my last pair of glasses that went downstream during a summer camping trip, stolen away by the current. Pay no mind to the fact that I should’ve secured them on land before wading in; in case it’s not already obvious, the water calls to me.

As the river carved out the land upon which Thermopolis was built, it’s also responsible in forming the Wind River Canyon south of town, where I found myself this weekend.

Though I’ve lived in Thermopolis nearly a year and made plenty of trips southward, I’m still impressed — and occasionally surprised — with the beauty I find in those hills and cliffs. This time, I was determined to find something I’ve kept an eye out for since my first trip through last February. The elusive bighorn sheep which, according to the signs, occupy at least a few miles of the landscape.

In the back seat, the four-year-old “guide” as he referred to himself, kept my spirits up and his own eyes on the hills, despite reminding me every few seconds of the bighorn sheep’s excellent climbing ability and how we’d never get high enough to see one. He also offered to do a solo climb to catch one for me.

Alas, no sheep were spotted this trip, just the average ducks and geese — which are extremely camera shy — and a squirrel or two. However, my prize eluding me yet again wasn’t enough to keep me from enjoying the beauty afforded by the canyon, a two-fold prize with its towering rock faces and its ability to put children to sleep.

Oh, and though the sheep may be taking a break, the guide assures me Bigfoot, his family and The Abominable Snowman must be sharing a cave somewhere up there.