Medicine Bow National Forest: Headquarters National Recreation Trail

 After Rosie's daily morning walk, the two of us got into the car for a drive down to Cheyenne and then west into the Pole Mountain area of Medicine Bow National Forest. It was an uneventful drive, though quite foggy as we headed up in elevation to the area near the trailhead. Today, we would be hiking the Headquarters National Recreation Trail. We drove past the I-80 Summit Rest Area and into the forest where I parked alongside a road whose sides were decorated with the brilliant yellow of fall aspen foliage. 

After our short road walk we were officially on the trail.

The fog didn't allow for much in the way of distant views.

However, the diffused light really seemed to make the fall colors pop!

 A map of the area showed a web-like network of trails. I was worried that the route of the Headquarters Trail would be confusing with all the trail junctions. However, I found each junction well-signed and never had to worry about losing my path.

We ascended for a bit 

up to a spur trail that led out to an overlook. With the view stilled fogged in, we opted to save that for the return trip. Eventually, the trail started to make a fairly steep descent down to the east trailhead. Multiple areas along this descent offered views out over the lower areas of the plateau. 

The colors in many areas were just spectacular!

I finally descended all the way down to a small, dirt parking area with a solitary picnic table. Rosie and I took a short break there before we began retracing our steps with an ascent back up.

T change things up a bit, I opted to hike the short Browns Landing Trail for a bit. 

Lots of great views as it traversed a meadow area.

A short time after returning to the Headquarters Trail, we found ourselves at the Overlook spur.

It offered a nice view, but nothing too spectacular.

After the overlook, it was a short hike back to the west end of the trail and our car.

Medicine Bow National Forest: Sheep Lake/Gap Lakes/Lost Lake Loop Hike

 Yesterday evening, I packed up the car with my camping gear and headed southwest to Cheyenne, Wyoming. After fueling up the car and getting some food, I headed up to Vedauwoo to dispersed camp along the Vedauwoo Glen Road. I arrived right at sunset 

and while I had originally intended to sleep underneath the stars, I opted to set up the tent since it was a bit windy out. 

Early this morning, I packed up camp and headed through Laramie and into the Snowy Range to do a hike I've had my eyes on for a while now. It's a circumnavigation of Browns Peak. I arrived at the trailhead parking lot at Brooklyn Lake just as the sun was rising and hit the trail, starting out on the Sheep Lake Trail. 

It was a spectacular hike right off the bat, but a bit different than I had been expecting. Rather than steep, rocky expanses dotted with lakes, the lakes were instead separated by gentle, grassy slopes. I was able to watch the sun rise above the first lake I passed by. 

The trail gently climbed higher and higher, 

soon arriving at the first of many lakes that included a wooden sign with its name engraved on it: North Twin Lake.

The scenery was quite picturesque.

Soon enough I was able to catch a glimpse of a peak high on the main ridge of the Snowy Range. 

At first I thought it was Medicine Bow Peak, but quickly realized its an unnamed peak northeast of the highest peak in the range.

I would have views of this particular peak for most of the midsection of my hike.

When I reached the junction with the Gap Lakes Trail, 

I made a left and followed that trail into some of the most dramatic scenery in the Snowy Range. There was the view from North Gap Lake.

Of course there was also a view of South Gap Lake. I had contemplated doing a side trip up the Shelf Lake Trail, but when I arrived at the junction, I decided against it. Instead I continued on to South Gap Lake. I had been to South Gap Lake before, when I had climbed Browns Peak late last summer. After a short break 

just south of South Gap Lake, I continued on. The section of trail from South Gap Lake down to Lewis Lake has to be one of the most spectacular. It did not disappoint.

The last leg of the hike was along the Lost Lake Trail. It featured lots of views over various lakes.

I arrived back at Brooklyn Lake a little after noon for the drive into Laramie for lunch. I have to say that this loop hike features some of the best scenery around and, other than the length (about 13 miles) it was fairly easy.