Medicine Bow National Forest: Middle Crow Creek Loop

It was forecast to be pretty warm today. Noelle and I decided to get up higher in elevation to escape the heat. We opted for the closest high elevation to Gering: Vedauwoo. It was an uneventful drive. We made a quick stop at Sierra Trading Post on the way and arrived to start our hike around 11 a.m. We hit the trail from the same trailhead Sierra and I had used to start our hike of Reynolds Hill. 

Just like the hike I did with Sierra two weeks ago, this hike is featured in Hiking Wyoming's Medicine Bow National Forest by Marc Smith. This time, at the turn off to Reynolds Hill, Noelle and I made a left onto another old, disused forest road. After going the wrong way for a short distance, (We accidentally took the trail that leads to the Turtle Rock Loop.) we crossed a flowing creek 

and headed northeast. The scenery was pretty spectacular.

Lots of views of the interesting rock formations that Vedauwoo is known for as we traversed many meadows.

Occasionally, the trail headed into pretty aspen groves.

We found ourselves off the route described in the book for a short time. We accidentally took a side trail to a climbing area. The trail followed alongside the hike's namesake Middle Crow Creek. 

With all the water, the mosquitoes were a bit of a nuisance. Eventually, Noelle and I applied some bug spray and that helped immensely. We climbed out of the creek drainage up towards a fence line. Along the way, we were treated to more great views of the signature Vedauwoo rock formations.

Once we reached the fence, we made a right turn and followed the fenceline for a bit. That's when we made one of our most disturbing discoveries while hiking. An elk calf had gotten caught in the barbed wire fence. It was still alive when we found it, but it had a leg broken so badly that bone was exposed. It was covered with flies and breathing but could barely move its head as we approached. I wish we could have done something for it. Even had we been able to free it from the fence, it would not have survived due to the broken leg. It was one of the few times that I wished I had a firearm. I would have shot the elk to put it out of its misery. 

We quickly moved past the elk and then turned away from the fence. From here the trail descended gently with more views.

Soon enough we were back to the car. We made the drive into Cheyenne via Happy Jack Road and got lunch at a Wendy's. We ate at Holliday Park and after our meal walked the pleasant park past the Big Boy on display.