Scotts Bluff National Monument: Birding Owl Road (Yet Again)

 Noelle and I went out to Owl Road to look for birds again. Amongst the species we saw were:

common mergansers,

and bald eagles.

After our outing, we went and got some beers at Scott Free Brewing.

Scotts Bluff National Monument: Cross Country Skiing Prairie View Trail

We've got some good snow on the ground for the first time this winter and Noelle and I decided we would take advantage of it by getting the old skinny skis out and skiing at the monument. We were out just as the sun emerged from the clouds and began to set, making for some spectacular scenery.

Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area: Turkey Run Trail to Northlook Nature Trail

Today I convinced Sierra to get out and go for a hike with me, so we made the short drive to Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area to hike the Turkey Run Trail and Northlook Nature Trail. There was some snow on the ground, which made for some nice scenery. It was warm though, and the wet snow would stick to our shoes.

It was an uneventful hike, really just an excuse to get outside, stretch our legs, and spend some time together.

Distance hiked: 4.7 miles

Cumulative distance hiked in 2025: 42.6 miles

Scotts Bluff National Monument: Owl Road

Noelle and I got out to Owl Road to do some birding. 

It wasn't the most amazing day of spotting birds, but I did photograph a robin, 

and some Canada geese. 

We spotted a dead goose floating down the North Platte River as well. 

Perhaps it was the victim of the bald eagle we spotted. 

Distance hiked: 2.7 miles

Cumulative distance hiked in 2025: 37.9 miles

Scotts Bluff National Monument: Saddle Rock Trail

I got out for a hike in the monument as the sun rose this morning. I opted to hike up Saddle Rock Trail 

and then down the Summit Road. Nothing too out of the ordinary, but it was nice to see the sun rise at Saddle Rock.

Distance hiked: 3.2 miles

Cumulative distance hiked in 2025: 35.2 miles

Scotts Bluff National Monument: East Boundary from Old Oregon Trail South to the Base of South Bluff

We drove back home from Laramie today, after a great ski trip and an enjoyable time in town. I opted to get out for a hike and so headed out from home to hike a portion of the monument boundary from Old Oregon Trail Road as far as I could get until I got cliffed out. 

It was a quick walk from home, past Five Rocks Amphitheater and into the monument. Once inside the monument I headed north first, past the big water tanks just outside the boundary.

The area inside the fenceline was pretty weedy with lots of tire tracks from the trucks that had replaced some of the power poles that had snapped in a bad wind/snowstorm last April. I did find a partial pronghorn skull in the weeds!

I made my way to the site of the old emigrant trail, 

crossed over it and headed to Old Oregon Trail Road before turning around to head back south. This time, I opted to follow the faint powerline road up over the ridge that emanates from Dome Rock and back to the point where I had entered the monument. From here I would head west on the south monument boundary.

I found the spot where the old monument boundary cut through Dome Rock. A USGS marker marked the spot of a significant old metal fencepost. 

I traveled past Dome Rock 

and squeezed through a constriction where the boundary passes very close to the base of South Bluff. Here I spotted a small herd of mule deer off in the distance.

From here it was pretty easy walking. Then I turned north and started a steep climb to get as high up South Bluff as I could. There was a really nice view from here.

I rested a bit and then started back down. Just past the constriction I stopped to admire the view of Dome Rock in the late afternoon sun.

Then, started my way back home.

Distance hiked: 4.0 miles

Cumulative distance hiked in 2025: 32.0 miles

Snowy Range Ski Area: 2025 Ski Trip

 The past two days we've been in Laramie for our annual ski trip at Snowy Range Ski Area. Noelle and I had two fun days of skiing, while Sierra unfortunately, got sick on day 2. 

Scotts Bluff National Monument: Walking the West Boundary Old Oregon Trail South to the base of South Bluff

Today, despite the cold wind, I continued my quest to hike the entire boundary of Scotts Bluff National Monument. Today's hike started at the West Entrance. 

From the entrance sign I walked west along Old Oregon Trail to the unfenced monument boundary at a fairly deep ravine. I would follow this ravine for much of the 1st half of the day's hike.

There were some pretty sheer cliff lines in the ravine. 

A project to repair some damaged fence last summer meant the way through the ravine was fairly well opened up so that employees could get supplies and themselves to the damaged section of fence more easily.

There were two big sections of corrugated metal down in the ravine at one point. Maybe an old water tank that had been blown in by the wind?

I eventually exited the ravine and then followed a fence line due west. An interesting old truck was out in a neighbor's field.

Soon the boundary headed south towards South Bluff.

I opted not to climb the steep sketchy-looking slope up the bluff. Instead, I headed over to the old picnic area and then followed the old picnic back to the car. Along the way I found a nice deer antler.