Fourth of July in the Shoshone

I headed out from Pinedale this morning, intent to return again one day and stay longer. But I picked up coffee, a mug, and a glorious breakfast from Pine Coffee Supply on the way out.

Somewhere between a donut and a waffle with a glaze that’s kinda crunchy.

I split off from the highway back to Rock Springs to hit the southern edge of the Wind River Range and the Shoshone National Forest. On the way to the park, I made a quick detour drive-through of a couple interesting neighboring mining towns, Atlantic City and South Pass City, simply because of all the signs.

Situated some 27 miles south of Lander, Wyoming lies the once prosperous gold mining camp of Atlantic City. One of several gold camps that were outgrowths of nearby South Pass City, prospectors discovered gold near Rock Creek in the summer of 1868. The mineral-rich quartz vein, they called the Atlantic Ledge due to its location on the east side of the Continental Divide, was several feet thick and thousands of feet long.

[…] In 1884, in came a French engineer named Emil Granier, with investment capital to begin a hydraulic mining project. Hiring some 300 men, he began to build a 25 sluiceway to provide water to his claims east of Atlantic City down from Christina Lake, high in the Wind River Range. The ditch, that passed through miles of hard rock before snaking its way to Atlantic City, was finally completed in 1888. But, Granier’s dream would be foiled when it was found that the ditch had been built with too much slope and when the water rushed through it, many of the sluices were destroyed, spilling water and gold along the way. Small miners then rushed in and used the water for panning in the numerous gullies, many of whom were successful. By 1893, Granier’s company was bankrupt, and the defeated man returned to France to explain the project’s failure and request additional financing. Instead, he was jailed, tried, and sentenced to life in prison, where he died a few years later.

Atlantic City, Wyoming – Booming & Busting For Over 100 Years, Legends of America

Atlantic City’s general store still operates, the old hotel now operates as a B&B. South Pass City is almost entirely a ghost town preserved as a state park, with one or two residences remaining nearby. The state purchased the land as a 75th Birthday gift for its citizens.

I turned up the road into Shoshone National Forest headed toward Lander. The forest was filled with RVs camping out for the holiday, but the drive was nonetheless lovely. I stopped rather abruptly when I noticed a sign for a lookout. Those never disappoint.

I wasn’t able to find much information on this lookout other than that it was built in 1938. It’s near the Continental Divide on the southern end of the Wind River Range at 10,000 feet.

Continuing on, shortly after rejoining paved road, I found my planned hike for the day, the Popo Agie Falls Trail, a short hike along the Popo Agie river. It was by far the most crowded hike I’ve done in a while, but I had the overlook at the falls all to myself for picnic lunch.

After the hike, it was time to make haste to Tulsa. Or at least more-than-half way. Wyoming was a dream, yet again, and even after I ran out of mountains, the beauty remained. Sunset came and went as I crossed the border back into Colorado.

As I sped through Denver on I-25 headed toward 70, the city and all its sprawl erupted in a rainbow of fireworks in all directions. Happy Fourth of July.