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Away from the Grind

Break “away from the grind”, on the trail, into the wild. Our site contains info and photos to invite you to wander into some of the wonders of the American West.

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Recent Posts

chasm-lake

Chasm Lake

She told me she wanted one more hike before the snow flew. She wanted to take her friend who wasn’t sold on outdoor excursions. Her criteria were tough:  * A destination so stunning, so gorgeous, so interesting, so grand as to be beyond words * A trailhead within two hours drive of Cheyenne, Wyoming * [...]

northfork

North Fork Little Laramie River, Medicine Bow National Forest

North Fork Trail, hiked July 4, 2011. The deep snows of the past winter have delayed entry to the highest of the high country this summer. This mid-level trail opens a way to the snow’s gift: a bounty of wildflowers. On the eastern side of the Snowy Range, the trail, for most of its four and a [...]

turtlerock

Turtle Rock Trail at Vedauwoo

The trail circling Turtle Rock at Vedauwoo is undoubtedly the most popular trail in the Cheyenne, WY, area. And for good reason. It’s close, easy and fascinating in its mix of geological artistry and biological wonder. On any given weekend throughout the spring, summer and fall it’s thrumming with college age kids, seniors and young [...]

hewlettgulch

Hewlett Gulch

The word “gulch” brings up scenes from a cartoon. A dry desolate wash, replete with a bleached cow skeleton, where (gulp!) our intrepid hero Goofy is about to be dry-gulched by a gang of stubble-faced villains. Not an inviting picture. And nothing like Hewlett Gulch.  Hewlett is an inviting ramble up a pleasant creek, a little [...]

tetoncrest

Leapfrogging the Teton Crest

The Teton Crest Trail draws trekkers from all over the world. It’s one of the top ten alpine hikes anywhere, Switzerland, New Zealand and Patagonia included. But it hadn’t drawn me. Something got in the way.  Permits. I’m from Wyoming. I like my freedom. I want to camp where I want to camp when I [...]

johnanniewoodhousepano

John and Annie Woodhouse Recreation and Wildlife Habitat Area

Spring, in our foothills, is the metallic call of the sleek and shining redwing blackbird perched on the flaking old tuft of last year’s cattail. It’s the full out, web-extended urgent brake of the northbound teal throttling down to rest a night in an overfull pond. The nose of a spotted fawn peering up through [...]