I got into Dale's all-terrain vehicle for an all-day back roads tour when he picked me up at my B&B at 9:00 a.m. We drove all over the high desert, exploring unlabeled dirt roads, hidden canyons, scenic overlooks, and petroglyphs. We gathered river rocks and canyon rocks and harvested sagebrush with a pocketknife. I drank from a glacier-fed mountain stream, scooping water with my hand. We saw four bald eagles circling in formation, rising from the rocky foothills. Hundreds of deer. Handful of antelope. And even a flock of elusive big horn sheep grazing among mule deer on a far foot hill. Baby eagles in the nest. Prairie dogs. Osprey. Trout.
Dale, a semi-retired dentist who loves the land and these people, made all this possible, anticipating everything I'd need that I didn't know I'd need and providing it for me unobtrusively- binoculars, a pocket knife, bags for my treasures, folding table and chairs for lunch, extra water, all-terrain vehicle, walking stick, outhouses, frequent breath-catching breaks while hiking at altitude. He gave me permission to walk past the guard rails, to take rocks, to harvest sagebrush, to touch the petroglyphs gently. He knew that there were no snakes, nothing poisonous, nothing to bite or sting. He knew which paths were dry and stable and explained how to walk downhill without sliding. Not only could he do it, but he could help me do it all for the first time while staying safe and having fun. I'd never have experienced any of that without him.
And all the while, he told me stories, methodically explaining about local history, geology, economy, weather, ecology, resources, people, adventures- great stories all day. Told between bird sightings and rock collecting. Never rushed. There were bigger spaces between his words than mine, fewer adjectives, more time. Everything has more time and a story. The one-foot high sagebrush bushes that line the roads are 200 years old with roots 30 feet deep. That kind of time. That kind of story. All day long. His family has lived in relationship with the Native peoples and a harsh, beautiful land for four generations. Dale's great-grandfather started the mission to the Indians in the 1800's, built the first local church, ran the first school for Native girls, and remained much beloved by the Native community until his death. We got to visit the church building that his congregation built all those generations ago. Sharing Dale's stories made it feel like I was visiting family instead of being a stranger passing through.
Dale is extremely knowledgeable, experienced, and skilled. He adapted his tour to my interests, skill level, and the season and weather- all of which posed challenges. I was interested in wildlife, geology, history, and the sensory experiences of touching, smelling, hearing, tasting, and seeing nature. I also asked a lot of questions which he cheerfully answered. I was a high desert novice and a walker more than a hiker. They had just 'had some weather,' so things were relatively wet and I was several weeks earlier than most tourists. Yet with all the odd variables, he had the know-how to pull off a splendid day. I would anticipate that he would be equally good with experienced hikers or outdoors people as well since he is very experienced and fit.
One last note, especially for you adventuresome women. I traveled alone and booked the tour by myself. I was a bit hesitant about spending the entire day alone with an unknown man in a strange place. Not only was this clearly a non-issue within two minutes of meeting Dale, I also got to shake hands his wife who had done all the scheduling and coordinating. When I asked, Dale shared about his beloved wife, children, and grandchildren which again made me feel more like I was visiting family than taking a tour from a stranger.
I personally am hoping to do another tour with Dale when I come again and I strongly recommend spending a day with him to get a feel for the real Wyoming by experiencing it your way! read more
