{"id":8225,"date":"2023-09-24T22:59:36","date_gmt":"2023-09-24T14:59:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/?p=8225"},"modified":"2024-04-21T11:28:09","modified_gmt":"2024-04-21T03:28:09","slug":"20230924medicine-bow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924medicine-bow\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 6 of Autumn 2023 Trip to Mountain States, Medicine Bow Peak"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The sixth day of my autumn 2023 trip to the mountain states. I hiked Medicine Bow Peak, a prominent mountain in southern Wyoming.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8485.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8485.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/splide.min.2.4.21.js\"><\/script>\n<link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/splide-skyblue.min.css\">\n<script>\ndocument.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function () {\n\tvar secondarySlider1 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-1', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:67,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints 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{\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:67,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:57,height:38,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider10 = new Splide( '#splide-major-10', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider10.sync( secondarySlider10 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider11 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-11', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:75,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:56,height:42,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider11 = new Splide( '#splide-major-11', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider11.sync( secondarySlider11 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider12 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-12', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:67,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:57,height:38,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider12 = new Splide( '#splide-major-12', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider12.sync( secondarySlider12 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider13 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-13', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:67,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:57,height:38,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider13 = new Splide( '#splide-major-13', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider13.sync( secondarySlider13 ).mount();\n} );\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Plans_for_the_Next_Few_Days\">Plans for the Next Few Days<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>After spending a few days exploring western South Dakota (and venturing into Wyoming for Devils Tower), I had a few options on where to explore next. If I was short on time I could drive back to Chicago; Yellowstone was a natural next-step that could be reached within one day&#8217;s driving from Devils Tower; or I could check out the foliage in Colorado. Since I visited Yellowstone four years ago, and its popularity required much advanced planning, I instead decided on Colorado.<br \/>\nIn particular, I planned on visiting Moab from Grand Junction, CO in 2020. Despite interrupted by COVID, I still made that trip from Salt Lake City, thus missing out the attractions around Grand Junction, such as Colorado National Monument and Black Canyon of Gunnison. I gladly added them onto my itinerary this time.<br \/>\nIn addition, I would be in Colorado towards the end of September (around Sept 25-30), this was the tail of the hiking season and the beginning of the foliage season. Based on my experience, all but the highest mountains in Colorado were still snow-free and open to hiking during my visit. I wasn&#8217;t best geared for climbing mountains this time so I decided to limit my hiking to 4000m elevation, and I had some great hikes in San Juan Mountains in the coming days. As for foliage, I loved what I saw at higher elevation parts of Colorado, such as Grand Mesa and Million Dollar Highway between Ridgway and Coal Bank Pass. But in lower elevation parts, such as around Durango or Pagosa Springs, there wasn&#8217;t much foliage to see.<\/p>\n<p>To reach Grand Junction, CO from Devils Tower, WY, there was the short-but-boring route of Gillette-Casper-Rawlins, or the long-but-exciting route of Fort Collins-Rocky Mountain National Park(!)-I70(!). I visited Denver and some of Colorado&#8217;s front range mountains last summer, so I opted for a compromise between these two, taking a small detour to Medicine Bow \/ Snowy Range.<br \/>\nOriginally, I planned to reach Laramie\/Centennial by today&#8217;s (Sept 24) end. However, I went through my itineraries in South Dakota&#8217;s Black Hills faster than I expected, so I reached the town of Guernsey, WY last night, which was only 2.4 hours from the trailhead of Medicine Bow Peak. Given the loop trail of Medicine Bow Peak (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.alltrails.com\/trail\/us\/wyoming\/medicine-bow-peak-via-lakes-trail-loop\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AllTrails Link<\/a>) is only 11.1km long with a modest 523m of elevation gain, I figured I could leave Guernsey in the morning, hit the trail and make some progress towards Grand Junction at the end of the day.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Places_around_Guernsey\">Places around Guernsey<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>While I first perceived Guernsey, WY as a town to just spend the night, the super-friendly manager of Bunkhouse Motel, where I spent the previous night, informed me about some sights near the town.<br \/>\nFirst it&#8217;s &#8220;Register Cliff&#8221;, an important checkpoint\/rest stop along the historic Oregon Trail after leaving Fort Laramie. Here, immigrants to western US inscribed their names onto a sandstone cliff, in my opinion, so that they wouldn&#8217;t be forgotten in case they didn&#8217;t make it through the often treacherous Rocky Mountains. Most of the names inscribed here were during the 1840s and 1850s, at the height of the Oregon Trail, though it&#8217;s easier to pick up graffiti\/vandalism much later.<br \/>\nTo a frightening degree I feel for those immigrants, as I find myself on a similarly precarious journey that may or may not make it, and if I don\u2019t, it\u2019s as if I will be another inconspicuous name on a register of life.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-1\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8394.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8394.jpg\" alt=\"Carvings on Register Cliff\" \/><\/a><\/br>Carvings on Register Cliff<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8395.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8395.jpg\" alt=\"Carvings on Register Cliff\" \/><\/a><\/br>Carvings on Register Cliff<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8393C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8393C11.jpg\" alt=\"Carvings on Register Cliff\" \/><\/a><\/br>Carvings on Register Cliff<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8397.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8397.jpg\" alt=\"Register Cliff\" \/><\/a><\/br>Register Cliff<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8398.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8398.jpg\" alt=\"Register Cliff\" \/><\/a><\/br>Register Cliff<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-1\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8394.jpg\" alt=\"Carvings on Register Cliff\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8395.jpg\" alt=\"Carvings on Register Cliff\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8393C11.jpg\" alt=\"Carvings on Register Cliff\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8397.jpg\" alt=\"Register Cliff\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8398.jpg\" alt=\"Register Cliff\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-1, #splide-thumb-1 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos from Register Cliff.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8394.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8394.jpg\" alt=\"Carvings on Register Cliff\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Carvings on Register Cliff<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8395.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8395.jpg\" alt=\"Carvings on Register Cliff\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Carvings on Register Cliff<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8393C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8393C11.jpg\" alt=\"Carvings on Register Cliff\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Carvings on Register Cliff<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8397.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8397.jpg\" alt=\"Register Cliff\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Register Cliff<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8398.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8398.jpg\" alt=\"Register Cliff\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Register Cliff<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Next it was &#8220;Guernsey Ruts&#8221;. Here a short section of the Oregon Trail wore down a sandstone ridge, where the trail ruts were preserved. It felt very solid walking on the sandstone, so I could hardly imagine the number of wagons and the weight of their cargo that wore down such trail ruts, and the amazing fact that they were preserved till this day.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-2\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8399.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8399.jpg\" alt=\"Oregon Trail Ruts\" \/><\/a><\/br>Oregon Trail Ruts<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8401.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8401.jpg\" alt=\"Oregon Trail Ruts\" \/><\/a><\/br>Oregon Trail Ruts<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8400.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8400.jpg\" alt=\"Oregon Trail Ruts\" \/><\/a><\/br>Oregon Trail Ruts<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8404.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8404.jpg\" alt=\"Oregon Trail Ruts\" \/><\/a><\/br>Oregon Trail Ruts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-2\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8399.jpg\" alt=\"Oregon Trail Ruts\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8401.jpg\" alt=\"Oregon Trail Ruts\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8400.jpg\" alt=\"Oregon Trail Ruts\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8404.jpg\" alt=\"Oregon Trail Ruts\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-2, #splide-thumb-2 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the Guernsey Ruts.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8399.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8399.jpg\" alt=\"Oregon Trail Ruts\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Oregon Trail Ruts<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8401.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8401.jpg\" alt=\"Oregon Trail Ruts\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Oregon Trail Ruts<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8400.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8400.jpg\" alt=\"Oregon Trail Ruts\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Oregon Trail Ruts<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8404.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8404.jpg\" alt=\"Oregon Trail Ruts\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Oregon Trail Ruts<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Both Register Cliff and Guernsey Ruts were accessed through a short section of gravel roads. After paying both sites a visit, I left Guernsey for Medicine Bow Peak at 9:40am.<br \/>\nAfter an early lunch in the town of Laramie, the snowy range mountains were the defining backdrop during the 40-minute drive along WY-130. Just that despite its name, snow was barely visible on the mountains.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-3\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_094714c9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_094714c9.jpg\" alt=\"Laramie Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Laramie Mountains<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Laramie Peak (3132m), the highest mountain of Laramie Range, in the center right.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_120025.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_120025.jpg\" width=\"95.1%\" alt=\"Country Road\" \/><\/a><\/br>Country Road<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_120538C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_120538C9.jpg\" alt=\"Country Road\" \/><\/a><\/br>Country Road<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Towards Medicine Bow Pass. The early foliage colors already arrived on the mountains.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_122216C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_122216C9.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Range Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Snowy Range Mountains<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Captured from WY130 just after Snowy Range Pass.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_122225C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_122225C9.jpg\" width=\"93.33%\" alt=\"Medicine Bow Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Medicine Bow Peak<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Captured from WY130 just after Snowy Range Pass.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-3\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/20230924_094714c9.jpg\" alt=\"Laramie Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/20230924_120025.jpg\" alt=\"Country Road\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/20230924_120538C9.jpg\" alt=\"Country Road\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/20230924_122216C9.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Range Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/20230924_122225C9.jpg\" alt=\"Medicine Bow Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-3, #splide-thumb-3 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_094714c9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_094714c9.jpg\" alt=\"Laramie Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Laramie Mountains<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Laramie Peak (3132m), the highest mountain of Laramie Range, in the center right.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_120025.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_120025.jpg\" alt=\"Country Road\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Country Road<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_120538C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_120538C9.jpg\" alt=\"Country Road\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Country Road<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Towards Medicine Bow Pass. The early foliage colors already arrived on the mountains.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_122216C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_122216C9.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Range Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Snowy Range Mountains<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Captured from WY130 just after Snowy Range Pass.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_122225C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_122225C9.jpg\" alt=\"Medicine Bow Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Medicine Bow Peak<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Captured from WY130 just after Snowy Range Pass.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Medicine_Bow_Peak_Hike\">Medicine Bow Peak Hike<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>I reached Lake Marie West Trailhead just before 12:30pm. This was the default parking lot for the loop hike I was about to embark on. The parking lot had space for about 20 cars, which was popular as I pulled into the last available spot. However, &#8220;Lake Marie East Parking Lot&#8221; and &#8220;Mirror Lake Picnic Area&#8221; are both backup options that didn&#8217;t add distance to the hike.<br \/>\nSince I started relatively late in the day, I decided to take the hike in the counterclockwise direction. This way, the impressive cliffs of the snowy range mountains would be facing the sun while I hiked up the few alpine lakes (Lake Marie, Mirror Lake, Lookout Lake), with their majesty in full display.<\/p>\n<p>And here&#8217;s GPS tracking:<\/p>\n<div class=\"mobile-hide\" style=\"width:100%;aspect-ratio:6\/5;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wikiloc.com\/wikiloc\/spatialArtifacts.do?event=view&#038;id=168036996&#038;measures=on&#038;title=off&#038;near=off&#038;images=off&#038;maptype=H\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<div class=\"desktop-hide\" style=\"width:100%;aspect-ratio:3\/5;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wikiloc.com\/wikiloc\/spatialArtifacts.do?event=view&#038;id=168036996&#038;measures=on&#038;title=off&#038;near=off&#038;images=off&#038;maptype=H\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>Right off the trailhead was Lake Marie, named after Mary Bellamy, the first woman elected to Wyoming Legislature who later helped the passage of the 19th amendment.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8412_DSC_8420-9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8412_DSC_8420-9.jpg\" alt=\"Lake Marie\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Lake Marie<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-4\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8410.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8410.jpg\" alt=\"Lake Marie and Snowy Range Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Lake Marie and Snowy Range Mountains<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8411.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8411.jpg\" alt=\"Lake Marie and Medicine Bow Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Lake Marie and Medicine Bow Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8409.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8409.jpg\" alt=\"The Diamond Mountain\" \/><\/a><\/br>The Diamond Mountain<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8423.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8423.jpg\" alt=\"The Diamond Mountain\" \/><\/a><\/br>The Diamond Mountain<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8424.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8424.jpg\" alt=\"Lake Marie\" \/><\/a><\/br>Lake Marie<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-4\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8410.jpg\" alt=\"Lake Marie and Snowy Range Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8411.jpg\" alt=\"Lake Marie and Medicine Bow Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8409.jpg\" alt=\"The Diamond Mountain\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8423.jpg\" alt=\"The Diamond Mountain\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8424.jpg\" alt=\"Lake Marie\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-4, #splide-thumb-4 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of Lake Marie.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8410.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8410.jpg\" alt=\"Lake Marie and Snowy Range Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Lake Marie and Snowy Range Mountains<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8411.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8411.jpg\" alt=\"Lake Marie and Medicine Bow Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Lake Marie and Medicine Bow Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8409.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8409.jpg\" alt=\"The Diamond Mountain\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>The Diamond Mountain<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8423.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8423.jpg\" alt=\"The Diamond Mountain\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>The Diamond Mountain<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8424.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8424.jpg\" alt=\"Lake Marie\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Lake Marie<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>This part of the hike ran parallel to a ridgeline towards the northeast. The ridge was lined with a few imposing &#8220;peaks&#8221; with a steep dropoff to the southeast. The texture of those cliffs formed an awe-inspiring sight from the trail. In comparison, Medicine Bow Peak, the highest of the group, laid comfortable back and lacked excitement. Later I found out online that the few &#8220;peaks&#8221; were named, &#8220;The Diamond&#8221; closest to Lake Marie, and &#8220;Old Man&#8221; closest to Lookout Lake among them.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8427_DSC_8437-11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8427_DSC_8437-11.jpg\" alt=\"Mirror Lake\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mirror Lake<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-5\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_124734.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_124734.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Mirror Lake\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mirror Lake<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8426.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8426.jpg\" alt=\"Shores of Mirror Lake\" \/><\/a><\/br>Shores of Mirror Lake<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8441.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8441.jpg\" alt=\"Old Man Mountain next to Lookout Lake\" \/><\/a><\/br>Old Man Mountain next to Lookout Lake<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8452.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8452.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Lookout Lake\" \/><\/a><\/br>Lookout Lake<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The lake was separated into two by a causeway when water level was low.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8455.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8455.jpg\" alt=\"Lookout Lake and Medicine Bow Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Lookout Lake and Medicine Bow Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_130929.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_130929.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Lookout Lake and Snowy Range Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Lookout Lake and Snowy Range Mountains<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_132025.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_132025.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Lookout Lake and Snowy Range Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Lookout Lake and Snowy Range Mountains<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8471.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8471.jpg\" alt=\"Old Man Mountain\" \/><\/a><\/br>Old Man Mountain<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-5\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/20230924_124734.jpg\" alt=\"Mirror Lake\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8426.jpg\" alt=\"Shores of Mirror Lake\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8441.jpg\" alt=\"Old Man Mountain next to Lookout Lake\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8452.jpg\" alt=\"Lookout Lake\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8455.jpg\" alt=\"Lookout Lake and Medicine Bow Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/20230924_130929.jpg\" alt=\"Lookout Lake and Snowy Range Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/20230924_132025.jpg\" alt=\"Lookout Lake and Snowy Range Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8471.jpg\" alt=\"Old Man Mountain\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-5, #splide-thumb-5 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_124734.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_124734.jpg\" alt=\"Mirror Lake\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mirror Lake<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8426.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8426.jpg\" alt=\"Shores of Mirror Lake\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Shores of Mirror Lake<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8441.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8441.jpg\" alt=\"Old Man Mountain next to Lookout Lake\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Old Man Mountain next to Lookout Lake<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8452.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8452.jpg\" alt=\"Lookout Lake\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Lookout Lake<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The lake was separated into two by a causeway when water level was low.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8455.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8455.jpg\" alt=\"Lookout Lake and Medicine Bow Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Lookout Lake and Medicine Bow Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_130929.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_130929.jpg\" alt=\"Lookout Lake and Snowy Range Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Lookout Lake and Snowy Range Mountains<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_132025.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_132025.jpg\" alt=\"Lookout Lake and Snowy Range Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Lookout Lake and Snowy Range Mountains<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8471.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8471.jpg\" alt=\"Old Man Mountain\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Old Man Mountain<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8442_DSC_8450-9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8442_DSC_8450-9.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Range Mountains from Lookout Lake\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8458_DSC_8467-10.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8458_DSC_8467-10.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Range Mountains from Lookout Lake\" \/><\/a><\/br>Snowy Range Mountains from Lookout Lake<\/p><\/div>\n<p>After passing the three named alpine lakes (Lake Marie, Mirror Lake, Lookout Lake), the trail continued on, towards the saddle between Medicine Bow Peak and Sugarloaf Mountain. I lost the trail briefly as it entered a switchback in the woods.&#x1F614; Once out of it, I gradually started to feel the high winds coming from the north. The strong wind continued throughout the rest of my hike, and made my nose quite uncomfortable.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-6\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_125720.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_125720.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_132428.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_132428.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Trail to Medicine Bow Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail to Medicine Bow Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8474.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8474.jpg\" alt=\"Alpine Lake\" \/><\/a><\/br>Alpine Lake<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8475.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8475.jpg\" alt=\"Trail against Backdrop of Old Man Mountain\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail against Backdrop of Old Man Mountain<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_140730.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_140730.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Trail to Medicine Bow Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail to Medicine Bow Peak<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-6\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/20230924_125720.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/20230924_132428.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Medicine Bow Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8474.jpg\" alt=\"Alpine Lake\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8475.jpg\" alt=\"Trail against Backdrop of Old Man Mountain\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/20230924_140730.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Medicine Bow Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-6, #splide-thumb-6 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the trail.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_125720.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_125720.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_132428.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_132428.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Medicine Bow Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail to Medicine Bow Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8474.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8474.jpg\" alt=\"Alpine Lake\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Alpine Lake<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8475.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8475.jpg\" alt=\"Trail against Backdrop of Old Man Mountain\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail against Backdrop of Old Man Mountain<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_140730.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_140730.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Medicine Bow Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail to Medicine Bow Peak<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>After Lookout Lake, the trail passed a series of smaller alpine lakes that dotted the landscape. The lakes were small and unnamed, but they made for some scenic foreground against the impressive cliffs of Snowy Range Mountains. The higher elevation meant those lakes were only surrounded by tundra grass, whose golden colors in early autumn complement the evergreen coniferous bushes that sprinkled the field. Even better, such scenery continued to accompany me as I made the steepest climb towards Medicine Bow Peak.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-7\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8479.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8479.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes\" \/><\/a><\/br>Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8481.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8481.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes\" \/><\/a><\/br>Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8486.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8486.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes\" \/><\/a><\/br>Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_141314.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_141314.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes\" \/><\/a><\/br>Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_143245.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_143245.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes\" \/><\/a><\/br>Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-7\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8479.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8481.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8486.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/20230924_141314.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/20230924_143245.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-7, #splide-thumb-7 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of alpine lakes against Snowy Range backdrop.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8479.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8479.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8481.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8481.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8486.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8486.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_141314.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_141314.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_143245.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_143245.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>After the saddle point of Medicine Bow and Sugarloaf Mountain, I started the steepest climb of the hike, towards Medicine Bow Peak. There *might* be a few moves along this part that&#8217;s YDS class 2, but definitely on the easy side and I don&#8217;t think it presented any technical challenges. Along this part, the fields and mountains further north popped into view for the first time of the day (essentially, more alpine lakes).<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-8\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8482.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8482.jpg\" alt=\"Browns Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Browns Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8483.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8483.jpg\" alt=\"Sugarloaf Mountain\" \/><\/a><\/br>Sugarloaf Mountain<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8490.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8490.jpg\" alt=\"Alpine Lakes to the Northeast\" \/><\/a><\/br>Alpine Lakes to the Northeast<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8492.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8492.jpg\" alt=\"Browns Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Browns Peak<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-8\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8482.jpg\" alt=\"Browns Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8483.jpg\" alt=\"Sugarloaf Mountain\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8490.jpg\" alt=\"Alpine Lakes to the Northeast\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8492.jpg\" alt=\"Browns Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-8, #splide-thumb-8 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8482.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8482.jpg\" alt=\"Browns Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Browns Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8483.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8483.jpg\" alt=\"Sugarloaf Mountain\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Sugarloaf Mountain<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8490.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8490.jpg\" alt=\"Alpine Lakes to the Northeast\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Alpine Lakes to the Northeast<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8492.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8492.jpg\" alt=\"Browns Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Browns Peak<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<h4><span id=\"Summit\">Summit<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Finally, I reached the summit of Medicine Bow Peak at 2:45pm, just over 2 hours after I started. At an elevation of 3663m (12018ft), this is the highest peak of Snowy Range. The summit continued to offer the classic view of alpine lakes at the foot of the Snowy Range ridge. With a better angle of light, the brownish tundra foliage looked more vivid.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-9\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8509.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8509.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes\" \/><\/a><\/br>Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8508.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8508.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes\" \/><\/a><\/br>Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8523.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8523.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Alpine Lakes\" \/><\/a><\/br>Alpine Lakes<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Lookout Lake, Mirror Lake and Lake Marie. The three named one that I hiked past.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_150508.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_150508.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes\" \/><\/a><\/br>Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-9\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8509.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8508.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8523.jpg\" alt=\"Alpine Lakes\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/20230924_150508.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-9, #splide-thumb-9 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos from Medicine Bow Peak summit to the southeast.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8509.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8509.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8508.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8508.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8523.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8523.jpg\" alt=\"Alpine Lakes\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Alpine Lakes<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Lookout Lake, Mirror Lake and Lake Marie. The three named one that I hiked past.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_150508.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_150508.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Snowy Range Mountains and Alpine Lakes<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Of course it offered views to more angles, like for the first time of the day the fields and mountains behind the Snowy Range ridge came into view. They just didn&#8217;t look as exciting though.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-10\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8524.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8524.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Alpine Lakes\" \/><\/a><\/br>Overlooking Alpine Lakes<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8511.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8511.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Sheep Mountain to the Southeast\" \/><\/a><\/br>Sheep Mountain to the Southeast<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">One that I drove past from Laramie.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8510.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8510.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Range Pass and Libby Flats\" \/><\/a><\/br>Snowy Range Pass and Libby Flats<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8497.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8497.jpg\" alt=\"Rolling Hills to the North\" \/><\/a><\/br>Rolling Hills to the North<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8496.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8496.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Kennaday Peak (3295m) in the center.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8495.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8495.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Mountains to the Northwest\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the Northwest<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Elk Mountain (3400m) in the center.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-10\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8524.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Alpine Lakes\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8511.jpg\" alt=\"Sheep Mountain to the Southeast\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8510.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Range Pass and Libby Flats\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8497.jpg\" alt=\"Rolling Hills to the North\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8496.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8495.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Northwest\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-10, #splide-thumb-10 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos from Medicine Bow Peak summit.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8524.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8524.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Alpine Lakes\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Overlooking Alpine Lakes<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8511.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8511.jpg\" alt=\"Sheep Mountain to the Southeast\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Sheep Mountain to the Southeast<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">One that I drove past from Laramie.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8510.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8510.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Range Pass and Libby Flats\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Snowy Range Pass and Libby Flats<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8497.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8497.jpg\" alt=\"Rolling Hills to the North\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Rolling Hills to the North<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8496.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8496.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Kennaday Peak (3295m) in the center.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8495.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8495.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Northwest\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the Northwest<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Elk Mountain (3400m) in the center.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8499_DSC_8507-9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8499_DSC_8507-9.jpg\" alt=\"View from Medicine Bow Peak Summit to the West\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8514_DSC_8522-9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8514_DSC_8522-9.jpg\" alt=\"View from Medicine Bow Peak Summit to the East\" \/><\/a><\/br>View from Medicine Bow Peak Summit<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">to the West (top) and East (bottom).<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p>And here&#8217;s a panoramic video that I took at the summit.<br \/>\n<video controls width=\"100%\" poster=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/Medicine_Bow_Thumb.jpg\" preload=\"none\"><source src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/Medicine_Bow_Summit_2160p30_H265_8Mbps.mp4\"><source src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/Medicine_Bow_Summit_2160p30_H264_9Mbps.mp4\"><\/video><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: x-small;\">20 seconds, 2160p30fps, 9Mbps for both H264\/H265 for a total size of 22MB.<\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8529C10.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8529C10.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Longs Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Distant Longs Peak<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">I picked up a mountain on the distant horizon which looked familiar to me. Later I confirmed it\u2019s Longs Peak, the highest in Rocky Mountain National Park, which I summitted last summer. Longs Peak was 85 miles away from Medicine Bow Peak, but splendid visibility meant I still caught a glimpse of it.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<p>After staying about half an hour at the summit, I continued my hike at 3:15pm.<\/p>\n<p>Given its name of &#8220;snowy&#8221; range, and some comments mentioned snowfall a few days ago, I was a bit disappointed that I hadn&#8217;t run into any snow for the day. <span style=\"font-size: small;\">(Only &#8220;a bit&#8221; since I didn&#8217;t have any snow gear.)<\/span> Luckily, right next to the summit and in the shade of rocks, I found traces of snow (p2 below). Later during my hike, I ran into more snow (p4 and p8 below). They were the right amount to decorate the landscape, but not cause any traction issues.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-11\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_144532C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_144532C9.jpg\" width=\"67%\" alt=\"Geological Survey Marker\" \/><\/a><\/br>Geological Survey Marker<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_151513.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_151513.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Snow in Shade\" \/><\/a><\/br>Snow in Shade<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_151901.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_151901.jpg\" width=\"85%\" alt=\"Trail on Rocks\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail on Rocks<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The part of trail closest to the summit was on rocks like these.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_152345.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_152345.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Snow on Alpine Tundra\" \/><\/a><\/br>Snow on Alpine Tundra<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_154757.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_154757.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Trail on Tundra\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail on Tundra<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8541.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8541.jpg\" alt=\"Trail from Medicine Bow Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail from Medicine Bow Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8542.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8542.jpg\" alt=\"Trail on Tundra\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail on Tundra<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_172502.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_172502.jpg\" width=\"85%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Passing a patch of snow. Finally, towards the end of the day, &#8220;snowy range&#8221; lived up to its name.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-11\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/20230924_144532C9.jpg\" alt=\"Geological Survey Marker\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/20230924_151513.jpg\" alt=\"Snow in Shade\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/20230924_151901.jpg\" alt=\"Trail on Rocks\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/20230924_152345.jpg\" alt=\"Snow on Alpine Tundra\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/20230924_154757.jpg\" alt=\"Trail on Tundra\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8541.jpg\" alt=\"Trail from Medicine Bow Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8542.jpg\" alt=\"Trail on Tundra\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/20230924_172502.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-11, #splide-thumb-11 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_144532C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_144532C9.jpg\" alt=\"Geological Survey Marker\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Geological Survey Marker<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_151513.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_151513.jpg\" alt=\"Snow in Shade\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Snow in Shade<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_151901.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_151901.jpg\" alt=\"Trail on Rocks\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail on Rocks<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The part of trail closest to the summit was on rocks like these.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_152345.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_152345.jpg\" alt=\"Snow on Alpine Tundra\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Snow on Alpine Tundra<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_154757.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_154757.jpg\" alt=\"Trail on Tundra\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail on Tundra<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8541.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8541.jpg\" alt=\"Trail from Medicine Bow Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail from Medicine Bow Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8542.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8542.jpg\" alt=\"Trail on Tundra\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail on Tundra<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_172502.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_172502.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Passing a patch of snow. Finally, towards the end of the day, &#8220;snowy range&#8221; lived up to its name.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Leaving the summit, the trail followed the ridgeline to the southwest. While the southeastern face of the Snowy Range was steep and impressive cliffs, the northwestern face was a very gradual hill. As a result, most of the remaining trail was on alpine tundra, which looked lovely at first sight but lacked variation. As I previously mentioned, the views to the northwest weren&#8217;t particularly exciting. And I was constantly battered by the wind, so this was the less enjoyable part of the hike.<\/p>\n<p>To cheer things up, for a few times, the trail passed close to the cliff of the ridge, where I caught some views overlooking the alpine lakes that I hiked past earlier in the day.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-12\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_152225.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_152225.jpg\" width=\"95.8%\" alt=\"Snowy Range Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Snowy Range Mountains<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_152704.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_152704.jpg\" width=\"95.8%\" alt=\"Fields and Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><\/br>Fields and Mountains to the West<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8531.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8531.jpg\" alt=\"Alpine Lakes\" \/><\/a><\/br>Alpine Lakes<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Sugarloaf Mountain in the background.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_160448.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_160448.jpg\" width=\"95.8%\" alt=\"Fields to the East\" \/><\/a><\/br>Fields to the East<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_160452.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_160452.jpg\" width=\"95.8%\" alt=\"Old Man Mountain and Lookout Lake\" \/><\/a><\/br>Old Man Mountain and Lookout Lake<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_160441.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_160441.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Old Man Mountain\" \/><\/a><\/br>Old Man Mountain<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Traces of snow left in the shade.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-12\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/20230924_152225.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Range Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/20230924_152704.jpg\" alt=\"Fields and Mountains to the West\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8531.jpg\" alt=\"Alpine Lakes\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/20230924_160448.jpg\" alt=\"Fields to the East\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/20230924_160452.jpg\" alt=\"Old Man Mountain and Lookout Lake\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/20230924_160441.jpg\" alt=\"Old Man Mountain\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-12, #splide-thumb-12 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_152225.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_152225.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Range Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Snowy Range Mountains<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_152704.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_152704.jpg\" alt=\"Fields and Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Fields and Mountains to the West<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8531.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8531.jpg\" alt=\"Alpine Lakes\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Alpine Lakes<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Sugarloaf Mountain in the background.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_160448.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_160448.jpg\" alt=\"Fields to the East\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Fields to the East<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_160452.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_160452.jpg\" alt=\"Old Man Mountain and Lookout Lake\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Old Man Mountain and Lookout Lake<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_160441.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_160441.jpg\" alt=\"Old Man Mountain\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Old Man Mountain<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Traces of snow left in the shade.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Towards the end, a few vistas were within steps from the trail, offering views of Snowy Range from the south. One of them (p3 below) was close enough to &#8220;The Diamond&#8221; that its texture felt so tangible.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-13\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_165916.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_165916.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Overlooking Lake Marie\" \/><\/a><\/br>Overlooking Lake Marie<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_170628.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_170628.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Gully\" \/><\/a><\/br>Gully<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_170732.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-m\/20230924_170732.jpg\" width=\"50%\" alt=\"Cliff of The Diamond Mountain\" \/><\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8546.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-m\/DSC_8546.jpg\" width=\"44.44%\" alt=\"Cliff of The Diamond Mountain\" \/><\/a><\/br>Cliff of The Diamond Mountain<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_170821.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_170821.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Overlooking Alpine Lakes\" \/><\/a><\/br>Overlooking Alpine Lakes<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8543.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8543.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Lake Marie\" \/><\/a><\/br>Overlooking Lake Marie<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8544.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8544.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Mirror Lake\" \/><\/a><\/br>Overlooking Mirror Lake<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8545.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8545.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Lookout Lake\" \/><\/a><\/br>Overlooking Lookout Lake<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_171300.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_171300.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Cliffs of Snowy Range Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Cliffs of Snowy Range Mountains<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8549.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8549.jpg\" alt=\"Cliffs of Snowy Range Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Cliffs of Snowy Range Mountains<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8550.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8550.jpg\" alt=\"Alpine Lakes and Snowy Range Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Alpine Lakes and Snowy Range Mountains<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8552.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8552.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Range Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Snowy Range Mountains<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-13\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/20230924_165916.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Lake Marie\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/20230924_170628.jpg\" alt=\"Gully\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/20230924_170732.jpg\" alt=\"Cliff of The Diamond Mountain\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/20230924_170821.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Alpine Lakes\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8543.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Lake Marie\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8544.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Mirror Lake\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8545.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Lookout Lake\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/20230924_171300.jpg\" alt=\"Cliffs of Snowy Range Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8549.jpg\" alt=\"Cliffs of Snowy Range Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8550.jpg\" alt=\"Alpine Lakes and Snowy Range Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8552.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Range Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-13, #splide-thumb-13 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_165916.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_165916.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Lake Marie\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Overlooking Lake Marie<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_170628.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_170628.jpg\" alt=\"Gully\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Gully<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_170732.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-m\/20230924_170732.jpg\" width=\"51.85%\" alt=\"Cliff of The Diamond Mountain\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8546.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-m\/DSC_8546.jpg\" width=\"46.15%\" alt=\"Cliff of The Diamond Mountain\" \/><\/a><\/br>Cliff of The Diamond Mountain<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_170821.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_170821.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Alpine Lakes\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Overlooking Alpine Lakes<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8543.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8543.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Lake Marie\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Overlooking Lake Marie<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8544.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8544.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Mirror Lake\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Overlooking Mirror Lake<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8545.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8545.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Lookout Lake\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Overlooking Lookout Lake<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_171300.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/20230924_171300.jpg\" alt=\"Cliffs of Snowy Range Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Cliffs of Snowy Range Mountains<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8549.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8549.jpg\" alt=\"Cliffs of Snowy Range Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Cliffs of Snowy Range Mountains<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8550.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8550.jpg\" alt=\"Alpine Lakes and Snowy Range Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Alpine Lakes and Snowy Range Mountains<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/DSC_8552.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails\/DSC_8552.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Range Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Snowy Range Mountains<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>In the end, I got back to the trailhead just past 5:30pm. Including all rests and stops, this hike only took me 5 hours.<\/p>\n<p>My overnight lodge was in the town of Saratoga, half an hour of driving away.<br \/>\nAfter taking the entire Snowy Range Scenic Byway, I felt there wasn&#8217;t much else to see in Medicine Bow National Forest, apart from the summit area that I checked out today. Lower in elevation, it&#8217;s endless forests of pine trees that hardly excited me. (Maybe things will be different in winter.)<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_185332.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-m\/20230924_185332.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Saratoga Hot Spring\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/20230924_184814.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/24\/thumbnails-m\/20230924_184814.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Saratoga Hot Spring\" \/><\/a><\/br>Saratoga Hot Spring<\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">The manager at Bunkhouse Hotel in Guernsey told me the town of Saratoga, WY, had a free(!) public hot springs. Next to the hot springs was a public swimming pool that was closed for the season, but the hot springs (together with changing rooms) were open year-round. The hot water came out from a mother spring (left), then flew through two more pools before being drained into North Platte River. The mother spring was too hot that I couldn\u2019t stand it, but the other pools were the perfect temperature for winding off after a day of hiking. Bubbles of volcanic gases were frequently visible in the hot springs. Unfortunately, free admission also meant the hot springs weren\u2019t maintained in the best shape. The water was muddy, moldy, and far too many corpses of bugs were floating around. <\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<p>END<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The sixth day of my autumn 2023 trip to the mountain states. I hiked Medicine Bow Peak, a prominent mountain in southern Wyoming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[621,427,2],"tags":[627],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8225"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8225"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8225\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8752,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8225\/revisions\/8752"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8225"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8225"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8225"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}