Wind River Country
April 30th, 2009The new book by Bayard Fox, owner of the Bitterroot Ranch and founder of Equitours, which came out just before the end of last year, has sold well and is going into a second edition. The 176-page book with evocative pictures collected by award winning photographer, Claude Poulet, describes the history, geography, flora, fauna, and present day activities of Wind River Country. Bayard’s ranch is in the heart of this beautiful and little known part of Wyoming. Hundreds of books have been written about Jackson Hole, Yellowstone Park and the dramatic beauty of the Grand Tetons where tourism is king and the authenticity of the character of the community has lost the authenticity it once had for ranching. Wind River Country, just across the Continental Divide to the East is another world. Here the perpetually snow-clad Wind River Mountains, the highest in Wyoming, stand out brilliantly against the sky.
It is a land of vast forests, huge wilderness areas, rushing trout streams, limpid lakes and abundant wildlife. Wind River Country is twice the size of New Jersey, which has a population density 250 times greater. This means that one seldom sees other people while riding into the wilderness areas of the national forests and the trout streams are not crowded shoulder to shoulder with other fishermen.
If you are coming to Wyoming, this book will enrich your understanding of the area and make your visit more meaningful. If you are wondering what part of the world to visit and aren’t inclined to go to the ends of the earth this year, this may give you some ideas.
Riding at dude ranches varies from great to boring nose to tail on tired old plugs, but the best ones can offer a fine riding experience as well as a way to become better acquainted with horses as well as their breeding and training.
- Wind River Country book