Vacation Day 8 (Keystone, SD to Casper, WY)

Tuesday (July 30) –Trip Day 8 (Keystone, SD to Casper, WY) – We took off about our usual time – and drove through Custer, SD and then on south through the Black Hills and then generally south-east through the high plains towards Casper, Wyoming.  The land was generally rolling and about the only activity was dry farming of wheat and some alfalfa for the cattle that are raised here.
This is a railroad crossing arm but no railroad.  What are they for?  Well, they are there to stop traffic in the winter when the road is closed.  There will be a sign that says road closed ahead when this sign is flashing.  Then you come to the crossing arm and it will be down stopping you from continuing. 

 We drove through Casper and headed out to Martin’s Cove (the LDS Handcart visitor’s center) which was about a hour south-east of Casper.  We stopped at Independence Rock – where the pioneers carved their initials on it as a way to say “I was here.”

 Then we Hole in the Rock – where the Platte River has cut a narrow gorge through a mountain.
Hole in the Wall is the gap behind the Son Family building in the foreground.

Then right past there was the Martin’s Cove site.  It was here that the Willie and Martin handcart companies were stranded and had to be rescued.  They have a nice visitor’s center here and there are trails out to Martin’s Cove itself.  Because it was late we passed on the trail as it would have been a two mile walk and it was already past 5 PM.  Driving along the California/Oregon/Mormon trail it is hard to imagine anyone actually pulling a cart all this way, let alone in the snow.

 This is a portion of the sign showing the rescuers - Wilkins - is my 3rd great grandfather, Alexander Wilkins, Sr.  From his life story:   In 1856 he was sent to meet the handcart company that was so late in  starting across the plains that they were snowed in in the mountains.   Provisions and clothing were taken in the wagons drawn by teams from Salt Lake City.  The handcart company was rescued but many died from hunger and freezing.  Alex returned 1 Dec 1856.

 Barbara voted to NOT cross the nation this way.