JUNE 1, 2004. Fort Laramie, Wyoming; Windlass Hill in Nebraska; Chimney Rock photos.


Old Army bridge marker explaining the history of this bridge over the Platte River at Fort Laramie, Wyoming.


The old Army bridge at Fort Laramie crossing the Platte River.


The current highway bridge with a lot of bird nests. The right photo shows the Pony Express map marker. Fort Laramie was also a stop for the Pony Express and Oregon Trail.


More markers at Fort Laramie.


Commissary Storehouse, marker and actual storehouse.


An old harmonica was displayed in the Commissary Storehouse. Right is a real-time garden being tended by character actors of the period.


Site of an old Army Bridge.


Fort Laramie River as seen from Fort Laramie.


Remnants of the old Guardhouse at Fort Laramie,Wyoming. Some of the small jail cells can still be seen.


Foundataions of a Fort Laramie building.


Left is Sarah overlooking a Fort Laramie relic. The marker explains a latrine at the fort.


Closeup of an old latrine. At right is inside one of the long-abandoned barracks.


Administration Building marker plus the remnants of the building itself.


Captain's Quarters sign.


The well-preserved Captain's Quarters referred to by the marker above.


Old Bedlam is the oldest standing building in Wyoming. It was mainly a Bachelor Officer's Quarters.


Old Bedlam, the oldest standing building in Wyoming.


Scenes of Fort Laramie. Sarah is taking a break.


Inside an old store at Fort Laramie.


Left is a 154 year old pool table in one of the old bars, still standing where it was in the 1850s. Right is the site of the old Cheyenne-Deadwood Stage Station.


The Rustic Hotel's foundations can still be seen on the hill above the Stage Station sign.




On our way to Windlass Hill, we stopped and photographed the famous Chimney Rock, where Oregon Trail riders stopped. This is seen in many old west movies and is considered a defining symbol of the Oregon Trail.


Stopping at Windlass Hill, where wagons of the Oregon Trail went down a very steep hill on their way to Oregon. It is located northwest of Ogallala, Nebraska. It was twilight and there was a fantastic sunset, which I can't help but photograph.


A nearly full moon was rising over Windlass Hill, June 1, 2004.


Explanatory marker for Windlass Hill plus a marker talking about a ravine that formed out of wagon ruts down the hill.


This is the trench that formed from the many wagon ruts over the years.


I walked up this hill, which was much steeper just before I got here, near the top of Windlass Hill.


Same scene as previous, but focusing on the moon.


A Nebraska sunset from the top of Windlass Hill. It was an exhausting walk.






More sunset scenes from Windlass Hill, Nebraska.

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