There's really hiking in West Wyoming?

This past weekend, we decided to go on a very local hike. Believe it or not there are little gems of trails right here literally in people's backyards.

After pulling over on the side of the road near an empty, for-sale greenhouse, the trail began in some prickly high grasses. After dodging and darting out of the thorn-targeted areas, there is another factor that might turn off most hikers or woodsy-types: garbage. I know that typically we reserve the right to bust on "backwoods hicks" for collecting junk in their backyards, mainly useless objects and rubbish including (but not limited to) food wrappers, toilet paper, plastic bottles, beer cans, even the remainders of buck shot, as well as tires and other parts of vehicles.

I suppose what might separate the locals here from the typical dirt-road living country family who enjoys using cars as lawn ornaments is that I couldn't find an entire car in their backyards, but I might've been able to assemble most of one from the parts I'd seen scattered about. I did need a tad bit more work done on my blue beast. Maybe I'd add an old mini fridge to my trunk or replace my rusty runners for new rusted runners. As the saying goes, one man's junk is another man's treasure...

Alright enough bad humor about the choices of eco-decorating... The reason why Aaron and I came here for a quick hike after 5pm in the first place is because in the springtime my best girlfriend got married and the favors at her bridal shower were wildflowers. We'd come up here soon after the happy event and planted them with the intention of checking on their status later in the summer. Unfortunately, now it was a bit too late in the season and the initial pathway/bushwack through the woods was lost in overgrown greenery.

But no matter, now past the smell of rubber and sour water puddles, I inhaled the smell of sunlit dirt. My shoulders loosened in relaxation as the sounds of animal rustling, birds alerting, and the wind lightly clapping the leaves together encouraged movement along the overgrown continuity of the footpath. I could smell wet greens, rough-ridged tree bark, crushed sour red berries, dried leaves, and nutty acorns.

Continuing up the pathway is a gradually ascending trail with loose rocks, fallen trees, even areas of high grasses might convince you that you might never reach the top. However, if I know that if you stick it out, this hike rewards:

The sounds of cars and families and neighborhood dogs barking disappear and it feels miles away from any sign of human life, quite an amazing feat for being so near 8th street, perfect for getting out in the woods after a long day at work.

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