Wyoming ‘Days’ are actually a thing in the 44th state. There are Cheyenne Frontier Days, a very big-deal rodeo, and Laramie Jubilee Days, a 10-day, “hometown” celebration of ‘Western Lifestyle,' including another big rodeo and more. We arrived in Laramie nearly two weeks after the most recent Jubilee Days wrapped up, but other than a few signs around town, the streets were pretty quiet.
“Western lifestyle” is a big broad term and part of me wished we were there for Jubilee Days so I could more accurately parse the local interpretation. I feel as western as one could be, being from California, but my early lifestyle was more influenced by rural living, agriculture and surf culture. Kwame is from Laramie, but having parents involved in arts and music and more connected to the local University, has absolutely no rodeo (that I can discern) in him.
Laramie, at an elevation over 7000 feet is a mountain town as much as rodeo town. When we weren’t spending time with Kwame’s dad or playing, we headed for the trails, which we did before and after our show.
The street outside the venue we were playing at on a Saturday night, The Great Untamed, was under construction, which never bodes that well for an out-of-town act. Fortunately, the venue paired us with local act, The Deacon Brown Band, and we had a nice, friendly crowd and good time. Likewise, The Great Untamed, a meadery with a rainbow flag in the window and the feel of a living room, represented the fact that alternative lifestyles can thrive in the West, too.
The next day we made a point to go visit Saratoga, eighty miles west of Laramie, to soak in the hot springs. Getting there takes driving along the Snowy Range Scenic Byway, past working cattle ranches, rustic homesteads, acres of wilderness and over a 10,000 foot pass. The views are glorious: glacial lakes, mountain peaks, wildflowers and wildlife. In years past, we’ve seen moose and wolves along the Byway. We stop to stretch our legs at the pass, Libby Flats, which offers up 360 degree views, but we’ve yet to make the time for a substantial hike. This visit, we did stop, more on a whim, at the Medicine Bow Lakes Trail which leads to the top and managed to reach the saddle before rain started to fall. Even if you weren’t trying to reach a peak, starting a hike up a mountain at 2pm is never a good idea! That said, the way to the top of Medicine Bow felt more doable than I had thought. Next time!
Nope, no rodeo!