V E D A U W O O
Climbing can be important for anyone. It teaches you to concentrate, how to reach a goal, and
it will most likely change your perspective, not only of yourself but of the world.
People are too used to living in the horizontal plane.
( Catherine Destivelle )
During
Precambrian times,
the aging and shrinking earth developed a "wrinkle". This wrinkle trended in a
southwesterly direction
from eastern Wyoming into northern Colorado. Along it's path,
about 20
miles east of
Laramie (WY), natural forces conspired to sculpt its coarse grained mixture into a collection of
strange and bewildering shapes over the next several millennia.
At an altitude of 8,000 feet,
Vedauwoo (pronounced vee-da-voo), aka “Land of the Earthborn
Spirit”, is a secluded rocky oasis filled with dense pine forests and groves
of aspen trees.
It is surrounded by a seemingly endless
expanse
of high plains and lies
under a dome of intense cerulean blue sky.
Views from the tops of the crags are stunning, and one can see from
Wyoming’s ragged mountains clear
down the Continental Divide to Long’s
Peak,
some 75 miles south in Colorado. A
multitude of free-ranging animal species are commonly found here,
including many smaller mammals as well as antelope, deer, moose, cattle, climbers and an
occasional black bear or cougar. Vedauwoo
also has a captivating
history that is worth reading about.
Today, modern adventurers come here to recreate and especially
climb
within a setting of alien
rock formations and scenic valleys found only at Vedauwoo. This is
Wyoming 'high
country' (8,000'+) and wind is ever present, whether just a light breeze prowling
through the aspen groves or near hurricane force gales. Storms of near
bestial
proportions are spawned in the
Snowy
Range about 50 miles to the west and many times descend unannounced
upon the
valleys of Vedauwoo. Should you decide to visit, you might want
to check the
weather prior to coming, especially in the early spring or late
fall. There is a
live cam near Vedauwoo, another south of
Cheyenne (if
you're coming up from the south,
live cam2). In fact, no matter what the conditions
or season, come prepared
for change. It can occur in an instant! So whatever you
decide to do here, from aggressive sports like
climbing
or trail running, to more quiescent activities like
attending the Vertical Dance Festival, camping or
hiking around
the back country, the promise is one of a unique and unforgettable
experience.
( *SORRY, WE'RE RENOVATING A LITTLE RIGHT NOW .... MISTAKES WILL BE CORRECTED SOON. )
* * * PLEASE NOTE:
While some VEDAUWOO content has been retained
on this website,
much more detail, especially climbing, can be found
on a companion site ...
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