What is there to do in Wyoming in June?

The weather is finally starting to get warmer, and after a brutal winter this year in Wyoming, we are all ready to get outside and have some fun!  The state is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, with an endless variety of places to fish, camp, hike, rock climb, kayak, and mountain bike.  It’s very relaxing to do these things alone, but it can also be fun to do these activities with other like-minded folks.  So here is a list of activities going on in the state in June to help you start planning your outdoor adventures:

May 19-20:  Okay, it isn’t in June, but it is a good jump-start for summer.  Wyoming Outdoor Weekend and Expo, Lander, WY  – Two days of hands-on learning, whether you want to learn to fly fish, trap, climb, shoot, mountain bike, or a multitude of other skills.  Vendors, food, classes.

June 3:  Cody Medical Foundation Cutthroat Classic, Monster Lake, WY – Fly fishing tournament for teams of 2, competing for over $2,000 in prizes.

June 3:  Run the Red Desert, Rock Springs, WY – A trail running event that consists of 5K, 23K, or 50K routes that take you past Boars Tusk, petroglyphs, and Killpecker Sand Dunes in the Red Desert area of southwest Wyoming.

June 9-10:  Glendo Trails Fest, Glendo State Park, WY – Choose from 5, 12, or 23 mile cross-country mountain bike routes.

June 10:  Fremont Area Road Tour, Lander, WY –  Choose from a 14 mile loop bike ride, or the metric century (62 mile) loop around the town of Lander.  An added bonus, this event is held in conjunction with Lander Brewfest, and you can get a Bike & Brew package.  Enough said.

June 10-11:  Don Scheer Memorial Packhorse Races, Dubois , WY – Backcountry horsemanship skills are highlighted in this two-day competition in this quaint little mountain town along the route to Yellowstone Park.

June 16-17:  LeDoux Days, Kaycee, WY – to Wyomingites, Chris LeDoux was somewhat of a local legend.  Music, rodeo, and a street dance celebrate this musical man who adopted Wyoming as his chosen home.

June 17:  Guernsey Paddle in the Park, Guernsey State Park, WY – Spend the day kayaking, canoeing, or paddle boarding.  Bring your own or borrow one there, which works well if you’re travelling.  Book a campsite soon!

 

June 22-24:  Flaming Gorge Days, Green River, WY – music, food, a parade, basketball tournaments, and a nighttime glow run.  Fun for all ages.

June 23-24:  Evanston Bluegrass Festival, Evanston, WY – Two days of music, food, and brews.  The Bear River runs through Evanston, so be sure to take your fly rod!

June 24:  Sinks Canyon Rough & Tumble Trail Runs, Lander, WY – Choose from a 4 mile, 11 mile, or 50 KM route through this scenic area outside Lander, WY.

Tour De Wish Event Series:  These events are a fundraiser to buy bikes for kids.  June 3 in Lander, WY; June 10 in Casper, WY; and June 24 in Thermopolis, WY (take a swim suit for this one so that you can swim in one of the town’s hot springs pools afterwards).

Summer goes by quick, so hopefully this will help you make plans ahead of time so that you don’t miss out on these fun events.  And if you’re not from here, this is a great chance to hang out with the locals in our special towns.  What activities are you planning for this summer?

 

 

 

 

 

Setting Goals for the New Year

What are your goals for the new year?  It’s that time of year when we reflect on 2016 and think about what we want to accomplish in 2017.  Part of that goal setting inevitably includes physical goals.  I’m no different.  In fact, some of my physical goals are so good that they make it on the list every year, like to lose 20 pounds.  That one should be written in permanent marker on my list, carried over every single year.

2016 was a fantastic year for me.  I let go of some of the outside expectations and went after what I wanted, for the first time in my entire life.  And I focused on having fun instead of losing that same pesky 20 pounds that I have been worried about for the past 5 years.

Learning to paddleboard with my sister and our grandsons

So for 2017 I am approaching my goal setting in a new light.  I am worried about staying physically fit and healthy.  That should always be a priority.  And I do want to attend some races, something I usually do quite a bit, but I didn’t participate in any events in 2016.  And although it is fun to do these events, the most fun I have had is when I have gone on these adventures with one or more of my kids.

Dirty Dash with my youngest.  The family that muds together stays together.

Instead of setting goals for just myself for the new year, I am challenging myself in a different way.  I want to set my goals around fun instead of numbers.  I want to focus on learning new skills.  I want to make more time for myself.

These opportunities are more important that any housework that needs to be done.

I’m doing away with setting goals based on weight loss, and concentrate more on participating in life.  I like to show my kids that getting outdoors and being active is fun, and the best way to do that is to do these things together.

My son and I after the Lander, Wyoming 1/2 marathon.

My challenge to you is to include your family in your new year goals.  Maybe make a plan to go on a hike with our kids once a week.  Maybe go on a family run.  Pick out a 5K together with your spouse.  Color runs, bubble runs, and mud runs are really fun for kids of all ages.  I did a sprint length triathlon once with one of my daughters and it was a blast.

Two of my daughters and a friend after a color run.

What new skill would you like to learn with your child, spouse, sister?  These types of activities teach our children to love being active, being outside, and being together.  And they help us to stay active and schedule fun into our weeks.

My daughter and I at the Strip at Night 1/2 marathon in Las Vegas.

I haven’t been able to talk any of my kids into doing Ragnar with me, but I have every intention of trying to rope at least one of them into doing the Grand Teton Relay with myself and some of my friends this summer.  And I might even take a rock climbing course with my youngest.  The years go by quickly and 2017 will be no exception.  Don’t let the year pass by you without enjoying it.  Let’s make a plan now to make this our best year yet.  How are you going to incorporate fun into your new year goals?