Sacred Medicine Wheel, Bighorn Mountains - Bighorn National Forest, Wyoming.

Sacred Medicine Wheel, Bighorn Mountains - Bighorn National Forest, Wyoming.

Departing Devil’s Tower lead me to the small town of Motorcroft WY. I’m quickly learning that the motels in small towns off the beaten path are the best way to go. These motels are usually cheap and very clean, and almost all of them allow pets. Most of these motels have cable TV, refrigerators, and microwaves. Some of them even have kitchenettes.

My stay at Motorcroft was extended to an extra day because of a cold front passing through. For two days, it was cold with a continuous rain.

After the front had passed, the next day was a glorious sunny warm day. It was a prefect day for traveling to the high country of the Bighorn National Forest in the Bighorn Mountains. Driving through the pine forest was absolutely awesome. There were rock formations, deep canyons, and alpine lakes to see everywhere as I drove down the windy mountain roads.

When I got to the Visitor Center, I was deeply disappointed when I told by the park ranger that the road to the Medicine Wheel was impassable. Not again, I’m never going to see a Medicine Wheel. I thought. So, I figure I would continue on to Lovell, WY where I had planned to stay the night, and from there go to the Little Bighorn the next day.

While driving through the beautiful high country, I came to the road leading to the Medicine Wheel location. I saw that it was clearly passable. I thought. Let’s go for it….I didn’t come all this way for nothing. The location of the sacred Medicine Wheel was way up high on this mountain top. The road leading up to it was a muddy dirt road that was wet from the melt off of the winter snow. I must admit, I was getting a little scared driving up that really bad steep muddy road. But, I kept saying to myself, “I will not be denied”.

I finally made it to the snow-covered parking lot at the top. There were a few other cars all ready in the parking lot that belong to a few other brave souls who were determine to see the Medicine Wheel as well. Once the pups and I were ready for the three mile trek, it was clear that the path leading to the Medicine Wheel was indeed impassable. Impassable was the path to the weak of heart and less determined individuals, maybe, but not for me.

At first, the journey was easy. We merely walked around the snow-covered path by walking on the rocks lining the side of the mountain. Then, we came to several places where there was no way around the deep snow drifts covering everything. Some places the snow was well-packed, making it easy for us to cross. While other places had deep snow piles that when I stepped in it, my foot sunk deep into the snow. I hated that part. The dogs, on the other hand, had a blast in the snow. Even though it was to be their first encounter with the cold wet icy-like substance, the pups seemed to be uneffected by the snow. I thought it was funny when they peed and poop-pooped on the snow.

When we finally got to the location of the Medicine Wheel, there was no one else there. The view from there was spectacular. It was a clear sunny day, and one could see for miles. The wheel itself was cool, and made everything I went through to finally see my very first real sacred Medicine Wheel all worth while.