Buffalo, Wyoming

August 24-September 2, 2014:  Buffalo is a small town surrounded by ranches, mountains, and history.  During our stay here we explored the Lake De Smet area, drove through ranch lands, visited historic sites, and picked fresh vegetables from a local organic gardener.  Clear Creek flowed behind our motorhome and through the town.  We enjoyed walks along the creek, listening to the cascading water.   

                        We loved listening to Clear Creek as it cascaded behind our campsite.

               The red rock is scoria.  It is found along the lake and throughout the area. 

On this site on December 21, 1866,  Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors staged an ambush some three miles from Fort Phil Kearny. Ordered to rescue a besieged wood-wagon train, Captain William J. Fetterman and 80 men were decoyed over Lodge Trail Ridge by a small number of Indians led by the young Lakota Sioux warrior, Crazy Horse, into a trap where over 1000 warriors waited in hiding. Fetterman's pursuit over the ridge, in violation of Carrington's orders, led to the death of the entire command.

The Bozeman Trail, a short cut to the gold fields of Montana, went through the tribes' buffalo hunting  grounds.  There are a few places where the wagon wheel tracks are still visible.