Scenic Drive on US-16 out of Buffalo, Wyoming

Aspen Grove deep in the Big Horn Mountains west of Buffalo, Wyoming off scenic US-16

 

 

 

 

This is a stand of quaking aspen. Aspen is the most widely distributed tree in North America, being found from Canada to central Mexico. Aspen is not your normal tree. What you see is actually one organism with many "stems" that look to us like individual tree trunks.

What makes aspen so unique is their ability to send out roots that send up other erect stems (from all aboveground appearances the new stems look just like individual trees).

So, what you see as an aspen grove is in reality one aspen organism with multiple stems or tree trunks.

The process is repeated until a whole stand, of what appear to be individual trees, forms.

This collection of multiple stems are actually one, single, genetic individual organism.

Each colony is its own clone, and all trees in the clone have identical characteristics and share a single root structure.

A clone may turn color earlier or later in the fall than its neighboring aspen clones. Fall colors are usually bright tones of yellow.

As all trees in a given colony are part of the same organism, colony, named Pando, is considered the heaviest and oldest living organism at six million kilograms and approximately 80,000 years old. Aspens do produce seeds, but seldom grow from them. Pollination is inhibited by the fact that aspens are either male or female, and large stands are clones of the same sex.

Keep this in mind the next time you see a grove of aspen. They are all the same living organism, they just look like individual trees.

One other thing to ponder -- a colony or grove will either be male or female since the "colony" or grove is one individual.

Flowers in the Big Horn Mountains west of Buffalo, Wyoming off scenic US-16

 

 

 

 

 

We drove a number of forest service roads off US-16 in the Big Horn Mountains. The views are awesome on the main highway, but you can get up close and personal with the wildflowers and all of nature on the off roads. We checked in with the Forest Service office in Buffalo, Wyoming before driving the forest service roads. Conditions can and will vary at different times of the year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful Aspen trunk in the Big Horn Mountains west of Buffalo, Wyoming off scenic US-16

 

The Aspen groves are thick in the forest of the Big Horn Mountains.

We drove forest service roads, 23,22, 31, 3, and 33. Please note, that these are double digit number roads and when you are driving on these roads you will see three digit roads leading off of them. Forest service personal told us the three digit roads are much rougher and may require four wheel drive. We stuck to the two digit roads since we were in our car. We picked up a map at the Forest Service office in Buffalo, Wyoming before heading out for our adventure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ponderosa Pines high in the Big Horn Mountains west of Buffalo, Wyoming off scenic US-16

 

 

 

 

We also saw Ponderosa Pines and some interesting geology along the forest service roads in the Big Horn Mountains.

 

Grouse in the Big Horn Mountains west of Buffalo, Wyoming off scenic US-16

 

We had to really have sharp eyes to spot some interesting wildlife on the forest service roads in the Big Horn Mountains.

 

This is a grouse, probably a spruce grouse considering where we spotted it, deep in the Big Horn Mountains. If indeed this is NOT a spruce grouse please let us know and we will correct things.

Just put "info" in the place of "FAKE" in this address: FAKE@travellogs.us

 

 

 

Scenic Forest Service road off scenic US-16 deep Horn Mountains west of Buffalo, Wyoming

 

 

This was a beautiful drive on forest service road 22 in the Big Horn National Forest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wildflowers in the Big Horn Mountains west of Buffalo, Wyoming off scenic US-16

 

 

 

 

 

Wildflowers are abundant in the Big Horn Mountains as they line the roadsides.

 

 

 

 

 

Clear Creek in the Big Horn Mountains west of Buffalo, Wyoming off scenic US-16

 

Clear Creek in the Big Horn Mountains North of Buffalo, Wyoming.

The Clear Creek Trail extends from the city of Buffalo, Wyoming for about 10 miles into the Big Horn Mountains.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Snow on peaks in the Big Horn Mountains west of Buffalo, Wyoming off scenic US-16

 

 

 

In mid-August and snow is still visible on the higher peaks in the Big Horn Mountains near Powder River Pass on scenic US-16 between Buffalo and Ten Sleep, Wyoming.

 

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Until next time remember how good life is.

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Mike & Joyce Hendrix

 

 

 

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