Day 54 / Mile 5605.

Wyoming is such a beautiful place that I decided to stay a few days and keep exploring. The landscape is so stunning that you can't rush it. ...plus I made a couple friends that made the experience more fun.

Even though it was cold enough to park my van on the thick-iced lake, my merino wool Ninja Suit was super warm.

Going "ice skating" sounded really fun, but I failed miserably on my double-axel lutz. It was way harder than I expected.  Tanya Harding was lurking... — Going "ice skating" sounded really fun, but I failed miserably on my double-axel lutz. It was way harder than I expected. Tanya Harding was lurking...

I made a friend on Facebook who was a lifelong local of the area, who took me on an adventure across the border to some local secret spots.

Up in Montana anything can be a target, so watch your back.

The locals call this clearing on the mountain, "The Shark".  Can you see it?? — The locals call this clearing on the mountain, "The Shark". Can you see it??

Hiking around about a mile into a trail we found this tree decorated since X-mas.  So random. — Hiking around about a mile into a trail we found this tree decorated since X-mas. So random.

This tree used to be an alcoholic, but recovered well.

We went up to the ski resort just to check it out.  I love this old-school sign for it. — We went up to the ski resort just to check it out. I love this old-school sign for it.

You know on Instagram this would get so many "likes".

Day 57 / Mile 6370.

We went back to Wyoming and I got antsy to get on the road. I reviewed my route and decided to change it a little bit. Instead of going south into Colorado (I'll hit that zone on my way coming back from the East), I went up into the the Thunder Basin Grasslands and over to Devils Tower.

Copman's Tomb isn't in Egypt, it's in Big Horn.  These geological features here are stunning, basically NatGeo scenes. — Copman's Tomb isn't in Egypt, it's in Big Horn. These geological features here are stunning, basically NatGeo scenes.

I hiked around the base of Devils Tower and there was nobody here but me.  It's an extremely spiritual area to the Native Americans and I can understand why, it's a surreal piece of the Earth. — I hiked around the base of Devils Tower and there was nobody here but me. It's an extremely spiritual area to the Native Americans and I can understand why, it's a surreal piece of the Earth.

Have you ever seen the classic movie "Close Encounters Of The Third Kind"?  ...it was eerie out here shooting this pic around midnight.  At one point I heard some howling off in the distance, shined my flashlight around the meadow&nbs… — Have you ever seen the classic movie "Close Encounters Of The Third Kind"? ...it was eerie out here shooting this pic around midnight. At one point I heard some howling off in the distance, shined my flashlight around the meadow and saw some glowing eyes about 40' away and nearly pissed myself. I then saw 3 more sets of eyes in the tall grass... it was just a group of deer, those little jerks startled me pretty good. The actual translation to the native name of this place really means Bear Lodge, so I was a little on edge.

Next I'm ripping into South Dakota to see some of America's most impressive sculptures, Mt Rushmore and Crazy Horse. I think that's about all South Dakota has to offer, but we'll see what I can find!