Laramie is in the
southeast corner of Wyoming, 45 minutes west of Cheyenne, and about 25
miles north of Colorado. It is a supreme location for having fun
in the outdoors, with mountains, rivers, caves, rocks, and almost anything
you could possibly want to do outside close at hand.
Just 20 minutes to our east are the Laramie Mountains, which contain the world-famous rock climbing area of Vedauwoo, the Happy Jack cross-country ski area, as well as many great trails for hiking or mountain biking, and great places to camp.
To the west is the Snowy Range, an extension of the Rocky mountains, which has some spectacular views, cross-country skiing, multi-pitch rock climbing, snow fields, and Medicine Bow Peak, 12, 000 feet high. It is a great place to do longer ski trips, snow caving, and to learn mountaineering techniques (rope management, ice axe arrest, etc.). There are nearly 50 miles of cross country ski trails, snow filled couliors, multipitch alpine climbs and great backpacking. There is also the North Platte River, one of our favorite Naval haunts. It boasts real Class IV whitewater in May, which we did again this year.
The greater part of Wyoming offers spectacular scenery in the Wind River Range and the Tetons
We are just about two hours north of Denver, so we have convenient access to some of the best (and tallest) peaks in the Rocky Mountains. These include 54 mountains over 14,000 feet (fourteeners) to be bagged anywhere from three to seven hours drive away (a favorite hobby of our troop). We have done Mt. Bierstadt, Greys and Quandry in the winter on skis, and climbed Crestone Needle (the only fourteener which requires ropes to climb) in the last three years.
Also in Colorado are some supreme rivers, including the North Platte Upper Colorado, Arkansas and Poudre, all within 2 - 4 hours away which offer everything from Class II to Class IV white water rafting and kayaking, a great place to get your whitewater merit badge without even noticing that you are studying. The state is home to all our ice climbing excursions as well, with Big Thompson Canyon and Hidden Falls, both near Estes Park, just 2 hours away.
See http://www.laramie.org/ for more information
on Laramie, WY.