After a long drive from Craters of the Moon, we found ourselves in Kemmerer, WY, population 2600. At one time, it was a very large coal producer and, in fact, the first J.C. Penney was started there as a company store. And it is still in operation! Anyway, nearby is Fossil Butte National Monument. This is a unique paleontological site, where ecosystems of the 50-million-year-old Green River Formation of the ancient subtropical lake bed were unusually well preserved. The fossils include fish, alligators, bats, turtles, dog-sized horses, insects, and many other species of plants and animals. If you are a fossil buff, this is the place for you!
When you first enter the visitor center, you are surrounded by original or cast copies of specimens that were found in the area. This entire area was part of the prehistoric lake that was at different times fresh and saltwater. Consequently, there are a really interesting mix of species that you never thought you would see here. The water was calm and the sediments fine-grained — that along with the seeming lack of scavengers, meant the fossils were incredibly well preserved.
We then drove around the park, but very quickly found ourself with only access to jeep trails. While our truck is a pretty rugged 4WD, the thought of things bouncing around in the camper made us think better of it! After leaving the park, we went to one of the fossil businesses in the area. It turns out that these businessmen own quarries of their own, allowing them to mine, process, and sell these incredible fossils all over the world. We learned just how hard it is to recognize and clean these fossils. We ended up buying a 50 million year old fish. Really amazing!
On to Grand Junction, CO and the CO National Monument!
I am a traveler and sometimes clay sculptor, following a long career working in consulting. My work allowed me to travel the world extensively and I was hooked. Today, I travel with my wife/best friend to explore new places, meet new people, and learn new things.
