January 2025 - 4

A COUPLE PENNIES
WYOMING
WILDLIFE
VOLUME 89, NUMBER 1 * JANUARY 2025
State of Wyoming
Wyoming Game and Fish Commission
Governor
President
Vice President
Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner
A large pine tree sits on a hill near the author's campsite in southeast Wyoming. (Photo by Robert Gagliardi/WGFD)
Appreciate what's
around you
By Robert Gagliardi, associate editor
It's hard to believe another year has
passed and a new year is upon us. Time
needs to slow down - at least more often
than not.
I'm not into resolutions when a new
year arrives. Sure, there are things I want
to do more frequently like fishing, camping,
spending time with friends and family,
etc. There are things I want to be better
at as well. What about trying something
new? I'm not opposed to it, but not sure
I want to be resolute about anything new
at this time.
But what about something old?
One thing that sticks out to me heading
into a new year is the appreciation of
things that have been around for a while.
In this case, it is a tree.
For nearly 30 years I have fished and
recreated in southeast Wyoming, and for
the better part of five years have camped
at the same, secluded location. I can't
count the number of times I've driven
to-and-from camp - math was never
my strength.
A couple of years ago, I introduced my
wife to my camping spot and experiences.
On one of the first mornings of her first
camping trip with me, she noticed this
large pine tree to the east of our camp that
sat on a hill seemingly by itself. The tree
stood out to her, especially in silhouette
as we watched the sunrise.
4 | January 2025
I've driven by that tree hundreds of
times and didn't pay any attention to it.
My wife noticed it immediately. We ventured
to the tree to get a closer look and to
take photos. My wife isn't a professional
photographer, but she could be. She has
a great vision for it.
When we first went to the tree, I was
leery. It was just a tree on a hill. But while
my wife was looking for the right angles
for photos, I noticed a few large rocks
around the base of the tree. It was like they
were placed there by someone. I'm pretty
sure that wasn't the case, but it looked like
it. I got the sense that the tree was this
wise, old inhabitant of this area and the
rocks were his or her pupils soaking in
its knowledge.
Perhaps I have an odd imagination,
but my point is there can be beauty and
intrigue anywhere you look in Wyoming's
open spaces. You don't need to go to the
Tetons, Yellowstone National Park or Devils
Tower to experience them - although
there is nothing wrong if you do.
Sometimes the beauty and intrigue are
in the little things, or the things you have
seen numerous times in the past and didn't
realize there was anything to it.
If I were to delve into resolutions or
goals heading into the year, it would be
to slow down, take a close look at what's
around you and appreciate what's out
there. You might be surprised by what
you discover.
Richard Ladwig, Manville
Mark Jolovich, Torrington
John Masterson, Casper
Rusty Bell, Gillette
Kenneth Roberts, Kemmerer
Ashlee Lundvall, Powell
Ralph Brokaw, Arlington
Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Director
Deputy Director
Deputy Director
Chief of Fiscal
Chief of Wildlife
Chief of Fisheries
Chief of Services
Chief of Communications
and Education
Angi Bruce
Eric Wiltanger
Doug Brimeyer
Dirk Miller
Dan Smith
Alan Osterland
Greg Phipps
Nish Goicolea
Magazine Staff
Editor
Associate Editor
Creative Director
Contributing Designer
Mark Gordon
Tracie Binkerd
Robert Gagliardi
Patrick Owen
Emalee Smith
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January 2025

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of January 2025