May 2023 - 4

A COUPLE PENNIES
WYOMING
WILDLIFE
VOLUME 87, NUMBER 5 * MAY 2023
State of Wyoming
This sunset at the author's camping spot in southeast Wyoming is one of the many special experiences he enjoys
about Wyoming's outdoor spaces. (Photo by Robert Gagliardi)
Looking forward
to more firsts
By Robert Gagliardi, associate editor
It's finally time, or at least it's getting
closer.
This month - likely Memorial Day
weekend - is the first camping trip
of the year. Like most outdoor activities
in Wyoming this initial outing is
weather-pending. Based on winter and
early spring so far, Mother Nature may or
may not cooperate. However, come rain,
snow, sleet or sun - with a good chance
of all that and more in Wyoming this time
of year - there will be camping.
For me the first camping trip of the
year is a renewal, and a chance to see how
the landscape changed since my last trip
in the fall. Although I like to camp in
numerous places around the state - and
still striving to find new areas - I spend
most of my time at one place that is close
to home and easy to get to. I can leave
work in the late afternoon and have time
to fish in the evening.
I take sensory overload to a new level
on the first camping trip. I am eager to
see how the roads leading to my spot held
up, how the country looks in terms of its
greenness and the early signs of wildflowers.
Last year there was a lot more brown
to the grassy areas than normal for that
time of year, and the flowers were not as
abundant and bright.
I cross a handful of small creeks en
route to the camping spot, and I'm curious
how those creeks are flowing. The more
water, the better I feel about fishing on
that trip and through the early part of the
camping season.
There's nothing like seeing your
4 | May 2023
camping spot for the first time in seven
or eight months. It's like reuniting with
an old friend, and you're instantly curious
about everything. How did the fire pit
make it through the winter? Did any dead
trees fall over? Did the aspen tree saplings
I park my camper and truck near grow,
and how many times will I trip over them
until I realize they're there to stay?
Honestly, I'm like a kid on Christmas
morning when I pull into that camping
spot.
Then there's the unpacking and organizing
of the gear. I've never been happier
to unpack in my life than I am transferring
things from the truck to the camper. Even
putting things in their proper place is fun.
Yeah, I'm a bit odd, but once all that is
done the real fun begins. There's nothing
better than experiencing all the things
that are special about camping for the
first time since last year: the first walk in
the woods, first sighting of wildlife, first
fishing outing, first trip to gather firewood,
first campfire, first meal, first loss in
cribbage to my wife, first cup of coffee in
the morning as the sun rises, first sunset,
first time throwing the stick for the dogs.
I've camped most of my life and
experienced thousands of firsts each year,
but each year those firsts feel actual, not
repetitive. There's a sense of pride that
the 8-year-old whose excitement of his
first-ever camping trip in southwest Wyoming
is the same as the 52-year-old who
will make his way to a spot in southeast
Wyoming in the coming weeks.
I hope everyone gets that feeling when
venturing into the outdoors - this year
and every year.
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May 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of May 2023