Crossing into Niobrara County, Wyoming heading south toward the town of Lingle.

Crossing into Niobrara County, Wyoming heading south toward the town of Lingle.

I believe the mountains in the distance of the photos above and below are the Hat Creek Breaks Mountains.

Hat Creek Breaks Mountains in the distance.

Hat Creek Breaks Mountains in the distance.

Hat Creek Breaks Mountains in the distance.

Soon I happened upon the Cheyenne River.

The Cheyenne River is formed in northeastern Wyoming not too far from this area.

The 295-mile long river flows in a north/northeasterly direction into South Dakota where it eventually joins the Missouri River.

This bridge crossing over the Cheyenne River is about 30 miles south of Newcastle, Wyoming where my journey on the Can Am Highway began this morning.

Crossing over the Cheyenne River.

The next landmark I would encounter was Mule Creek Junction, where the Can Am Highway intersects with US Route 18.

The word "landmark" may be a bit of an exaggeration in this case.

The only "landmark" I could see was a nice rest area, like you would see along an interstate.

But other than that . . . nothing.

I also noticed that the snow cover seemed to be getting more significant as I drove further south.

The name Mule Creek Junction is derived from nearby Mule Creek.

The cluster of trees on the left side of the photo above is where the rest area is located.

Once past Mule Creek Junction, the snow cover increased quickly and significantly.

Not only is the ground completely covered, it also looks like some plowing was done earlier.

I took the photos above and below just north of Brewster Draws Valley.

The word "draw" in a geographical sense refers to a type of terrain similar to a valley.

If any of the peaks seen in the photos above and below have specific names, I couldn't find them.

As much as I hate snow, I have to admit that it looks great.

Not that I'd ever want to live there. But it looks nice.

Heading south along US Route 85 north of Brewster Draws Valley.

Heading south along US Route 85 north of Brewster Draws Valley.

About an hour later, I was approaching the town of Jay Em, Wyoming.

If I read the topographic map correctly, the peaks seen in the photos above and below are known as the Little Tetons (4,916 feet).

Passing by the Little Tetons (4,916 feet).

The snow cover had been slowly decreasing for a while. But 15 minutes after the photos above of the Little Tetons were taken, it disappeared altogether.

I believe I had just crossed over the path the blizzard took as it made its way across the state.

I don't know the names of any of the peaks off in the distance. I did discovered that I would be passing by them in a few minutes.

I looked at a topographic map for names, but couldn't find much.

Somewhere in this general direction is a formation known as Tea Kettle Rock.

Looking east from US Route 85 near Jay Em, Wyoming.

Looking east from US Route 85 near Jay Em, Wyoming.

Tea Kettle Rock is somewhere in this general area. But I'm not exactly sure.

Looking east from US Route 85 near Jay Em, Wyoming.

I followed US Route 85 to Lingle, Wyoming and the intersection with US Route 26, the same Route 26 I used during the outbound portion of my journey. Only this time, I was heading east passing through the now familiar towns of Torrington in Wyoming, and Henry, Morrill, and Mitchell in Nebraska.

Once in the city of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, I turned right onto State Route 71 heading south toward Colorado. This is the same Route 71 I used last year for a portion of my departure from Greeley, Colorado. This year, I would be spending almost 180 miles on this wonderful stretch of straight and empty pavement.

But first, I stopped just outside of Scottsbluff in the town of Gering, Nebraska to take a bunch of pics of the Scotts Bluff National Monument.

The Scotts Bluff National Monument is a 3,000-acre protected area known for being an important landmark along the Oregon, California, and Mormon trails. Between 1843 and 1869, it is estimated that more than 250,000 pioneers passed through Scotts Bluff on their way westward.

The monument is named after Rocky Mountain Fur Company clerk Hiram Scott who died near the monument sometime during 1828.

The specific circumstances surrounding his death have been lost to history. But the legend of Hiram Scott and his death continued to be told and retold, each time with a different variation. Scott's death has been attributed to disease, murder, unfortunate encounters with local Native peoples, and everything in between.

The one commonality among all of the stories about Scott was that he died near the monument.

As these stories were circulated, the landmark became known as "Scott's Bluff."

The gap seen in the center of the photo above is Mitchell Pass. Pioneers on the Oregon, California, or Mormon Pioneer Trails traveled through Mitchell Pass beginning in 1851 when it became the preferred route along the emigrant trails.

Mitchell Pass is flanked on the left by Sentinel Rock (4,547 feet), and on the right by Eagle Rock (4,510 feet).

In the photo above, I'm zooming in on the northern side of the Monument. This is, technically, the northern end of Scott's Bluff (4,649 feet). Access is via the Saddle Rock Trail that takes hikers from the Visitor Center to the top of Scotts Bluff and the north and south overlooks.