We never see anything good

I eavesdrop when I'm in a restaurant or a bar. It's hard not to hear what others say when they're only a few feet away.

The other day I was in a local restaurant and overheard a conversation between four men and two women about their visit to our Valley. From how they were dressed, it was obvious they had come to enjoy our backcountry and some of the finest snowmobile and cross-country trail, and see some wildlife.

Surprisingly or maybe not, they were complaining. They had arrived just in time for one of our notorious Christmas-time blizzard; those storms we seem to get every year, just in time for the holidays, threatening to delay or bring travel to a halt and wreaking havoc with the pavement we use to go from hither and yon.

One of the women was complaining about how "freaking cold" it was and the snow just wasn't any good. Well, it was late December in the Rocky Mountains at 7000 feet.

I seriously wondered what she had been expecting. Granted, we had some frigid days below zero and they certainly weren't enjoyable for any of us, but if you are in Wyoming to enjoy winter sports, it's kind of a given you're going to get cold.

It is Wyoming for goodness sake. We aren't exactly known for our wonderful, temperate winters.

As for the snow, I shoveled my way through several feet of that powder, it seemed like the perfect snow for their pursuits, but I'm certainly no expert on that.

One of the men complained that they hadn't seen anything but town deer in their travels. I had heard them mention that they drove from Walden two days prior and based on the facts I gleaned from their conversation, it was at the same time that I was driving south to Walden. In fact, I recognized the truck and trailer full of snowmobiles and the out-of-state license plate. I had seen bearing down on me because they were passing a vehicle and were in the oncoming lane, my lane–which made me take the dirt to avoid them.

That same trip I saw at least 200 head of Pronghorns grazing near Big Creek Ranch, a moose crossing the river on the Colorado side and 30 cow elk and 1 very large bull elk standing about 25 yards from the highway getting ready to cross. I also viewed at least 10 Bald and Golden Eagles, hawks, a badger, horses and cows with their gorgeous, fluffy winter coats, lots and lots of deer, two coyotes and fox in the meadows on the hunt and some very confused geese.

Wildlife does tend to be elusive, but if you take your time and watch, it's amazing what you'll see on a 45-mile stretch of highway in Wyoming or Colorado. I'm sure they had seen in magazines or online, all of the amazing wildlife photos taken by those diligent, professional photographers and maybe they were expecting some kind of cookie-cutter experience where animals are staged for the tourist's enjoyment. Just hit play and they'll pop right up for you to take a picture of.

Naturally they were let down because of what they expected and what they actually experienced, but it seemed they were determined to let that ruin the entire trip, because they continued to complain. They couldn't get a decent picture of the mountains because it's hazy. Well actually, what they didn't know was, that's snow blowing around.

The complaining continued about the lack of amenities, the fact that they're staying in Encampment and nothing but the bars are open after 7 p.m. The inevitable "little or no cell service" comments were also thrown out there, and how boring it is here.

The last statement made as they were leaving was to the waitress, "I don't know how anyone could live here all year round."

My first reaction was to jump up and tell them we lived here year around to avoid dunderheads like them, but I held my tongue. Lucky for them, there were only four of us in the establishment at that time.

We live here all year long and we all love Wyoming.

After they left, I got to thinking about their attitude and I felt sorry for them.

Wyoming is an amazing place and there are thousands of other amazing places in our little county alone. Sadly people visit with expectations that blind them to reality.

The best advice I could offer to them is simple: show up every day you are here. Not just physically, but emotionally, spiritually or whatever you call it. Set aside all of those preconceived notions and stop being distracted.

Look at Wyoming, the North Platte Valley through the eyes of a child with wide-eyed wonder and curiosity we all once had.

Lean into Wyoming a little and feel the nature that exists right beneath your feet.

Watch the sun rise and set–sometimes we have 360-degree sunsets that will make you cry. Check out how the clouds form and reform to make the most fascinating shapes and how they cover the mountain tops only to slide away and reveal a snow-white field of beauty shining in the sun.

Sit back for a while and feel time and space shift, leaving behind the distractions of the modern world.

Put down the binoculars and camera occasionally. Some images can't be captured by anything but your own eyes. Create visions that are pressed into your memory to be brought up once in a while and hopefully bring a smile to your face.