The land now known as Medicine Bow National Forest has a long history, reaching back as far as 8,000 years when ancestors of the Plains Indians inhabited the area. They utilized the forest to gather the prime "mountain mahogany" wood they liked to use when making bows. The rock formations that are found in large parts of the forest are awe-inspiring. The photographs of Snowy Range were made in July 2011 (yes, snow in July...) The red mountain pine trees that you see in the photographs were killed by a devastating invasion of bark beetles.