One of the largest natural gas fields in the United States can be found near Big Piney and Pinedale, Wyoming. New extraction techniques have made this a giant of natural gas production in the United States. The Jonah Field is located in Southwest Wyoming.

The untapped potential was discovered in the early 1990s by a Wyoming company – McMurry Oil. The startling thing about the Jonah field is the vast amount of natural gas in a small area. The surface area is about 1 township but contains 10.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

More information on the Jonah field can be found on Wikipedia topic Jonah Field.

If working in the Jonah field, one of the most convenient and best Pinedale hotels is the Sundance Motel in Pinedale, Wyoming.

If you’re not familiar with the town of Pinedale but you’re an outdoor enthusiast, you may be interested to hear that the Sundance Motel has rooms that are just a few blocks from the Pinedale Aquatic Center.  The Pinedale Aquatic Center is a state-of-the-art excercise facility and it doesn’t just offer swimming pools.  Although in all fairness, the lap pool is one of the best in the state of Wyoming.

The locals call the Pinedale Aquatic Center “the PAC” and we’re proud of the quality facility.  If you need directions, ask at the front desk of the Sundance Motel or ask a local – they’d be happy to point it out.

Among the activities that you can enjoy at the Pinedale Aquatic Center are:

• Climbing Wall
• Full Basketball court – check times to see when open gym is free because some fitness classes take place here.
• Fitness Area with free weight and weight machines as well as eliptical trainers and treadmills.
• Racquetball Courts.
• Outdoor Tennis Courts
• Indoor Running Track
• 25 Meter Competitive Swimming Lap Pool
• Fun Pool with slide & Tube Ride

And scheduled fitness activities.  You’ll want to check at the link below to get the most current schedule.

Here is a link to the webpage for the Pinedale Aquatic Center.

The Sundance Motel balances the convenience of staying overnight in Pinedale, WY and the easy access to White Pine Ski Area.  From Pinedale, the drive into the Wind Rivers to start your skiing vacation takes between 15 and 20 minutes.  There is a ski rental shop at White Pine for your convenience.

Skiing hard will work up a hunger which can be satisfied at the grill located in the White Pine lodge.  Two chair lifts whisk you up the mountain where you can meander at your own pace down the ski slope.

Update: 12/1/2011.  It sounds like White Pine Ski Area will be closed for the 2012 ski season. 

Learn more about White Pine Ski Area at this link

Cross Country Skiing

Some of the best cross country skiing in Wyoming can be found in the Wind River Mountains. Take the same road (Fremont Lake Road) into the Wind Rivers and look for various trailheads to start your skiing trek.

Lodging in Pinedale

Whichever type of skiing you choose, you can find convenient lodging in Pinedale.

When you’re done, load up and descend into Pinedale where you can stay at the cozy Sundance Motel for the night.  Centrally located in Pinedale, the Sundance Motel offers convenient access to restaurants, cafes or grocery shopping for dinner that night.

The Museum of the Mountain Man located in Pinedale, WY is within walking distance of the Sundance Motel.  In fact, you can see the Museum of the Mountain Man (sometimes called MOMM by the locals) on the bluff overlooking Pinedale from the Sundance Motel.

The Museum of the Mountain Man is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Mountain Man.  These hardy trappers were the first non-native explorers in this region.  Pinedale celebrates the fact that many of the first rendezvous in the early 1800s were held in the Green River Valley near present-day Pinedale, WY.

See the exhibits and celebrate the re-enactment of the Green River Rendezvous each summer in mid-July.

Here is a link to the Museum of the Mountain Man to get more information.