Nestled in the Snowy Range Mountains sits a quiet mountain chapel.
With stunning views of the range and the Centennial Valley, St. Alban’s Chapel near Little Brooklyn Lake draws outdoor enthusiasts, engaged couples and parishioners of St. Matthew’s Cathedral to the site year after year.
“It’s this little chapel on a hill, but it overlooks the big vast valley,” said photographer Rick Osborne. “It’s just beautiful.”
Osborne and his wife Stephanie of Ardent Photography photograph at least two or three weddings at the chapel every summer. He said it’s one of the couple’s favorite places to capture ceremonies in the Snowies.
“I think there’s not really anything that compares to St. Alban’s Chapel in that area,” Osborne said. “It’s unique in the fact that you can have your ceremony right there in the Snowies. You don’t have to bring in your own seating. It’s extremely affordable. And so I think that’s why it’s always so busy and booked out. It’s beautiful. It’s accommodating. It just kind of checks all those boxes.”
Sara Haugen decided St. Alban’s Chapel was the perfect spot for her mountain wedding after several hiking, camping and fly-fishing adventures in the Snowy Range with her future husband.
“I loved the idea of bringing our flatlander extended families into the mountains if they were already flying all the way to Wyoming,” she said. “My ceremony was July 13, 2013, and I’d say that’s about the earliest I’d recommend a wedding up there. Up until about a week before the wedding, there were still road drifts heading up to Little Brooklyn Lake. There are probably drifts up there right now that’ll be gone by next week.”
The morning of the ceremony the weather looked like it wasn’t going to cooperate, with black clouds hanging low over the peak. Haugen’s parents, who were there to set up early, were dealing with hail and rain around 11:30 a.m.
“Our ceremony was at 1 p.m., and by then it was sunny and blue skies opened up,” she said. “It was picture perfect, but I was mentally preparing to be soaked the whole time.”
Haugen said it was a dream wedding. The wooden benches were just enough for her 85 guests. And a harpist set up under the cover of the chapel, something that had always been on her wish list since she was a little girl.
“The ceremony was just beautiful, and the wildflowers were popping,” she said. “We still go visit St. Alban’s each summer around our anniversary, now with our two kiddos.”
St. Alban’s Chapel was built in 1940 as a memorial to Lutie Stone by her son, Dr. Ferdinand Fairfax Stone, according to an informational pamphlet from St. Matthew’s. It was consecrated in 1941 in dedication to St. Alban.
The chapel’s name harkens back across the Atlantic to the grand Anglican St. Alban’s Cathedral in Hertfordshire, England, and is named after the country’s first Christian martyr of 304 A.D.
The authentic log structure of the open-air chapel reflects the skill involved in its hand-hewn log construction. This traditional Scandinavian craftsmanship was commonly used by work crews for President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps of the Great Depression.
The chapel’s log walls shelter the simple, hand-hewn lodgepole cross within the open window. The altar beneath the cross reflects the CCC skill of stone masonry, using the variegated hues of granite up on The Ridge — bold rose, delicate pinks, turquoise and crystal white, literally bringing the mountain to the altar.
The granite rocks of the altar have an inscription referring to Psalm 121, “I will lift mine eyes up unto the hills.”
The congregation of St. Matthew’s Cathedral gathers at the spot every summer from July through August for worship and invites others to, “Come experience peace and God’s blessings at this quiet, mountain chapel on the Brooklyn Lake Road.”
When David Vernon proposed to his wife in 1988 using the scoreboard at the University of Wyoming, they considered the chapel as a potential wedding location.
“We had both spent time in the Snowies and really like St. Alban’s as a location,” he said. “But our wedding was scheduled for Memorial Day weekend in 1988, and we were actually worried about snow still being up there and having to drag my grandparents through that, so we got married at Ivinson Mansion instead.”
However, St. Alban’s and Little Brooklyn Lake have always been beloved by the couple, and when they were last up there in July 2017 on a visit from their home in Illinois, the wildflowers were in full bloom.
“It was beautiful, but sadly we were surprised by how much pine beetle damage there was and how the trees were just so barren,” Vernon said. “It’s still a lovely place with a lovely view, and we miss the Snowies so much to this day. We’ll be back in southeastern Wyoming in September, and if we get up to the Snowies, we’ll definitely pay another visit to the little chapel on the hill.”
A few years ago Rose Brackett was also looking at possible wedding venues, and St. Alban’s was on her list. So she made a trip up in July 2022 and took a few photographs, which she shared on the Wyoming Through the Lens Facebook page.
“My then-fiancée and I had just gotten engaged, and I had been looking for unique wedding venues in the area, and I’d heard about that place, but I’d never been there, so I wanted to go and see what it was like in person,” she said.
She thought the location was perfect for a small ceremony with a rustic, Wyoming vibe. And while the couple didn’t end up getting married at the chapel because they decided to have the ceremony in October, she enjoyed being there so much she made a return trip later with her sister.
“It’s just a peaceful site — just the little chapel, then the wildflowers and down a little bit further there’s a lake,” she said. “It’s off the beaten path just a little bit. It was just a gorgeous view.”
CASPER, Wyo. — “On Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 I kayaked into Fremont Canyon at Alcova,” writes photographer Dino Wenino. “The air was still, the sun was shining, the water was like glass and the reflections were beautiful. I didn’t hit ice until 1.7 miles in.”
Do you have a photo that captures the beauty of Wyoming? Submit it by clicking here and filling out the form, and we may share it!
Starting Friday evening, rain and snow will start to move into northeastern Wyoming and southeastern Montana. Winds will begin to pick up out of the NW and gust up to 40-50 MPH. Even if snow accumulations don’t match projections, you only need 1″-2″ of snow to cause major disruptions, given the higher winds.
Anywhere from Sheridan, Wyoming through Sturgis along I-90 will likely be difficult for travel through at least Sunday afternoon due to blowing snow and icy roads. Anywhere east of Sturgis along I-90 including Rapid City and areas east of Rapid City should see diminished impacts with only an inch or two of snow over the same 48 hour period.
Outside of Lawrence County and perhaps Belle Fourche in South Dakota, most of the state should see manageable conditions, with blowing snow from time to time. However, be ready for snow squalls to quickly change driving conditions even if no winter weather bulletins are active for your area.
5″-9″ seems reasonable for the northern hills, with localized areas of southwest Lawrence County in the conversation for a foot or more of snow. There will be a sharp cutoff of snow accumulations as you push further east, particularly around Sturgis/Tilford area.
Stay tuned for updates, as our winter storm watches will likely be replaced by winter storm advisories and winter storm warnings in the next 24 hours.
Our weather department occasionally publishes stories under a byline of “Weather staff.” Most frequently, the “Weather staff” byline is used for straightforward forecasts. At times, this byline is used when a weather story is a collaboration by members of the weather department.
LARAMIE — Both Wyoming basketball teams faced heartbreak against New Mexico, with the Cowboys falling 61-53 in Laramie and the Cowgirls narrowly losing 73-67 in Albuquerque. Despite stellar efforts, the Lobos prevailed in both contests.
The Wyoming Cowboys held one of the nation’s top offenses to a mere 18 points in the first half, their fourth-lowest opponent total in a half in program history. However, a late rally from New Mexico in the second half sealed the Lobos’ victory at the Arena-Auditorium.
“We were close, and close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades,” Wyoming head coach Sundance Wicks said. “This game stung a bit. I’m proud of the guys; they executed the game plan and are believing in what we’re doing. The process is showing, but the results aren’t there.”
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The Pokes’ defensive effort limited the Lobos to 33.3 percent shooting for the game, including 23.8 percent from beyond the arc. Offensively, Wyoming struggled, shooting just 32.2 percent overall and 26.3 percent from three-point range.
Dontaie Allen led Wyoming with 12 points, his third double-digit performance of the season. Cole Henry and Abou Magassa added 10 points each, with Magassa’s career-high also including five rebounds. Jordan Nesbitt contributed eight rebounds and a season-high five assists, while Kobe Newton chipped in nine points on three three-pointers.
Wyoming led 32-18 at halftime, dominating defensively and holding New Mexico scoreless for stretches exceeding four minutes. However, a 12-0 Lobo run early in the second half tightened the game. The Cowboys briefly regained control with an 8-0 run, highlighted by a transition dunk from Nesbitt, but New Mexico surged late. Donovan Dent’s 22 points and Nelly Junior Joseph’s double-double (12 points, 12 rebounds) propelled the Lobos to victory.
The Wyoming Cowgirls battled valiantly at The Pit, shooting an impressive 52.1 percent from the field and assisting on 21 of 25 made baskets. However, New Mexico’s strong fourth-quarter performance proved decisive in the Lobos’ 73-67 win.
“We did an excellent job sharing the ball, but turnovers and missed opportunities hurt us,” said Wyoming head coach Heather Ezell.
Allyson Fertig led the Cowgirls with 17 points, followed by Tess Barnes (15) and Malene Pedersen (14), who combined for five three-pointers. Off the bench, McKinley Dickerson added 10 points. Pedersen also tallied a career-high seven assists, while Ola Ustowska contributed a season-best six.
Wyoming’s unselfish play led to their second 20-plus assist game this season. However, 15 turnovers led to 14 points for New Mexico, and the Lobos held an 8-0 edge in second-chance points.
Despite trailing 37-33 at halftime, the Cowgirls trimmed the deficit to two by the third quarter’s end. A pair of Fertig free throws tied the game at 53-53 early in the fourth, but New Mexico answered with a decisive 7-0 run. Fertig’s three late layups kept Wyoming close, but the Lobos held firm, aided by Hulda Joaquim’s timely three-pointer and a solid team effort.
The Cowboys will enjoy a bye weekend before traveling to Boise State for their second matchup in as many weeks. Meanwhile, the Cowgirls return home for back-to-back games, starting with a contest against San Diego State on Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Arena-Auditorium.
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