Writer

Amber Steinmetz

Latest from Amber Steinmetz

Jordan Thorn reached Katahdin, the end of the Appalachian Trail, on Oct. 6. Located in Main it was the end of the five-month journey that began in Georgia.

Georgia To Maine In 5 Months: Gillette Man Hikes 2,198-Mile Appalachian Trail

About 3,000 people attempt the entire distance of the 2,198-mile Appalachian Trail every year. Only 1 in 4 make it. It took Gillette native Jordan Thorn five months to complete it, hitting the end of the trail on October 6 -- but was nearly derailed by illness 100 miles from the end.

Amber SteinmetzNovember 09, 2024

Cathy Blanchard, left, and Deb White of Cody, Wyoming, hold the Wyoming flag at the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa on Oct. 16, 2024.

Cody Women Make It To The Top Of 19,341-Foot Mount Kilimanjaro

Cathy Blanchard and Deb White of Cody, Wyoming, have returned from a successful a nine-day trek to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. “You learn a lot about yourself,” Blanchard said about making it to the 19,341-foot peak of Africa’s tallest mountain.

Amber SteinmetzNovember 03, 2024

Casey Rislov of Casper (left) and Ron Hayes of Douglas hold copies of their book "Let Me Tell You About My Mom."

Douglas Photographer, Casper Author Create Wildlife Book For Kids

A lifelong passion for the Cowboy State and its wildlife has prompted a Douglas photographer and a Casper children's author to create a wildlife book for kids. It features animal moms and their young to inspire a curiosity about the wild side of Wyoming.

Amber SteinmetzOctober 26, 2024

Emily and Colin Betzler and their children, from left, Pax, Storie and Hudson during a monthslong trip to see many of Bought Beautifully's partners around the world.

Sheridan Couple Creates Jobs, Hope For People In The World’s Poorest Countries

Emily and Colin Betzler run the Bought Beautifully boutique in Sheridan, Wyoming. They also are creating jobs and giving hope to people in some of the poorest countries on the planets by building a global pipeline to sell what they make.

Amber SteinmetzOctober 19, 2024

Susan Frost is a retired NASA research scientist who took up beekeeping for a hobby and later created her own business Queens of Goodness. The Lander resident is pictured with informational posters she made for National Honey Bee Day.

NASA Scientist-Turned-Beekeeper Turns Wyoming Hobby Into “Honey With Benefits”

Susan Frost of Lander, Wyoming, was a NASA researcher for 14 years. Now she’s a beekeeper, turning a retirement hobby into a business creating what she calls “honey with benefits.”

Amber SteinmetzOctober 05, 2024

Shannon Mayes of Lovell, left, stands next to her "Halloween Wars" Delectable Demons teammates Eric Jones and Briea Nathan. Nathan is a previous champion on the show and Jones was a runner-up.

Scary-Good Wyoming Cake Decorator Is On Food Network’s “Halloween Wars”

Lovell cake designer Shannon Mayes is appearing on the Food Network's “Halloween Wars,” which premieres at 7 p.m. on Sunday. Superstar chef Guy Fieri was so impressed by a cake she made during a filming of “Guy’s All-American Road Trip,” she was invited to participate.

Amber SteinmetzSeptember 22, 2024

Declan Jacobson, 12, of Sheridan is the creator of Double Edge Golf, a golfware line that combines his love for the sport, the outdoors, and his friends and family.

Sheridan 12-Year-Old Launches Line Of Wyoming-Branded Golf Wear

Declan Jacobson, a Sheridan, Wyoming, 12-year-old, has launched his own line of golf wear. It’s uniquely branded for Wyoming and promotes the “awesomeness” of the sport and state.

Amber SteinmetzSeptember 16, 2024

Brian Beauvais uses Thomas Jaggar's original photograph to find the right angle to reshoot the Hoodoos.

Park County Archivist Recreates Photos Of Wyoming 125 Years Later

Park County archivist Brian Beauvais has been rephotographing images originally shot by geologist Thomas Jaggar in the late 1800s. Some spots require more than a day hike to get there.

Amber SteinmetzSeptember 02, 2024

Family of Cheyenne Boy Who Saved Sister From Attacking Dog Writes Book For Kids

Bridger Walker was hailed as a hero when he saved his little sister Brielle from an attacking dog in 2020. Now he and Brielle are characters in their family’s new children’s book, “You Can Be a Hero.”

Amber SteinmetzAugust 24, 2024

Left: Silvio Pedri of Rock Springs was captured during World War II and spent more than five months as a prisoner of war. Right: Mark Pedri and Carrie McCarthy hold two of the three Emmys Burning Torch Productions won in July at the Heartland Emmys for Dear Sirs.

Documentary About Wyoming World War II POW Wins Three Emmys

“Dear Sirs,” a documentary about Silvio Pedri, a Wyoming man who was a prisoner of war in Germany during World War II, won three Emmy Awards last month. The film was produced by Silvio's grandson Mark of Rock Springs.

Amber SteinmetzAugust 17, 2024

Randall and Shondah Otwells' cattle get a drink from a stock tack that's equipped with a Water Rippler. The circulation helps keep the water cooler in the summer months.

Forget Stock Tank Heaters, Wyoming Ranchers Invent Device Works Year-Round

A Wyoming ranch family knew there was a better way to keep their livestock water tanks from freezing over. Five years later, the Water Rippler is about to hit the market. It keeps water from freezing in winter and cuts down on bugs and algae in summer.

Amber SteinmetzAugust 11, 2024

Eastern Wyoming College’s Ryder Tillard of Douglas competes in Fortnite during the National Junior College Athletic Association Esports Summer Series. Tillard recently earned the ‘Unreal” ranking in the game, which is held by 0.007% of the 500 million players worldwide.

Wyoming Teen Ranked Among The Best Fortnite Players On The Planet

Ryder Tillard of Douglas recently achieved the highest rank in the online video game Fortnite. That puts the 19-year-old among the top 0.2% of the more than 3.8 million ranked players worldwide.

Amber SteinmetzAugust 11, 2024

Other Authors

John Prentice, a Union soldier in the Civil War from 1861-1865, kept a diary of his experience, which was recently discovered by his great-grandson, Doyl Fritz of Sheridan, Wyoming.

Sheridan Man’s Family Civil War Diaries Is A Glimpse Into America’s Deadliest Conflict

Doyl Fritz of Sheridan, Wyoming, spent a year transcribing the diaries of his great-grandfather John Prentice, who fought for the Union Army during the Civil War. The lessons gleaned from the account of America’s deadliest conflict are priceless, he says.

Amber SteinmetzJuly 28, 2024

Pardner Colin Christensen, center, heads back to the kitchen after serving food recently at the Pardners Cafe in Cody. The cafe provides vocational training and experience for adults with developmental disabilities.

Eating Wyoming: Experience Great Food And An Even Greater Cause At Cody’s Pardners Cafe

Tucked in a corner of the Park County Library is Pardners Cafe. A volunteer-run enterprise, Pardners Cafe provides vocational training and experience for adults with developmental disabilities.

Amber SteinmetzJuly 28, 2024

The Draper Natural History Museum wants to hear from people who have seen pinyon jays in their yards at bird baths or feeders.

Wyoming Works To Save Rapidly Vanishing Pinyon Jay That’s Down 80%

The pinyon jay has seen its population crater by 80% over the last 50 years across the American West, including Wyoming. Now the Cowboy State is in the middle of efforts to save the species.

Amber SteinmetzJuly 21, 2024

Cody’s First Church Was Built With Money Won In High-Stakes Poker Game

The “Poker Church,” as it’s affectionately known, was the first church built in Cody. It was partially built with winnings from a lively poker game in 1900 that included Buffalo Bill Cody.

Amber SteinmetzJuly 13, 2024

A small colony of Townsend's big-eared bats, one of the 18 species found in Wyoming.

Wyoming’s Mysterious High Country Bats Focus Of 3-Year Census

A three-year bat census is in the homestretch to study Wyoming’s high country flying mammals. Bats are important to Wyoming -- just one brown bat can eat 1,200 insects in an hour. They also pollinate more than 300 species of fruit and even more flowers.

Amber SteinmetzJuly 07, 2024

St. Alban's Chapel in the scenic Snowy Range Mountains in southern Wyoming is a favorite spot for spring and early summer weddings.

Tiny St. Alban’s Chapel In The Middle Of Nowhere A Favorite Wyoming Wedding Spot

Nestled in the Snowy Range Mountains sits a quiet mountain chapel. With stunning views of 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.

Amber SteinmetzJuly 06, 2024

The two-story outhouse at the Grand Encampment Museum may seem odd, but actually makes sense. The second story isn't for volume use, its to use when the snow's so deep the bottom level is blocked. Also, the holes have luxurious beaver pelt covers.

Believe It Or Not, Rural Wyoming 2-Story Outhouse Makes Sense

One of the more bizarre and interesting attractions at the Grand Encampment Museum in southern Wyoming is a historic 2-story outhouse, and believe it or not, it actually makes sense.

Amber SteinmetzJune 30, 2024

Colin Hemens, from left, Hannah Darrin, Lisa McCauley, Lindsay Guerin and Linda Williamson helped start Meadowlark Market and Kitchen in Lander.

Eating Wyoming: Meadowlark Market Boosts Sales For Small Food Producers

Meadowlark Market and Kitchen in Lander offers locally grown produce and goods year-round. It's only been open a few months, but is already boosting sales for small food producers up to four times.

Amber SteinmetzJune 23, 2024

Jonny Kulow, left, and Adam Chaney of the United States react after a swim-off during the Men's 50-meter freestyle semifinal on Day Six of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Swimming Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium on June 20, 2024, in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Lander Swimmer Jonny Kulow Part Of Rare Double Swim-Off At Olympic Trials

Jonny Kulow was one of the most decorated athletes in Wyoming prep swimming history in Lander. On Thursday, the five-time Pac-12 Conference champion was part of a rare double swim-off at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Indianapolis.

Amber SteinmetzJune 23, 2024

Wagonhound is one of the finest, large commercial Red Angus producers in the market.

Douglas-Area Ranch Owners Donate $2.5 Million To Help Innovate Wyoming Ag Industry

The owners of a Douglas-area ranch have donated $2.5 million to the University of Wyoming to empower the Ranch Management and Agricultural Leadership Program. The goal is to help innovate the agriculture industry to protect its future in Wyoming.

Amber SteinmetzJune 09, 2024

Bull rider Clayton Savage was followed for 14 months for the documentary "Savage, the Relentless Pursuit of a Dream." The film shows the triumphs and challenges pro rodeo competitors face during the grueling season.

Wyoming Bull Rider’s Relentless 10-Year Comeback Featured In New Documentary

At 37-years-old, Yoder bull rider Clayton Savage isn't done. Although 60 injuries have taken its toll on the NFR-qualifying cowboy, he's back in top form and the focus of a new documentary: "Savage, the Relentless Pursuit of a Dream."

Amber SteinmetzMay 05, 2024

A brown bear in Katmai National Park walking through the Brooks River with a sockeye salmon after a successful catch. This bear had been fishing unsuccessfully for quite a while before he finally caught a fish and proudly carried it to shore to eat before returning to his fishing spot.

From Wyoming To Alaska, Cody Photographer Is All About The Bears

When Cody wildlife photographer Julia Cook traveled to Alaska, her goal was to capture a Kodiak with a sockeye salmon in its mouth. It was the end of the season and the lone bear she found was having a "terrible time fishing." But he finally got it, and so did she.

Amber SteinmetzMarch 17, 2024

Bettie Marie Daniels enjoys the celebration honoring her lifetime commitment to Girl Scouts. Daniels was recognized for 75 years of dedicated service to the organization recently at the Etoquinnow Girl Scout House in Cody.

Wyoming’s Bettie Daniels, 90, An Active Girl Scout 75 Years And Counting

Bettie Marie Daniels of Cody, Wyoming, first became a Girl Scout in 1939, and the 90-year-old has spent most of her adult life actively involved in the organization — 75 years and counting.

Amber SteinmetzMarch 16, 2024

Bruce Tippets grew up in Riverton and now makes sports dreams come true for people with serious health challenges with his nonprofit, Dreams in Motion.

Former Riverton Man Nearly Died, Now Makes Sports Dreams Come True For Others

Bruce Tippets grew up in Riverton and nearly died before getting a kidney transplant. Now to help others dealing with serious health challenges, he provides first-class sports experiences so "for a little while, they don't have to worry about anything."

Amber SteinmetzMarch 02, 2024

Jenn Green of Gillette has had her northeast Wyoming hometown behind her through three heart transplant surgeries.

After Third Heart Transplant, Wyoming Woman Says Every Day Is A Gift From God

Jenn Green of Gillette, who is recovering from her third heart transplant, says she wants to be an inspiration to others, give them hope and make them believe they should never give up. "Most of all trust in the Lord. I believe that is my purpose," she says.

Amber SteinmetzFebruary 24, 2024

The Medicine Wheel and Medicine Mountain National Historic Landmark in 2011. The rock circle is about 80 feet in diameter, with 28 '"spokes" radiating from a central cairn, five cairns around the rim and a sixth slightly outside the perimeter.

Bighorn Medicine Wheel In Wyoming Draws Thousands Of Visitors Every Year

Some believe the Medicine Wheel in the Bighorn National Forest is a vision quest site. Others believe it is a representation of a sun dance circle or an astronomical observatory and calendar. To many Native Americans it is “the place where the eagle lands.”

Amber SteinmetzFebruary 19, 2024

The relaxed neighborhood feel at Pat's Brew House brings in many regular customers.

Drinking Wyoming: Pat’s Brew House In Cody "Where Everybody Knows Your Name"

When Norfleet Gifford bought Pat’s Brew House in Cody, her goal was to create a neighborhood-bar feel similar to the TV show “Cheers.” And even with temperatures below zero recently, the place was packed with regulars.

Amber SteinmetzFebruary 18, 2024

Jose Torres and Julianna Aycock of Thaw Tech Solutions have created a snow melting machine that saves customers time and money for snow removal.

Wyoming Couple Turn Napkin Sketch Into Industrial Snow Melting Machine

After seeing huge piles of plowed snow last winter, a Riverton, Wyoming, couple was inspired. A quick napkin sketch became Thaw Tech Solutions, a custom-built industrial machine used to melt snow and release it into the drainage system.

Amber SteinmetzFebruary 10, 2024

Bryson Quinney, who received a heart transplant in 2020, is pictured with the new Donate Life license plate, which became available in Wyoming on Jan. 1. He was born with half a heart and had several surgeries early in life, including a heart transplant.

Wyoming Teen Born With Half A Heart Champions New ‘Donate Life’ License Plate

Lyman's Bryson Quinney was born with half a heart and was saved by a heart transplant in 2020, now he and his father are champions for organ donation, including pushing for Wyoming’s new “Donate Life” license plates.

Amber SteinmetzJanuary 28, 2024

Wyoming bestselling author Craig Johnson is releasing the latest story in his Walt Longmire saga, "First Frost," in May.

Craig Johnson’s New Longmire Novel Takes Sheriff Walt Back To Summer 1964

Wyoming author Craig Johnson will release his 20th novel in May, “First Frost." Only this time, it’s 1964, and Walt Longmire is in his early 20s and has just been drafted into the Vietnam War.

Amber SteinmetzJanuary 27, 2024

Thomas Turiano and Forrest McCarthy on the summit of Mount Helen, Turiano's final" Select Peak" in August 2023.

After 20 Years, New Edition Of Yellowstone’s 'Bible' For Mountain Peaks Is Out

Thomas Turiano’s “Select Peaks of Greater Yellowstone” came out 20 years ago and mountaineers say it's become the 'bible' of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem's mountains. A long-awaited second edition has finally been released.

Amber SteinmetzJanuary 20, 2024

Left, EMT Duane Barker and Paramedic Lisa Gunyan were awarded the Stork Award after a recent field delivery in Gillette. Center and right, Campbell County Fire Department Engineer Matthew Gray, from left, Capt. Rob Dickey and firefighter Sam Newton. All were recently awarded STORK Awards after assisting in the field delivery of a newborn child.

When Midwife Couldn’t Be There, Gillette EMS Was There For Home Birth

When Esther Nielsen went into labor and her midwife was held up because of bad weather, a handful of Campbell County firefighters and EMS crew responded to her home outside the city and were there for her home birth.

Amber SteinmetzJanuary 15, 2024

Mark McKenna and his family created the card game Royal Turmoil, which is for sale on Amazon. The McKennas are, from left, front, Lexi, Grant and Jamie; back, Macie, Mark, Hailey, Sheena and Natalie.

Powell Man’s Late-Night Lightbulb Moment Becomes National-Selling Card Game

Nearly three years after Mark McKenna of Powell had a late-night lightbulb moment, his family’s new card game, Royal Turmoil, is selling around the U.S. and increasing in sales every month.

Amber SteinmetzDecember 17, 2023

A group of 4-H participants decorate their snowmen for the Community Christmas Celebration.

Artist Makes 300 Wooden Snowmen, One For Every Family In 3 Big Horn County Towns

With none of her children and grandchildren living nearby, Pauline Parker wanted to do something for the area. So she painted 300 wooden snowmen — one for every family in Burlington, Otto and Emblem.

Amber SteinmetzDecember 03, 2023

Students taught by Elise Mayor stand in front of the Big Four School in Four Mile near Kaycee in the late 1920s.

Strict Rules For Early Wyoming Teachers: No Makeup, Drinking Or Hanging Out

Like most teachers of her time, Elise Mayor had to sign a strict contract about her behavior when she began teaching in Wyoming in 1926 — no makeup, drinking or hanging out in ice cream shops.

Amber SteinmetzNovember 26, 2023

Shirely Munoz Newson, far left, with some members of her biological family, whom she didn't meet until after she learned before her 43rd birthday that she was switched at birth. They are, from left, cousin Brenda Munoz, aunt Mary Mercado, cousin Kim Accurso and cousin Nick Munoz.

Wyoming Woman Was 43 When She Learned She Was Switched At Birth

Gillette resident Shirley Munoz Newsom was 43 when she discovered she had been switched at birth. Now she’s sharing her story and learning that babies switched at birth isn’t as uncommon as people may think.

Amber SteinmetzNovember 18, 2023

Brindi Brittain holds Adrian Wood as they get a private tour of the University of Wyoming athletics facility after presenting to P.E. teachers in Laramie.

Pair Of Cody Students First Wyomingites To Serve As Special Olympics Youth Ambassadors

Brindi Brittain and Adrian Wood, from Cody High School, are the first Wyomingites to serve as Special Olympics U.S. Youth Ambassadors. They will serve with 30 other youth leaders with and without intellectual disabilities who are striving to make America a more inclusive place.

Amber SteinmetzNovember 12, 2023