Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Beartooth Highway, Montana

Beartooth Highway, Montana

Rawlins, WY, Library

 


    A sign just to the east of Cooke City, MT, which was originally known as Shoo Fly. [Photos taken on 18 July.]

 

 

 

 


    A look west at the peaks in the NE corner of Yellowstone from the Colter USFS Campground, which was named for the Kentuckian who split from the Lewis & Clark Expedition in Aug 1806 to trap in the Yellowstone area.

 

 

 

 


    Panning left....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


    Looking back toward Yellowstone from a ridge-top as one ascends the Beartooth Highway.

 

 

 

 

 


    Not quite above the timberline yet as one ascends US Highway 212 toward Beartooth Pass.

 

 

 

 


    A couple of lakes just above the timberline; they were not too far from Little Bear Lake, where traffic was stopped as road crews worked on the road during the 3-4 months of good weather.

 

 

 

 


    Even the thistles are colorful when in bloom here above the timberline.

 

 

 

 

 

 


    Little Bear Lake.

 

 

 

 

 

 


    While I didn't see the sign at the top of Beartooth Pass (elev: 10,947') this view generally SW is on the plateau just past the top of the pass.

 

 

 

 

 


    Panning right....

 

 

 

 

 

 


    Panning right a couple more times the object of my attention finally appears.

 

 

 

 


    Zooming in I neglected to center Beartooth Peak, but it's in the "ragged" U to the left of center. Its shape lends its name to the peak and the highway. [Click once to enlarge; press ESC to return here.]

 

 


    Panning farther right, the highest mountain in this photo is Granite Peak (12,807'), the highest point in Montana.

 

 

 

 

 


    Beartooth & Granite Peaks as well as a mid-July snowfield, which explains why the road is only open from mid-May to mid-Oct, weather permitting.

 

 

 

 

 


    Gottcha, Beartooth!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


    Farther to the west, a shot of two alpine lakes.

 

 

 

 

 

 


    Panning to the right from the two lakes above one sees a series of cascades into a larger lake.

 

 

 

 

 

 


    The remainder of the above lake, Upper Twin Lake, & its twin, which drain into Rock Creek.

 

 

 


    Speaking of which, here's Rock Creek as seen from the Rock Creek Vista Point.[Even if your climbing ability exceeds that of a mountain goat, forget about climbing down to the creek with your fishing rod, for I don't see many fishable holes.]

 

 

 

 


    Looking down Rock Creek and US212; Red Lodge is "around the bend."

 

 

 

 

 

 


    Looking across Rock Creek Valley.

 

 

 

 

 

 


    Looking "up the valley" along what is likely another fork of Rock Creek toward the Absaroka Mtns.

 

 

 

 


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