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.
Links:
- John Colter biography on Wikipedia
- Wikipedia article on the Beartooth Highway
- Wikipedia article on the Beartooth Mtns
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F 2 Aug Actual Route: Vy Ave W/M - Ft Casper - Indepedence Rock Rest Area - Rawlins Trk-Stp bd
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M 5 Aug Actual Route: RV World CG - McDs - Tom Neuman Truck & RV - Rawlins bd
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Sa 10 Aug Actual Route: Craig W/M - Craig Lib - McDs - Meeker, CO - Rifle Colo Rest Area - Walmart
Su 11 Aug Route: Walmart - Rifle Lib - Walmart
Finding Campgrounds:
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- Free campsites website
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