View from our campsite
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
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I sit here tonight watching the sun set behind brick red cliff formations. Towering behind them is striated limestone and then … sky. We are high and oh so dry - the temps are now in the 70’s. In the distance we can see the rain - and snow - that is surrounding this hidden, temperate valley. Most likely the rain and wind will hit us tonite.
We are all alone at the south end of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area in Wyoming. We are totally alone. There are no other campers……. all we hear is the wind, which comes and goes, and all around us is carved mountains, low grass, sagebrush and sky……… Brilliant!
totally alone
Horseshoe Bend Campground
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It has been a miraculous two days. Lots of driving and lots of exploring.
Montana is wide and open and each vista is, seemingly, surrounded by mountains. In Missoula we woke to 20 degree temps and snow on the ground - yet the day prior was warm. Driving through so many different landscapes - cattle country, expansive, cut by stream after stream. More horses than I could imagine. Small towns, tiny pocket communities of ….. ? what do all these people do? Lots of black angus. Log homes, trailer homes, pristine antique homes, homes falling down, abandoned - each community uniquely different. And all there.
wide open hill country, MT
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As the sun rose the land warmed up and steam rose from all the rivers that ran through the valleys. And then … we climbed again. Up, up and up again to 6,400 feet. At the summit was a lot of snow and a frozen Georgetown Lake. We descended into Butte, Montana, a really pleasant little city - with a college, interesting history and architecture, and a great distillery!
The "gallows" - Orphan Girl Mine
Butte, MT
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We first visited the World Museum of Mining….. if you are into old machinery and “how things work” this is the place for you! Tim was so in his element. It was fascinating and although we could not go “into the mine” (only available June - Sept) we both enjoyed the self tour and well posted information about the “Orphan Girl Mine”. Mining - specifically - copper mining is what Butte is all about. Seems that right around the time that electricity needed copper (wires) …….. well, the mines here became important. And they gave and gave and Butte grew and grew - until it was not needed anymore. But the city has maintained through tourism.
old mine entrance
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While at the Museum of mining they recommended we check out the local distillery (!!!), Headframe Spirits. As part of our R&D efforts we headed there. A very cool bar/distillery with an interesting menu we ordered 2 different versions of a Moscow Mule - hell, they are served in cold copper mugs……. Hello Butte! The bartender recommended a place in town for mesquite grilled food and the rest is delicious history! Of course we purchased a few bottles from the distillery as souvenirs.
Moscow Mules in Butte copper cups
Headframe Spirits
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Leaving Butte we climbed again to 6500 feet and then down, down into a dry, sage and straw covered Madison River Valley. On the way we came upon a herd of big horn sheep. We cam around the bend so quickly that we bot surpassed each other and, unfortunately, I was not camera ready. Here we searched out the Madison Buffalo Jump. Historically very interesting - the spot where the Shoshone and other tribes staged their round up, herding and eventual jump (off) of buffalo to the valley below.
Buffalo Jump State Park
Madison Valley, MT
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Arriving at the northern entrance to Yellowstone we settled in a campground right above the Yellowstone River. As we sat there enjoying our simple dinner we watched mule deer grazing on the crest of the ridge on the other side of the river. As the sun set they were in silhouette - a buck and 3 females.
Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
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Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
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We rose early and headed for Yellowstone. We knew that we would only be able to traverse the northern road. Due to snow snow closures all other roads in the park were closed. Had we arrived 10 days later we could have driven the entire park - but .... we were here now and in the big picture… it was perfect.
We saw……
Buffalo!!!!! more than I could imagine ever seeing or count
Yellowstone Bison
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Crossing a river
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Mule deer - many herds of females.
Pronghorns - a small herd.
A wolf - alone and running across the snow covered field.
(he definitely was aware of us!)
I am quite satisfied.
The part of Yellowstone that we saw was majestic and diverse. Definitely need to come back when all the roads are open and we can see the rest.
Undine Falls
Yellowstone National Park
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We left Yellowstone early this afternoon as the weather reporting had 6” accumulations of snow coming to the area later today and tonite. We had to drive back north into Montana and then east and again south to get back into Wyoming. We had tried to exit Yellowstone via the North east entrance but the Colter Pass (at over 8,000’) was closed. So back into Montana we went and out and around.
Five hours later we ended up here. Not a bad day.
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towering red clay formations
Big Horn Canyon National Forest
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