Camping with a Chief

On our way to Yellowstone, we took up camp in a small pull-off called Chief Joseph. 

We were the only campers in the entire area...

But we weren't alone!

Adjacent to the campsite was a quaint trail we just had to check out. 

It started out with a little history lesson.

Exploring the trail...

Devin's hand compared to a bear's paw.

 Due to the wildfires surrounding three states, we were unable to start a campfire. It was raining, and even though it was August...it got very cold in the mountains! We had a very late dinner at a nice spot right on the 'main street strip' of Cooke City. It was a rustic place (the only one open), but it was nice. 

In the morning we woke up to a nice foggy view. 

Double take

Towards the end of our stay in MT, we took a trip to Yellowstone National Park. (YAY!) While traveling there, we came face to face with Beartooth Pass yet again. So here is round two. These pictures are the sites from where we left off.

I'm in Wyoming!

No...wait! I'm in Montana!!

We're not 100% sure WHERE the top of this road is...but this was pretty high up there!

View of mountains beyond.

Subaru taking in the views.

Long ways down!

Devin climbed down the rocks to get a closer look.

Hey Charley!

Stillwater Trail leading to Sioux Charley Lake, in the Absaroka Range, Stillwater County, MT. This trail was a nice find. It started out winding through a breezy canyon and ended with views of a beautiful lake with (of course) mountains all around.

At beginning of trail. Breezy area.

Rapids along side of trail.

Portion of trail ahead.

View of mountains and water along trail.

Looking back at part of trail.

Sioux Charley Lake up ahead.

Lovely mountains in the distance.

Sioux Charley Lake and mountains.

Old McDonald...

Driving back to our humble abode in Billings after a great day at the beach with the Hager family, we came across this old farm tractor set in the middle of the field. Now, we all know how much I love old rustic things...character. So, I stopped for a photo opp. 

Fun with friends...

It's always nice to get out of town on your days off. Today we took to the beach with my friend Ronna from work and her family. They have a nice boat so we spent the day barbecuing and lounging around. Ahh...lazy days of summer. :-)

Beartooth Mountain Pass

We traveled the first part of Beartooth Mountain Pass, and turned back after the pull off showing views of the Beartooth Plateau. Beartooth Pass connects through MT and WY. It is a 20 mile highway traveling switchbacks,  passing through 50-60 million year old mountains. Here are some pictures of the first part of the highway.

Devin and I enjoying the view.

Looking down at the switchbacks.

Good view of the switchbacks and the surrounding mountains.

More mountains.

View past the barriers (keeping us from falling overboard).

4th Fun

Some friends of mine from Radiology got together and did this hike in Red Lodge, MT (West Fork of Rock Creek) on July 4th. It was 10 miles of trail...and fun!

View of mountains from parking spot.

First scene of rapids. (Sentinel Falls)

Snow capped mountains in the distance.

Second scene of rapids. (Calamity Falls)

There were a few areas where rock slides

must have once covered the trail.

Mountains on either side of the trail.

Cool dried up root along the trail.

Geez...might as well add the fanny pack!

Trail O DEATH!

Ok...so this trail WINDED me...to say the least. Once you made it up the mile hike of treacherous terrain (think gorge sized holes and rumbling rocks) the view and the rest of the trail...made it worth while. Here are my photos. Enjoy!

Looking back at the first incline.

At the top...the Subaru is that tiiiiiny speck of green.

Bunny checking out the view.

Half charred tree along trail.

Pine Cones!

Charred trees (trail goes directly between them).

Mmm...crop rotation?

Pretty descriptive view of beginning of trail.

(Coming full circle, I am now looking at the beginning of the trail...down yonder.)

The Devil Went Down To...Wyoming.

One of our adventurous road trips took us to Wyoming. There we found Devils Tower. Devils Tower rises 1267 feet above the Belle Fourche River. There are many legends telling the story of how this tower was formed (depending on which tribe speaks of this site). As Crow Legend goes: Two young girls were playing around some big rocks. There were a lot of bears living around the rocks and one bear saw the two girls alone and wanted to eat them. The bear was just about to catch the girls when they saw him and began to run. The only safe spot they could find was at the top of one of the big rocks they had been playing around. The girls climbed the rock, but the bear was still coming after them. The Great Spirit, seeing the bear was about the catch the girls, caused the rock to begin growing up out of the ground. The bear kept trying to climb up the rock as it grew, but he just scratched the rock and fell to the ground. The marking on the rock are the 'claw marks' made by the bear as he tried to climb the rock. Legend says the girls are still on top of the rock.

Here are a few photos we took along the way.

Hey there little guy!

Red rocks near Devils Tower.

First site of Devils Tower over trees.

Side profile of Devils Tower.

Looking up!

Beautiful sunset from base of tower.

Battle of Bighorn

Devin and I took a journey over to Crow Agency, MT to view the Bighorn battlefield area and burial grounds. Here are a few pictures.

Enclosed burial ground of many people caught in the battle.

The stone with the black marker is where General Custer's body fell.

(But not where he is buried.)

Eternal view.

Beautiful tribute to fallen Native Americans.

(It was the least we could do.)