The Beartooth and Chief Joseph Scenic Highways

Yesterday morning we drove the car out of Columbus to take a drive down and up both of these scenic highways.

I had driven the Beartooth before, but never the Chief Joseph.  Considering where we started from, this was a long but enjoyable drive.  It took 261 miles to complete.

The higher and higher we drove, the more dramatic the views became.  This is a good time of the year to do this drive as the aspen trees are all turning golden.

Once you get to the top, you start the journey down the other side.  Getting out and walking around near 10,000’ was interesting.  Both of us struggled a bit with the thin air.  The road won’t stay open for very much longer due to fall snow storms.

We had planned to have lunch in Cooke City after descending the southern side.  It seemed like I drove and drove, and never did find Cooke City.  I finally turned around to head back to the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway.  The map I had indicated that the city was close by, but that wasn’t quite true.  Not having packed a lunch for this day, we were both hungry.

Luckily, not too many miles down this road we found a little place called the Fork and Spoon Café that hadn’t closed yet for the season.  Only three things on the menu, but they were very tasty.  Our server told us that Cooke City had been quite a bit further down the highway.  Oh well, it turned out for the best.

I really enjoyed this part of the drive.  If you are familiar with Chief Joseph and his struggle to make it to Canada before the federal troops caught up with him and what was left of his tribe, this was the last mountain that they climbed.  A wounded warrior was left here, and the US Calvary killed him.  To this day it is known as Dead Indian Pass.  I just can’t imagine the hardships of their journey with winter coming.

The long drive was well worth it for me yesterday.  What stunning scenery.  This morning we packed up and headed out to Island Park, Idaho.  We’re about 14 miles from the west entrance to Yellowstone Nat’l Park.

Kurt is happy as a clam since the Wi-Fi at Valley View RV Park is working wonderfully for him.  Internet has been a challenge for him along the trip.  My Verizon air card continues to work just fine.

We will be here for five nights, and tomorrow we will head to ‘Old Faithful’.  That has to be at the top of the list for someone’s first visit to Yellowstone.  I wonder what the chances are we’ll encounter a bison jam tomorrow??

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy