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Mudslides keep Beartooth Highway closed and there is no estimated reopening. Found this in todays news:
http://www.mtstandard.com/articles/...ejehfjcjaff.txt
Check before you head out on the Beartooth Highway, Highway 212 between Red Lodge, Montana and the northeast entrance of Yellowstone National Park!
Utahtea
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Hi,
One of the highlights of my upcoming road trip this summer was going to be driving the bear tooth highway. I've just read that its been swept away by mudslides. Does anybody have any idea how quickly they can repair damaged mountain roads ?
UK
I am also interested in the status of bear tooth. Does anyone know of a website that you can get up to date information?
UK -- the road has been covered by a few washouts and it is undermined in a few more, but it is not gone. But it will be weeks if not months before it can be fully reopened. More background information about this magnificent highway can be read here. Read on down this post -- new images give me pause when I see just how much damage has happened on this stretch of road...Quote:
One of the highlights of my upcoming road trip this summer was going to be driving the bear tooth highway. I've just read that its been swept away by mudslides. Does anybody have any idea how quickly they can repair damaged mountain roads ?
Part of the Beartooth Highway is Federal and so the Feds will be taking the primary steps in getting the road re-opened. Here is a link to the current status of this project. Plus you can call the closure hot line at 1-888-285-4636Quote:
Originally Posted by moonwalker
Here is information distributed by the Yellowstone NP Roads division about all of the road closures in the park. Plus Yellowstone maintains its own hotline about road closures in the park: 307-344-7381.
Wow - you are not only quick but very, very resourceful! Thanks for the great information.
I like the moniker of Moonwalker when you live in Huntsville -- do you get over to the space park very often? I always thought it would be great to be 14 again so I could go to Space Camp there. Huntsville is a VERY cool spot, and any tips and/or insider information that you can share with the roadtrippers on this board would be very much appreciated.
Mark
There are some jaw dropping photos of the Beartooth Highway and the damage from the mud slides at this website:
http://www.mdt.state.mt.us/travinfo/beartooth/
Utahtea
Great job finding those images and posting the link. It hard to imagine that such a road was ever built and doubly so to imagine that anyone can hope to put it back together again. More background on this amazing scenic drive here.Quote:
Originally Posted by Utahtea
Mark
Thanks everybody for the info.
Looking at the pictures, there does not seem to be much hope of fixing that lot in the two months I've got before I travel. I guess I'll need to plan an alternative.
UK
Mark - Yes, through my job, I am over at the US Space and Rocket Center, http://www.spacecamp.com/, all the time. I work on the Space Shuttle among other NASA programs. Even as an adult you can go through space camp! IMHO, next to the Smithsonian in Wash. DC I think we have the best space museum in the country. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask.
Sally
You don't need to change much at all, you can still see some absolutely spectacular scenery going out from the park and up to the closure, then turning back a short way and taking the Chief Joseph Hwy which is spectacular in its own right. From Cody, which may be of interest itself, head north to Red Lodge, it actually won't take any longer as the roads are faster.Quote:
Originally Posted by UK
bob
Here are two articles on how long they think it will take. They are hoping for October of this year but will be happy if it's by May 2006!
http://www.mtstandard.com/articles/2...jdjfjjfcjd.txt
http://www.billingsgazette.com/index...x-btooth_x.inc
According to the Yellowstone webiste the section of the Beartooth Hwy that is in the park is open and you can get to Red Lodge via the Chief Joseph Highway.
http://www.nps.gov/yell/planvisit/or...l/roadclos.htm
Utahtea
Bob,Quote:
Originally Posted by killer
Which road is the Chief Joseph Highway ? I had assumed it must be the 296 when lookin gat the map, but reading your note i.e. going to Cody before heading north suggests its the 20.
UK
Chief Joseph is 296, looking at the map I see that you don't have to go all the way to Cody, I'd forgotten that as I was staying in Cody last time I was up there.
bob
Please just make sure you still go and visit Red Lodge. I am from that area, and Red Lodge relies on tourists to stay afloat. The only reason the highway is getting fixed so quickly is because this gorgeous little town cannot afford to have it closed.
I agree, it is a gorgeous town and area. Such considerations were also the reason that CA-190 was rebuilt into Death Valley earlier this year.Quote:
Originally Posted by kremmo
Mark