Lifemagician's 2009 Summer Road Trip

[Southwest Dave]

Hi Lifey,

Good to see you have the pics uploaded into your album but by using the "insert image"
tool when posting [2nd from end on right] you can display your pics direct.

Like so,


Carhenge... what more can I say?

Enjoying your updates and pics, thanks !

And for an explanation of what these are doing here -- check out this RTA feature....

[Lifemagician]

Thanks for all your help Dave, it is much appreciated.

Yes I know what you are saying about posting the photos, but if I do it that way, the caption does not show.... and the caption often adds to the narrative.

Lifey at the visitor centre in Shelby MT

[Mark Sedenquist]

You can have it all....

Insert the image, so we can follow along -- very few people ever look at the albums, without encouragement, I think the rate is about 1% of visitors ever look at the albums.

So... insert the image and then add the caption under the image on the page

Mark

[Lifemagician]

Thanks Mark, for that extra feature you added to Dave's post. But frankly mate... this computer illiterate has no idea how all that is done.

Lifey who'll stick to what she knows

[Lifemagician]

So... insert the image and then add the caption under the image on the page

Mark

I'll try that!!

[Lifemagician]

Since the road to the Medicine Wheel in the Big Horn Mountains was still closed with snow, it was I-90 all the way to Billings. Next day I headed for Red Lodge, and on to Bearthooth Pass.

27th May

Beartooth Highway

Here is what to my way of thinking is the perfect reason for winging it in blissful ignorance. If anyone had told me that it was going to take three hours (four hours with photo stops) from Red Lodge WY to Cooke City WY, I may have taken an alternative route into south west Montana... and in the process I would have missed driving a great highway. When I arrived at the first hairpin bend (switchback) and saw the road up ahead / above,

Switchbacks ahead!

I realised this was going to be a road to remember. And I was not disappointed.

Beartooth Pass had only recently been opened, and for me there is something magical about seeing snow on the side of the road. The snow covered hills and roadside brought back memories of six years ago when I spent a couple of months driving taxis in the snow and ski fields of the Australian Alps. Only this time I did not have to fit chains.


Stopped at the top of the World Store where the serve-yourself hot chocolate was most welcome. Since the road had only just been opened, there was very little passing traffic, but I was assured by the owner that soon it would be so busy the queue would be way out the door.

Yellowstone

My planned trip was to take me through south west Montana, however time now no longer allowed that. Instead I was just going to drive through Yellowstone via Mammoth Springs to West Yellowstone, and on to Rigby, but alas! Yellowstone in the spring is a wonder to behold.

i entered the park by the north east entrance. On previous ocassions I had entered via the northern, western and eastern entrances. Only a short distance into the park there were some lovely deer on the road. Then I came to a small parking area which was overflowing onto the road. With so many cars, I figured there had to be something special.

The clicking of cameras - many on tripods - was evident long before I knew what it was that they were focused on.

Here was a mother moose with a calf, just hours old. The calf was nursing, and the mother, badly scarred from a recent wolf attack, would ocassionally turn to admire her latest off-spring. It was an amazing site. Even with my tiny cigarette-pack-size camera I got some great photos.

It took me 4 hours to travel from the northeast entrance to West Yellowstone.

The hundreds of photos, many taken out of a slowly moving vehicle, attest to the many sights I visited along the way, and the number of bison, deer, elk and other wildlife around, many with their young. Spring must be the best time to visit Yellowstone!

[Lifemagician]

Stanley, central Idaho

After three wonderfully relaxing days in Stanley ID, in a log cabin at the foot of the Sawtooth Mountains, it was time to farewell my host and friend, and move on.

The scenic highways and byways of central Idaho deserve more than to be traversed at 60mph. To really appreciate the incredible beauty of this little corner of the world one needs to raise the right foot, and allow the surroundings time to make a lasting impression on the memory. Did not indulge in the distraction of taking photos... after all, I will be back - God willing.

Lemhi Pass

Crossed over into Montana on Lemhi Pass. What an incredible experience. This unpaved road, barely a car and a half wide, winds its way up to the pass on the Idaho side. (The Montana side is a breeze!)


Barely One Lane Wide
The road actually reminded me a lot of the Coronado Trail in eastern Arizona. There, as here, I clung to the side of the hill, without regard whether I was driving on the right or left side. No way was I going to be on the cliff side, should I meet another vehicle. At one stage I actually got up to 20mph, but most of it was driven at less than 15mph.

The views were incredible, but on this narrow road I was mostly too scared to stop and get out of the vehicle. Wildflowers were a plenty and although I could hear the waterfalls, was not game to go and find them.

There were many places where rocks had fallen on the road. Swerving to avoid them simply was not an option. The adrenalin was pumping, and scared as I was, I was none-the-less elated.

Never build bridges before I get to the water, I did not get overly concerned as to how I would cope, should a car come in the opposite direction. This paid off, as I did not see another vehicle, and I would have worried needlessly.

I did take heed of Foy's advice and parked my car in the parking lot, just below the pass, and walked up, to really experience it as Lewis and Clark must have when they saw the many ranges still ahead of them.

At the eastern entrance to the Lemhi Pass reserve, I met a couple in a 4 wheel drive, who wanted to know what it was like. I told them! Well, I told them most of it. Not all!! They went happily on their way. I figured I would not want to spoil for them the surprising challenges which I had enjoyed so much.

That night it was another great meal at a great truck stop in Missoula, as was the one in Shelby the next night. Took scenic route 200 from Missoula to I-15 - a very pleasant drive.

Glacier NP

The Road to the Sun Highway was not yet open, so was only able to get as far as Jackson Glacier.

Goose Island and the glaciers above
This lovely warm day was perfect for lunch by the lake. Not being able to walk more than a few hundred feet, there is really nothing else to do but drive, stop and take a photo.

Then it was on to Canada, on hwy 89. Moved through the border without any hassle, as there was not another vehicle to be seen. I took the wrong road, and added many, many unnecessary miles to the distance to Calgary.

Whence this comes.

p.s. Will start a new thread for the Alaskan part of the trip.

[PNW Judy]

I can't imagine anything more sublime than seeing the elk and calf in their natural surroundings like that. Although the bison with the little calves would be a very close second.

Note to self - visit Yellowstone in May.


(asked for and delivered-- with credit to LifeMagician)

[Mark Sedenquist]

That's a lot closer than I'd ever want to be to a buffalo cow and calves! Those buffalo are very unpredictable. At least LifeMagician was in her car!

Mark

[Southwest Dave]

Wow Lifey !

What a journey, a great report with superb pictures and text, thanks !

Dave

[keep it coming]