I’m trying hard not to be disappointed. We are losing great gallops of vista to the wildfires burning in CA and OR. The haze is just awful. Reminds me of southern CA during a Santa Ana wind event, when the smog would blow out of the inland valleys down to the coast. After we pull into Bozeman, a fierce thunderstorm breaks on our heads just as we get the last suitcase into the room. Maybe that will help clear the air.
But I have gotten ahead of myself. Due to the time change, we rose easily at 530 and got an early walk in Gillette at a small park. The low sun is already hot on the arms even though the air is cool.
Loaded up and headed west on US 14 to Sheridan, into the Big Horn Mountains. As we cross the Tongue River and start the climb into Alpine terrain, the mountains open up to green valleys and high meadows on the eastern side of the range. It is beautiful — even in the haze. (But no pics — no place to pull off.) As we continue to climb, the rock formations we observe are named and dated, such as “Pennsylvania, 280-325M years ago.” I love the geology of the west — I should have taken Professor Jerre Johnson’s tour. I was almost a geologist, one of many majors I chose during freshman year.
At the top of the range we can see from afar Medicine Wheel Mountain, the wheel of which was constructed by ancient peoples around its crest. Mountains are considered serious medicine by native peoples, and to this day that mountain is still used in that capacity.
Coming down the western side, we are treated to 11% grades, 35mph curves, rocks and dry scrub. And haze. You cannot see any distance at all. But after a stop for lunch at the Branding Iron in Lovell, WY, we drive three hours through the haze and glare, flirting with rain to the west, until at last we make Livingston, MT, which seems a gateway back into the Rockies (actually Bridger Mountains, for those of you following along on maps). So now that we are in Bozeman, slightly ahead of schedule, we will probably spend some time here before venturing further north and west. As much as it breaks my heart not to be able to see hundreds of miles, I remember how many trips I have already taken where I could see that far. And I remember those vistas…
Still haven’t reached our goal yet: Glacier National Park.
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