Beartooth Mountains, Wyoming & Montana

Cooke City, Montana. We had dinner here last evening.
It was a real western mountain saloon in the most
positive of meanings.

We did some shopping for clothing and we visited
a wildlife museum. As a surprise, it was not
a tourist trap.

We experienced the first peaks of Beartooth Mountains
about 10 miles east of Cooke City, Route 212.

This road has national scenic designation.

This was the first alpine lake on our journey, up about
8,000 feet.

This entire wilderness area is posted with grizzly bear
warning signs. These bears are between 600 and 1,000
pounds with four inch claws that could open your car
as easily as you open up a pop top can.
No, we did not see any bears.

A trading post, "Top of the World", was located on this
plateau. However, we had much further to go.

Another alpine lake, at about 9,000 feet.
It was sleeting at a temperature of 38 degrees.

At about 9,000 feet the timber thins out and
the terrain becomes increasingly rocky.

They are serious about this sign.

Temperatures continue to drop and the wind increases.

At about 9,500 feet we encountered snow.

The only people who use this road from mid-October on are
snow mobilers. The poles seen in the picture are guide posts
since the road is not plowed.

Bill is shivering his little buns off!

A look back to the switch backs that let us drive to Beartooth Pass.

Finally made it!
Beartooth Pass.
Elevation of nearly 11,000 feet.
Temperature was 31 degrees.