August 16, 2017 - Beartooth Highway to Great Falls MT

Today we left Cody Wyoming and ended up in Great Falls, Montana.  It was a total distance of 400 miles and it took most of the day, especially when you get in/out of the van to take pictures.

Before we begin, Cody Wyoming is named after Buffalo Bill Cody for his creation of the original Cody city.  He was an entrepreneur who had designed a town to the west of what is now Cody Wyoming.  It only lasted for about a year and the current city was designed by George Beck and had its beginnings in 1896.
Leaving Cody we headed up route 120, then turned onto route 296, now known as the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway, then onto the Beartooth Highway.  Since our trip to this part of Wyoming in 2013, the Beartooth became part of our future plans, and today it became a reality.

We left town where the hills weren't very big, but keep in mind, we started at 5000 feet.

1.  It didn't take too long for the hills to get higher, just 2 miles out of town.

 Less than 20 miles we turned west onto the Chief Joseph Highway.

 The next 2 were taken from the Dead Indian Hill Summit

At this point we were 8000 feet.

 It was a pass where many animals passed through

 Antelope Mountain.

 Just before this pic was taken, Tom asked a woman who was taking a picture of her husband in the same location if she wanted 2 people in the picture.  She said yes so Tom took the camera and handed it to her husband while Tom put his arm around her.  It was a Gotcha moment.

 Just to the left of the 2 Native Americans metal art is Sugarloaf Mountain.

 Finally we were up higher looking down.

Finally, turn right and head up higher.

 At first we stopped to take a picture of the distant mountains, only to realize in another 2 hours, we were there,  just short of 11,000 feet.

 Grammie couldn't help taking pictures of wildflowers.

 Grammie stretching her legs at Beartooth Lake.  The mountains we were traveling through are part of the Shoshone National Forest.  Just across the road and up a bit is the Beartooth Lake campground.
Beartooth Lake

 Still heading up towards 11,000 feet

 At times we looked up ahead and could see cars going in both directions.  Many switchbacks.

 A view from the top.

 Tom standing in a snow pile.

 More wildflowers everywhere

Yes, it was a day in the mountains and just about all of the pics were in the mountains, but we thoroughly enjoyed the day.  We ended up at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls Montana and are looking forward to the Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park tomorrow.

Thanks for keeping up with Grammie.