Panoramic Views of Little Bighorn

[bhist]

A number of months back I added the first of many high definition photos of the battlefield to the Friends of the Little Bighorn Battlefield’s website -- www.friendslittlebighorn.com/custerbattlefieldhighresolution.htm --

Today, I added panoramic views as well:

Last Stand Hill -- www.friendslittlebighorn.com/lshbb.htm -- shot during sunrise in February 2005, which makes for an unusual photo. But, I like it because it captures a mood of the place that most people cannot experience, and it helps one envision the battlefield back to 1876.

Calhoun Hill -- www.friendslittlebighorn.com/calhounhillbroadband.htm -- two panoramic views for Calhoun Hill.

Greasy Grass Ridge -- www.friendslittlebighorn.com/greasygrassridgebroadband.htm -- view includes Deep Ravine Trail, Custer National Cemetery, and Last Stand Hill.

Keogh Sector -- www.friendslittlebighorn.com/ksbb.htm -- photo taken from the Keogh wayside exhibit.

Little Bighorn Valley -- www.friendslittlebighorn.com/littlebighornvalleybroadband.htm -- three panoramic views taken from the top of Weir Point.

Note: this section of the Friends website is best used for users with high-speed internet access. Also, after you have clicked on the thumbnail for each of the panoramic views and brought up the photo, in some cases you may find the enlarged photo may be enlarged again by clicking on it one more time.

I hope you enjoy the views – might be beneficial for folks that have never had the chance to visit the battlefield.

[weir]

Wonderful photos

[Lawtonka]

Great Pan Views - Good Job - For those who have not been there to the Friends website, it is great ! Thanks to Friends and LBHA for making the webcams possible !

[elisabeth]

These are just stunning, Bob. Beautiful.

And especially wonderful for those of us who've never been. The immensity of the place -- awe-inspiring.

[custerstillstands]

Great pictures - I'll steal them - just kidding ;D ;D ;D

[weir]

I have a question ?

Why do most of the photographs show LBH at summer with burnt grass even if we know Custer fought in a green, flowered LBH valley ?

Nothing to do with the FLBH, it is juste a question of origins of the photographs.

[bhist]

Thank you to everyone for the nice comments. I’m interested in Elizabeth’s notes because that’s exactly what I want to accomplish with these photos – provide a sense of scale for someone who has never visited the battlefield.

It was over 15 years after I started reading the story of the battle before I finally visited the site. As soon as I saw the real place I knew I’d have to go back and reread all the books because I had no realistic idea of the terrain. I hope these panoramic photos convey some of that realism.

As to the question of why most photos are taken during the summer when Custer fought in a green valley – I’m not sure how to address that question. We know it was very hot and dry at the time of the battle. It’s possible the valley was green, I really don’t know. But, if the question were legitimate, I’d expect we see most photos of the place in the summer because that is when the vast majority of people visit the place.

However, each of these photos in the panoramic scenes was shot in February 2005.

[bubbabod]

bhist, Custer fought in a green valley? Since it was in June, I guess I'd never thought of it as being green. I've only been to the LBH in the summer and never seen it green that I can recall. I'll be interested in others' comments about how green is the valley. And thanks for the great pics.

[Diane Merkel]

Bob has been there a lot more than I have, but I am always surprised at the difference in the look of the battlefield each time I go there. Some years, there are a lot more wildflowers in bloom than others. Some years it looks more brown than others. The land is subject to brushfires, blizzards, hail storms, and just about everything else Mother Nature can unleash (except hurricanes! ), so it is bound to look different over the years.

The most magnificent view I have ever seen there was in June 1991. I stood outside the visitor center in the late afternoon and watched the most amazing streak lightning storm you can imagine. Throughout the entire "Big Sky" horizon, the bolts were everywhere and the air was electric!

(No, the bolts didn't fry my brain. )

[bhist]

Bubbabod:

I think Diane answered your question better than I could. Go here -- www.friendslittlebighorn.com/Summer-2002.htm -- to see the battlefield green in June. It does happen. If I remember correctly, that area of Montana had a wetter than usual spring before the battle and the river was running higher than most years? I honestly can’t recall where I remember that. If that were the case, then it is possible that the battlefield was green on June 25, 1876.

[El Crab]

When Custer was there, it was dry and dusty.

Only a year later, when they returned to reinter the bodies and collect the officers, it was green and flowery and the grass was taller.

[Lawtonka]

bubbabod said:

bhist, Custer fought in a green valley? Since it was in June, I guess I'd never thought of it as being green. I've only been to the LBH in the summer and never seen it green that I can recall. I'll be interested in others' comments about how green is the valley. And thanks for the great pics.

Hey Bubba, All of the photos that I have posted where the grass is green were taken the week before the anniversary in June. I think a lot of the publicity shots of the battlefield are later in the season when the grass turns, I think it t is what most people are used to seeing.

That particular summer when I took those shots, the river was full also. That was in June 2003.

[Lawtonka]

admin said:

The most magnificent view I have ever seen there was in June 1991. I stood outside the visitor center in the late afternoon and watched the most amazing streak lightning storm you can imagine. Throughout the entire "Big Sky" horizon, the bolts were everywhere and the air was electric!

(No, the bolts didn't fry my brain. )

Wow Diane, that reminds me of the trip I made to the Crow's nest in 1998. We were camping out at the 7th Ranch on Davis Creek. That night a terrific thunderstorm came and I was in a little dome tent. Heavy rain, brilliant lightening like I had never seen! No where to go and nothing to do be ride it out. The next morning lots of people were rainsoaked and tents and leanto were blown everywhere. Somehow, I woke up dry......either the years spent in the Boy Scouts or the Marines??

One thing for sure, out there you sure get a better look at the stars that I do back home in SC.