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Post by Diane Merkel on Sept 2, 2008 23:02:37 GMT -6
I am geographically challenged, so I may have been there. As I told Mike via PM, we will try to go if we head to Montana next June. The last time we were there, we left Billings and headed west. We went on that awful road everyone said was the most beautiful in the world, made snowballs in June, and saw Old Faithful spout at midnight! Warning: If it is late at night, get a room in the lodge by Old Faithful. We made the mistake of continuing on and couldn't find a motel in Idaho until 3:00 a.m. Not fun.
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Post by biggordie on Sept 2, 2008 23:55:52 GMT -6
Probably 212 through Red Lodge and the Beartooth Pass to Yellowstone. We had a snowball fight there [the Pass] in July [1982 or 1983, I think]. It definitely is a beautiful drive, but I would argue that there are more beautiful in the world, including in Glacier National Park, in the Three Sisters area of Oregon, Highway 1 south from the Washington line, Highway 99 from Vancouver to Whistler, the Romantic Road in Bavaria and etc etc etc and blah blah blah................
BTW that is the same 212 that wanders around, passes by the LBH Battlefield continues through South Dakota and goes at least as far as the Twin Cities. I don't know where it goes beyond Yellowstone, but if I live long enough, it might be fun to follow it end to end.
Gordie
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Post by markland on Sept 3, 2008 6:09:03 GMT -6
I am geographically challenged, so I may have been there. As I told Mike via PM, we will try to go if we head to Montana next June. The last time we were there, we left Billings and headed west. We went on that awful road everyone said was the most beautiful in the world, made snowballs in June, and saw Old Faithful spout at midnight! Warning: If it is late at night, get a room in the lodge by Old Faithful. We made the mistake of continuing on and couldn't find a motel in Idaho until 3:00 a.m. Not fun. 212 from Red Lodge to Yellowstone is OK I reckon, never having seen the Yellowstone portion of the route but if you follow 120 north out of Cody, you will see 296 which leads up to 212. That route when we took it the first time was only a dirt/gravel road but Lord, was it a pretty drive through the Bear Tooth range. I seem to remember that it was named the Chief Joseph Scenic Route. Thanks for pointing out that the 212 that 296 merges into is the same as the 212 at LBH; I hadn't pieced those two together. By the way, Red Lodge is a nice place to stay for anyone traveling that way. Hmmm, I just remembered some movie about an old trapper in modern times who wintered over in the Bear Tooth range. I'll find it later. Anyways, here is info for those who haven't ridden the route or known about it. gorp.away.com/gorp/activity/byway/mt_beart.htmBe good, Billy
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Post by Diane Merkel on Sept 3, 2008 9:07:16 GMT -6
Beartooth it was! It was closed several years ago and everyone at LBH was mourning the closure, so we decided to take it when we heard it was reopened. (We were headed to Vegas from LBH.) Chuck loved it; I screamed the whole way. It's not for the faint of heart who get mountain-crazy as I do. I'm fine on the Interstate through the Rockies, but winding mountains like there and the Ozarks make me want to drive off the cliff and get it over with.
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Post by Mike Powell on Sept 4, 2008 12:12:42 GMT -6
The drive north of Cody over the Beartooths to Red Lodge is one I've always been forced to hurry through due to impending nightfall. Next time I'll try the Irma and make the drive at a measured pace the following day. Here's two shots along 296, the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway: As Diane mentioned the Beartooth Highway was closed a few years ago. I believe that began in the fall of '04 and was due to rain induced slides. Here's an aerial of the problem. Note the slide in the center of the pic took out all three of the lower legs. And a closeup of some damage: It's a hell of a highway! Yours, Mike Powell
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Post by biggordie on Sept 4, 2008 16:31:29 GMT -6
Great pics, Mike. Thanks.
Gordie
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Post by clw on Sept 4, 2008 18:36:21 GMT -6
Gulp. I may have volunteered for something I shouldn't have...
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Post by Diane Merkel on Sept 4, 2008 20:16:32 GMT -6
After seeing that last photo, I am NEVER going near that place again!
The road from Red Lodge to Cody is interesting as much for its past as the present. I've always wanted to research that mine disaster (can't think of the town now). We spent a lot of time in the town cemetery, trying the fathom how awful the loss of life must have been for that town.
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Post by biggordie on Sept 4, 2008 23:27:45 GMT -6
Youse gals is chicken..................................... What's a few landslides and fallen away roadbeds among adventurers?
Gordie
PS As Bert Shotton once said: "You can include me out!!"
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Post by Mike Powell on Sept 5, 2008 10:19:18 GMT -6
Heck, folks. The dangers of the drive can be greatly mitigated by these simple precautions; Get those entangling seat belts off and keep 'em off, make sure the doors are unlocked and agree that when anyone screams "We're goin' over !", it's every gal for herself.
"Mind the curves, the fills, the trestles. Never falter, never quail. Keep your hand upon the throttle and your eyes upon the rail."
Yours,
Mike Powell
PS. Don't try to save the luggage. Eject, Eject, Eject!
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Post by Mike Powell on Sept 9, 2008 10:19:35 GMT -6
Related to the drive north from Cody on 120, I see that about 18 miles beyond the turnoff onto Chief Joseph Scenic Highway is Clarks Fork Canyon Road (old highway 292) turning back west into the canyon and ultimately FR 119 heading up the canyon. Anyone familiar with that drive?
Yours,
Mike Powell
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Post by ignimbrite on Oct 12, 2008 22:54:39 GMT -6
Driving the Beartooth at least once a summer has been a family tradition for us. Where else can you get heart stopping adventures when being passed by RVs (except on the LBH road at Weir point)? We missed out this year. My dad remembers going on it in the thirties in their old car. It was so underpowered and the family so large that they had to get out and walk several places.
Early or late season can be a little less scary since much of the road is hemmed in by the snowdrifts, limiting the places where you might slide off. Of course there is the remaining ice on the roadway that increases the chance of slipping.
Ruth
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TopKick1833
Junior Member
Sherlock the Beagle Dog
Posts: 80
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Post by TopKick1833 on Oct 14, 2008 12:38:23 GMT -6
Keeping with the direction of where this post is heading, has anyone out there driven over Arrow Rock in the middle of a snow storm? Well, ignoring the weather I did it this past Saturday morning. Wow, what an adventure! Then to top it off, I drove up Black Otter Trail Monday morning to take a look at Yellowstone Kelly's grave. Again, not a smart call on my part. Beautiful view from up there though. I was not expecting 22" of snow up on RimRock this past weekend. R/S TopKick
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Post by Mike Powell on Oct 15, 2008 5:49:12 GMT -6
I too am geographically challenged. Where is Arrow Rock and can you post a pic? Sounds interesting.
Yours,
Mike Powell
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TopKick1833
Junior Member
Sherlock the Beagle Dog
Posts: 80
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Post by TopKick1833 on Oct 16, 2008 10:32:52 GMT -6
Arrow Rock is the heights that you pass over when going from Hardin to Billings. I'll see if I can't get some photos posted this weekend. I followed a tandem semi the whole way. His tires created a nice path for my little rental car to follow. Not everyone was as fortunate as I was. One semi on its side in the medium, one stuck near the creat of the mountain, and a few cars that lost it.
R/S
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