Reno's First Crossing

[Mike Powell]

Likely location, as postulated in Where Custer Fell. Overlapping six pic pan is from view roughly ENE (approach to crossing) to view roughly WNW (toward village).













Note for future reference: Hand in view above is pointing toward Wolf Mountains and specifically to exact spot of Varnum's lookout, out of frame about 15 miles, with thumb indicating the Morass somewhat closer.

And finally, here is an overtly hostile glare about to earn it's owner a snot locker full of pepper spray. Taken on a very narrow, very steep trail. He bolted off just after the pic, he and a compadre having tailed us for about a mile.



Yours,

Mike Powell

[jody]

Could you, through arrows or description, let us know what we are seeing on the horizon?
For example, is that Weir's double peaks on the left in photos #4-6? Where would Reno hill be? Where in relation to things is that sheer bluff? Thanks!

[Mike Powell]

Jody,

Take all this with a grain of salt. I'm not familiar enough to know, but here are my guesses:

This is a cut and paste of the USGS Crow Agency and Crow Agency SE maps in the 7.5 minute series, showing the SW and SE corners, respectively, of the two maps, joined at W 107 22' 30". From the point where I took the photos, just off the lower margin (on the Benteen map which I don't have) I've drawn a red line to Weir Point and a black line to the Reno/Benteen Monument. Along the black line, I've shown in green the area where I believe the steep tan bluff appears. The image doesn't have enough resolution to show the stack of contour lines there but it looks convincingly steep and somewhat concave in plan on the map to convince me.



Now, here is a clip from one of the original photos:



The red line overhangs what I believe is the Weir Point formation. The black line overhangs what I believe is the prominence just south and slightly east of the Monument. I don't know if that is what is referred to as Reno Hill, but I think it's in the area.

Sorry for all the two stepping, but I know little of the Reno/Benteen area. Maybe you or someone else can help out here.

Yours,

Mike Powell

[Mike Powell]

Oops, "showing the SW and SE corners, respectively". Let's try "SE and SW"! Head where I mean, not where I say.

Human disaster is always founded on weak proofreading.

Yours,

Mike Powell

[jody]

Thank you, very much!

[conz]

Great job, Mike, correlating the pics and map with the lines.

To add, probably just below the right end of the red line, you see a black ridgeline, and this is probably about where Custer was waving to Reno on his ride north. The distance in the photo is three or four times the distance Reno's men in the valley saw Custer.

The crest of the ridges in this photo is about the line Custer's battalion rode along, usually just out of sight from the valley behind the ridge crest, but once in a while getting close and high enough to be seen from the valley.

Clair

[Reddirt]

Mike, you have done some absolutely wonderful work!