Livingston to Beartooth Pass then Beartooth to Moorcroft

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Livingston to Beartooth Pass

This morning we were straight into Yellowstone NP. Our first stop was the terraces, they were very beautiful with all their icy looking platforms and colours and I couldn't help but wonder if New Zealand's pink and white terraces would have rivalled these if they were still visible. Stopping here was probably my favourite attraction of the day as the park just got busier and busier with RVs and tourist buses ?

Next we rode to the middle part of the park, on the way in I spotted coyotes, loads of buffalo and antelope. No bears today!!

Aside from the ever present awe inspiring mountain vistas there were also guysers aplenty, burbling mud pools and pretty sapphire blue pools of very hot steamy water. We rode around in here until about 4.30 then headed out of the park to our lodging at Beartooth pass. I found Yellowstone stunning in its thermal scenery but the vast amount of tourists does detract (I do realise I am part of this). Not sure what the answer is really, nonetheless very much worth the visit ?

Beartooth to Moorcroft, Wyoming

Almost immediately this morning we started ascending the Beartooth Pass which was steep, windy and wildly picturesque; all you want for a morning ride really! We stopped about 5 times on the pass to take pictures and enjoy the views. The temperature at about 8.30 was between 11 and 18 degrees. I just loved this morning's ride, it was such a buzz ??

Once we dropped down into Red Lodge the temperature rose to 26 and continued to rise to 39! It felt like we were in a blast furnace on the bike. I opened my visor to get some cool air and it was even hotter than in my helmet.

There was a lot of hay done and being done in Red Lodge, Roberts, Boyd and Laurel. They make their bales big and transport them in large trucks. They also had very green bales which looked like silage but weren't wrapped, essentially green hay.

We arrived at Little Bighorn Battlefield, formerly Custer's last stand. The name change was due to the fact that Custer lost the battle and the Indians won, so why name it after the loser?! We both really enjoyed the history and looking around here. One of those places that you get an eerie sense of the grim happenings of the place in which you stand.

We pushed on through the dusk to spend the night at Moorcroft which was still 29 degrees at 8pm; thank goodness for aircon!

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Comments

[Anna]

Which is Scarier?
Love the photo of the 2 warning signs....I've seen some pretty scary power-walkers but ...really??

[Kubabelle]

Power walkers v bears
It depends entirely on the environment. You meet those power walkers on a narrow footpath and you might prefer your chances with a bear ?