The Beartooths

Our next tent night was in the Beartooth range, in Wyoming. We finally have found some proper Big Snowy Mountains. Driving across the plain approaching the mountains, we could see that the National Forest there was clearly going to have to be our destination for the night -- the only question would be which side of the pass we would be on when we finally stopped for the night.

We ended up on the eastern side of the pass, but well up into the mountains. Our campsite was an established Forest Service primitive site in a little poplar grove by a small stream. It was about 50 degrees with the sun still up and at about 8,500 feet elevation. Definitely a beautiful campsite!

Mommy and baby moose were strolling around the stream all evening, keeping an eye on us (and Baxter). Baxter wasn't quite sure what to make of them; he settled for hunkering down behind a clump of grass and watching them. Neither party seemed too terribly concerned about one another.

About 150 feet straight uphill above our site was a nice rock with a fantastic view of the whole range. We strolled up for some sunset sitting and enjoying that fresh-off-the-distant-snow breeze. Very nice.

We'll close with a few more scenery pictures and some wildlife. Pictures of Yellowstone coming soon. The beautiful red stone walls were in the river valley coming down out of the Beartooths. Probably pretty crumbly but it would be a gorgeous place to climb! Maybe let it freeze up and ice climb there; no need to worry about crumbly rock that way...