Ready, Set, Go - From British Columbia To West Yellowstone
There is nothing like having a couple of good friends with the similar interests.
2 years ago Nel, Judy and I decided to make a photo-nature-fun trip to Yellowstone National Park. Life being what it is, last year did not work out for neither of us.
This year we decided that NOTHING was going to keep us at home.
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| Not sure about this one but as you can see it did "talk" to us in a fun way ... it also keeps on prompting me to think of many social aspects of various societies and of the times past and present. Glad to be free to be able to go on a trip with "only" female friends. |
Being from British Columbia we would have to travel eastwards across Montana to our base "camp" in West Yellowstone (we were really going to rough it out) From there we could take daily trips to the park and return in the evening to our glass of red .... you know.
Our idea of roughing it out in one of the Moose Creek Cabins: right smack in the middle of the city of West Yellowstone!!!!
That was the plan. But ... first we would have to get there!!!!
There are 5 different ways to enter Yellowstone National Park:
West - West Yellowstone = ours
North: Gardiner
Northeast: Cook City and Silver Gate
East: by Cody Peak
South: from Jackson by Moose Junction
We could have taken HWY 90 from Spokane, WA straight to our day's destination - Missoula, MT but, wanting to learn more about the smaller places we took twists and turns of lesser roads. Therefore we chose Hwy 200 which took us from the northern corner of Idaho to Montana - there it ran along blue reservoirs and crystal clear rivers all the way to its junction with Hwy 93 which took us to Missoula. What a great choice it was!
We got a wonderful Montana Welcome at Noxon Dam - a patient Great Blue Heron just finished its breakfast and gracefully allowed us to take its picture.
Our 200 continued along Clark Fork River and past the community of Paradise (truly!) it switched to Flathead River.
Physical map of Montana shows clearly the differences between West and East topography of the state. The western part bears numerous mountain ranges that differ in their makeup and size, most running their lengths from South to North. The main backbone is formed by the rugged Rockies - past those the country flattens out. Since we traveled from West to East we were in for great changes of scenery, wishing to have planned a month instead of ten days trip. Next time perhaps.
Sun was at its highest when we drove past this industrial place. Some say that one cannot take creative photos at noon, but travel with Nel and you might change your mind. She saw the patterns and that was it: for the next 30 minutes we circled about the humongous tanks trying to be true to the car stickers above.
Reach:ing Missoula: in a vast flat area surrounded by what seemed to sandy hills sprawls a city of about 67 000. We did not have much time to explore the geological features of the area - the city occupies the flat, bottom portion of what used to be a vast glacial lake. The steep hills that surround it are the banks of the former lake. They are still bearing the signs of water levels as the lake was yielding to the dry land.
We found a block of houses in Colonial style, a church and more - .... next time we need to budget for more time in order to explore this city and its interesting history.
No tripod?
According to all the photo-literature you have a problem!
Unless your name is Nel.
(Read the stickers!)
We ended up the day in an excellent Thai restaurant - Nel acquired two more friends but they refused to travel along
West - West Yellowstone = ours
North: Gardiner
Northeast: Cook City and Silver Gate
East: by Cody Peak
South: from Jackson by Moose Junction
We could have taken HWY 90 from Spokane, WA straight to our day's destination - Missoula, MT but, wanting to learn more about the smaller places we took twists and turns of lesser roads. Therefore we chose Hwy 200 which took us from the northern corner of Idaho to Montana - there it ran along blue reservoirs and crystal clear rivers all the way to its junction with Hwy 93 which took us to Missoula. What a great choice it was!
We got a wonderful Montana Welcome at Noxon Dam - a patient Great Blue Heron just finished its breakfast and gracefully allowed us to take its picture.
Our 200 continued along Clark Fork River and past the community of Paradise (truly!) it switched to Flathead River.
Physical map of Montana shows clearly the differences between West and East topography of the state. The western part bears numerous mountain ranges that differ in their makeup and size, most running their lengths from South to North. The main backbone is formed by the rugged Rockies - past those the country flattens out. Since we traveled from West to East we were in for great changes of scenery, wishing to have planned a month instead of ten days trip. Next time perhaps.
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Shot while approaching this animal crossing: a neat idea, beneficial to both the drivers and animals alike |
Sun was at its highest when we drove past this industrial place. Some say that one cannot take creative photos at noon, but travel with Nel and you might change your mind. She saw the patterns and that was it: for the next 30 minutes we circled about the humongous tanks trying to be true to the car stickers above.
Reach:ing Missoula: in a vast flat area surrounded by what seemed to sandy hills sprawls a city of about 67 000. We did not have much time to explore the geological features of the area - the city occupies the flat, bottom portion of what used to be a vast glacial lake. The steep hills that surround it are the banks of the former lake. They are still bearing the signs of water levels as the lake was yielding to the dry land.
It was still quite sunny when we reached the historic downtown, with the light being harsh, we opted for HDR photography (not sure what we are trying to do? Click here .... be patient, this guy is good)
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| The Missoula County Court House - a definite showpiece of the city since 1908. |
We found a block of houses in Colonial style, a church and more - .... next time we need to budget for more time in order to explore this city and its interesting history.
No tripod? According to all the photo-literature you have a problem!
Unless your name is Nel.
(Read the stickers!)
We ended up the day in an excellent Thai restaurant - Nel acquired two more friends but they refused to travel along
Morning was announced by a bunch of Brewer's Blackbirds discussing their breakfast.
Have a listen then multiply by hundred.
(In the www. you have to scroll down a bit and click on "Song")
That's an alarm clock for you.
Day 2 found us travelling on another set of smaller roads and discovering more neat places indeed.
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