Mittelstaedt vacation 2011

Mittelstaedt family
Vacation 2011 E4
Bute, Montana - and travel between Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks

3rd and 4th of July 2011

We had breakfast, hitched up the R-pod and headed out of the Madison campground.

As we were leaving the Madison campground, rounding a corner, we saw something large among the trees.
Yes, there was a buffalo - American Bison - confortably sitting in the campground.
Not good. They are unpredictable and can be dangerous.
As we continued to drive out a grim faced ranger was heading over to deal with the situation.
How he did it, or what he did is a mystery to me.

As we headed out going North we encountered another Buffalo.
This time coming toward us, and staying on his side of the road.
I wonder who taught him the rules of the road?

Then, a few miles further down the road...

We saw a Grizzly Bear, maybe 50 yards (45 Meters) away and slightly down slope.

I am very impressed by these bears - They are as big as bears get, and totally fearless
and surprisingly most of the bulk of their diet is vegatable.

Through some sort of pass or opening in a ridge, then down.

We saw Mammoth Hotsprings from a distance.

-
There is a LOT of walking involved with seeing this site.

It is the first big geothermal site one encounters if one enters Yellowstone from the North.

It also is visable from the Park Headquarters, and the US Army fort in use when the US Army
was responsible for Yellowstone, before the National Park Service was established.

Originally most people entered Yellowstone Park from the North entrance.
The railroads had major East-West lines just north of the park.
Visitors arrived on the railroad and took overland transportation into the park ... often to the Old Faithful Inn

Horce M. Albrecht visitor center - a classic old public building.

The U.S Engineer building

Yellowstone Post Office -- zipcode 82190

Yellowstone Justice Center --- hmmm a courthouse ?

The Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel
-- color of these buildings, like many other of the more modern Yellowstone buildings - Yellowstone Yellow?

- - - -
sign in the Visitor Center mens room, which is in the basement -- sign by the Hotel

The Mammoth Clinic may be the most recent building in the HQ area.

North entrance hut (which is just inside the great arch)
This picture looking from inside the park looking out.

The great entrance arch - from the inside looking out

~ For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People ~
dedicated by Act of Congress . March 1, 1872

~ ~ ~

-
Gardiner, Montana - the first town outside Yellowstone National Park on the North side.
Where we first had cell phone signal in days.

-
North from Gardiner, Montana - - a bit of mountain with an intrusion of very hard rock showing

We drove out North to Livingston MT then turned West on I 90 past Bozman MT to Butte MT.

Sometimes there is a long down hill run - and other times there is an equally long up hill run.

This turnoff is approximately halfway between Livingston MT and Butte MT.

Some of the long uphill grades just before entering Butte were taxing on the Suburban.

As we entered Butte MT we passed the huge open pit mine on the East part of town.

another view of the large open mine in Butte MT

We set up camp in the KOA campground in Butte MT and visited a hardware store for parts for a small 12v hanging light.
Did laundry.

Interesting tent (an expedition model?) pitched near the front of the Butte, Montana KOA

Butte celebrates their Independence Day starting the evening of the 3rd of July with their fireworks display.
After the official display the town lit up with personal fireworks displays, many with professional level pyrotechnics.

This is the mountain from which the professional fireworks were launched.

~ ~ ~

Monday - 4 July 2011

Got gas and grocery shopped on the way out of town. Headed West past the exit to Anaconda MT

where we saw a very tall (and retired) smelter stack.

It is striking how it sticks up on the horizon.

The huge smelter stack - Where much copper was processed from the Anaconda mine.
This copper made the electrification of USA possible.

Just short of Missoula MT (at Bonner) we left I 90 and
turned on to Hwy 200 to Greenough MT where we got gas (among a number of boat trailers), (there are big lakes nearby)
-

Lots of grass, lots of hay

hay loader

We headed North on US Hwy 83 a scenic 2 lane road in good repair.

We got tangled up with a classic small town 4th of July parade

Fourth of July parade in Seeley Lake, Montana
Good to see their enthusiasm.

We tried to get around the parade by turning down some back streets.

A gracious local lady in western straw had on an ATV sporting 2 US flags mounted on the back,
led us on back streets around the parade so we could pass through town and be on our way.