Carol & Warner's Trip Around The USA: Missoula, MT to Yellowstone National Park

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Missoula, Montana to Yellowstone National Park

“Oh give me a home where the Buffalo roam

And the deer and the antelope play.

Where seldom is heard and discouraging word

And the skies are not cloudy all.

We left Missoula after breakfast and began the day’s trip in a gentle rain that shrouded the landscape is gray. The hills and mountains were softened and blurred.

We drove west through mountains crossing plains where the buffalo once roamed and the skies are sometimes cloudy. Through rolling hills dotted with cattle and an occasional homestead surrounded by trees and farm equipment. We expected Roy Rogers and Trigge to appear atany moment. Towns and cities were few and far between and the sky was BIG.

Just before Bozeman we turned south toward Yellowstone National Park. The route followed the Gallitan River for most of the way. We drove through valleys beside towering mountains beside the river. In the distance snow-capped mountains loomed.

After reaching West Yellowstone, we turned east toward the park. Flashing our free pass we were given a map and off we went for several days exploring Yellowstone. After a short while, we were greeted by a herd of elk and later by Bison.

We stopped at Madison Campground, registered, and set up camp before going off to explore, map in hand.

After visiting a series of thermal pools, geysers, clouds of steam we returned to the campsite for the evening.

Tomorrow we begin our our Yellowstone adventure.