Wyoming, Montana, Idaho
Sunday, Sep 5

Cody WY to Choteau MT.  Dead Indian Pass, Cooke City MT, Beartooth Pass, Wide open space south of White Sulphur Springs, Lewis & Clark National Forest.













Dead Indian Pass / WY 296




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First spot with open range stock - and not the last













Nice carpet of pine trees laying up the valley wall beyond
















Cooke City, MT
Fuel and food stop.  It is a 4-wheeler and snowmobile mecca.







Heading up Beartooth Pass - max's out about 11,000 Ft.  MANY pedal cycles heading up







Snow capped peaks at hand



















Up with the clouds







Tall road markers for the snow clearing equipment




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Right about the highest elevation on the trip - 11,000 Ft above Mean Sea Level




Coming down from the pass (notice the road cut at the top left of this picture) we opened up onto a large valley.  We will descend to the valley floor near the left of this picture (roadway snake partially visible) and exit to the right.

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See the opening in the trees near the bottom of this picture?
Next picture down shows what's there - somebody had some fun!







The hill takes on a new scale when you discern the full sized pine trees on it.




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There's a bit of story with this picture.  I'm tucked in behind Ken and his slipstream and we're doing a miserly 40 to 50MPH.  Why? Fuel and the desire to get to the next fuel stop w/o having to siphon fuel from his tank (he had enough) or to pull the tow strap from my bag.  The bike gulped fuel much faster than I've been used to - reserve typically comes on about 135 miles with a range of about 150-165 miles.  Today reserve lit at 100.0 miles.  That's a bit of a drop - but then we did have one hour of direct into a strong headwind Montana speed limits Interstate driving - 80% to 90% (with a bit of 100%) open throttle.  At the point reserve popped on we didn't want to turn around and head back for fuel as we were about 1/2 way between closest fuel stops (each 35+ miles away).  With reserve lasting right about 25 to 35 miles fuel conservation riding came into play.  Moderate speed, high gear, tucked down, riding in Ken's slipstream.  I made it and was able to pump the largest amount of fuel into the bike that I ever have (4.589g).




White Sulphur Springs MT
Welcome fuel stop