Md to MT April - June 2022

Grizzly at Discovery Center

After our return from Africa, we still had to deal with getting our RV and car ready for our trip out west. We traveled to NC to pick up our RV from a body shop. It was road ready, but still had issues we would have to deal with later. Progressive paid $18K to cover damage. We have been very happy with Progressive. Our replacement car was modified so that it could be towed behind the RV. On April 24 we started to head west.

We discovered our RV macerator/ dump system was not working as a result of the accident and the entire system had to be replaced, so our first stop was at the Phoenix Cruiser Factory in Elkhart, IN. Putting vehicle problems behind us for a while, we stopped in MN to have dinner with Andy and Karen, new friends from our Tanzania trip. We also camped out in Diane’s driveway. We spend the day shopping, eating and playing games.

Theodore Roosevelt NP

We returned to Theodore Roosevelt NP, but this time went to the North Section. It was already June, but still off season in this part of north-west ND. We arrived in Helena, MT on June 10 and later we picked up our U-Box with our stuff from Lewisburg WV. So, the move we started 16 months ago was finally completed. Pat signed up to be part of the Helena’s Dragon Boat crew, but after one practice, decided her body was not up for that.

Pat in green life jacket (second paddler, front)

Lone Mt 11,167 ft in Big Sky

Tom and Marie Potter had a trip planned to Yellowstone for the 150^th anniversary of the park and we decided to meet them there. First, we traveled to Big Sky, MT. Big Sky is a very popular ski resort, but we arrived during the mud season. Despite the rain, we managed to do some hikes and saw Big Horn Sheep and an Elk. We headed down to West Yellowstone for a few days. It was unplanned but we found out Phil’s son, Steven would be in West Yellowstone with his son Jamison, so we got together for a campfire. Pat and I went to the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center. The Center also added a River Otter exhibit. The wolfs enjoyed watching the otters through the windows.

Traffic Jamming Young Bison 

At Steam Geyser

                             

Biscuit Basin

The entrance road into the park from West Yellowstone is 18 miles. Bison frequent the area, as a result we ended up in a 10-mile-long Bison Backup. I don’t mind Grizzly Backups, because they are rare. In fact, we didn’t see any wild grizzlies, but bison are everywhere. The crowds were a problem and finding parking was difficult. I figured the Park will have to modify its entrance policy to avoid loving the park to death. We moved to an RV site in Fishing Bridge and didn’t have to deal the with the entry road traffic. Heavy rains came periodically during our visit. We did meet Tom, Marie, Steven and Jamison for dinner.  We got up early one morning and headed to the Lamar Valley to see wildlife. We did see a Grey Wolf and a Black Bear.

Don, Jamison, Steven, Marie, Tom

Grey Wolf

Black Bear

On Monday 6/13 we toured the southern loop down to Old Faithful and around to the Lower Geyser Basin. We stopped by Gibbon Falls on the Gibbon River and noticed how the flow at the falls had changed from flood level 3 days ago to super high flood level. We found the road to Mammoth Hot Springs was closed due to flood damage. On the way to Canyon Village, we heard the road from there to Fishing Bridge was closed. We decided to proceed there anyway. I knew the river was well below the road and didn’t see how it could be washed out. The road was closed, but they let us through so we could get back to our campsite. Turns out the road bed was unstable due to the rain; no RV or large vehicles would be allowed to pass.

 

Gibbon Falls in flood

Gibbon Falls in record breaking flood 3 days later

When we got to our site, we found a note on our RV telling us we had to evacuate the park immediately. I couldn’t believe it, where are 10,000 people going to go when all the local hotels and campgrounds are already full? Tom and Marie had to evacuate the lodge in Canyon Village. They had to drive to Idaho Falls to get a room, a three-hour drive.

We had planned to camp at the KOA in Livingston, MT when we left YNP, but we got a text message that they were closed due to flooding. The Yellowstone River runs right through Livingston. We knew we could park overnight at the old airport site in West Yellowstone, so we headed there. Of course, we had to take the long way around, due to the closed roads. Lots of other RVs ended up there also. The next day we decided the best course of action was to just head home and return another day.

Home for Evacuees

Bitterroot - Montana's State Flower

We took a week Master Naturalist course, had fun and learned a lot. We learned how much we didn’t know about nature. The term Novice Naturalist would be more appropriate. After the course we took a day trip to Sun River Canyon - another beautiful spot here in MT!

Northern saw wheat Owl

Sunset

Western Toad

Big Sky Country

Sun River Canyon