Day 24 Yellowstone to Ranchester, WY

June 12

Yellowstone to Ranchester, WY

Did you know there was a Canadian connection to Yellowstone being established?

Leaving Yellowstone via the East gate we climbed to 8550 feet through Sylvan Pass and rain but also very close to the snow line.  Forest fires have destroyed a lot of the hill sides and a Forest Fire Fighters Memorial from 1937 has been set up to recognize those fire fighters lost.  This highway otherwise referred to as "Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway" runs 182 miles from Yellowstone to Ranchester with some very unusual rock formations.

 

Just before arriving in Cody, coming along the lake is the Buffalo Bill Dam.  We didn’t stop but it looks like you will drive right through the mountain or should I say into it!  In Cody we stopped to visit the Buffalo Bill Historic Centre.  An amazing Museum with 5 museums in one including Yellowstone, Draper Museum of Natural History, Plains Indian Museum, The Cody Firearms Museum which displays 1500 guns and rifles from all manufacturers and another 1200 displayed on another floor, and Western Art with a section on the gunslingers.  Two hours here really isn’t enough probably four would have been better.  Admission is for two days if you are staying in the area.

 

The highway gets interesting after Greybull towards the Shell Canyon and driving through the Bighorn Mtn.  We were blown away.  Rock formations and the color of them!  Signs indicating the age of the rock formations.  The canyon starts at 4400 feet and takes you up to 9033 feet at Grants Pass and drops back to 4500 feet.  The temperature went from 24 degrees to 13 degrees.  I would love to redo this part of the highway!  It was “take your breath away”!  Spectacular!



 

 



Winding highway thru Shell Canyon

 

There were weather warnings constantly coming through the radio and TV for our area for severe thunderstorms and hail up to 3 inches.  Well the thunder and lightning hit after 10 pm but we must have been on the edge of the storm as it didn't last too long.  Thank goodness, no hail!!

 

Daily Stats: 
Today's distance:  336 km 
Weather:  Rain then sunshine with clouds; High: 28 degrees; Lo: 10 degrees
Diesel Price: 
Wildlife:  Elk, deer, moose, and weasel
Campsite:  Lazy R Campground, Ranchester ($22 electricity & water)
Walking: 2 hours Buffalo Bill Historical Centre incl. 5 museums

Quiz answer:  Seth Bullock Born near Windsor, ON 1849 - 1919 Introduced a resolution to preserve the land, protecting it from settlement.  His resolution was adopted and Yellowstone Park was established March 1, 1872.  He was also made Deadwood's first Sheriff after Wild Bill Hickok was murdered!

Sports Event:  Chicago beat Boston in 3^rd O/T 4 to 3